Lex Talk Design

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, Renée sits down with Krista Shearer from Bespoke Careers for a wide-ranging conversation about design, recruitment, career pivots, workplace culture, and the shifting needs of the architecture and interiors industry.

Krista began her career as an architect before making the leap into recruitment - a move that eventually led her to launch the Sydney office of Bespoke Careers in 2009. Since then, she has helped connect talent with some of the biggest names in architecture and design, while building a deep understanding of what both candidates and businesses really need from one another.

Renée and Krista discuss the realities of moving from creative practice into a more people-focused role, the importance of backing yourself when a new opportunity appears, and why looking after your team is one of the strongest foundations any business can have.

They also explore what’s happening in the design employment market right now, including the rise of contract roles, shifting expectations around flexibility, the challenges of attracting and retaining talent, and how AI is beginning to influence the future of design work.

Warm, insightful, and full of practical industry perspective, this conversation is a fascinating look at the people behind the projects - and the evolving landscape of design careers.

In this episode, Renée and Krista discuss:

- Krista’s journey from architecture into recruitment
- The early growth of Bespoke Careers in Sydney and internationally
- Why career pivots often require boldness, timing, and a little bit of useful naivety
- What architecture and recruitment can learn from each other
- The importance of people-first business culture
- Current hiring trends across architecture and design
- The rise of contract and freelance roles in the industry
- What candidates and employers are looking for now
- How AI may shape the future of design careers
- Why relationships, integrity, and good timing still matter

Connect with Krista and Bespoke Careers:

Bespoke Careers website: https://www.bespokecareers.com/ 
Bespoke Careers events: https://www.bespokecareers.com/whats-on/ 
Bespoke Careers podcast: https://www.bespokecareers.com/podcasts/ 
Krista Shearer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristashearer 

Thanks for listening!
Subscribe, follow, visit: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LexDesignAgency
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lex-talk-design/id1797431854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SrN9hpHzI6cUjmDj2eRIK?si=64d95dca6e3c4401
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexdesignagency/

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, Renee sits down with Daniel Chan, CEO and founder of JoJo Ventures, a Hong Kong-based next-generation AI creative studio working across film, television, commercial content, marketing and advertising.

Daniel shares his journey into generative AI, from the early excitement of tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT through to building a creative studio focused on helping businesses create high-quality visual content faster, more efficiently and at a lower cost.

Together, Renee and Daniel explore the democratisation of technology, the speed at which AI is transforming the creative industries, and what still separates professional creatives from everyday users now that powerful tools are available to almost everyone.

They also discuss the human side of AI: why AI can feel so agreeable, the risks of trusting it without verification, the importance of domain expertise, and why the future of creative work may depend less on simply using AI and more on taste, judgement, workflow and the ability to refine that final 5%.

From AI-generated films and marketing campaigns to the emotional and social implications of increasingly human-like technology, this conversation offers a grounded, thoughtful and surprisingly human look at where AI and design may be heading next.

https://jojo.ventures/
Thanks for listening!
Subscribe, follow, visit: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LexDesignAgency
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lex-talk-design/id1797431854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SrN9hpHzI6cUjmDj2eRIK?si=64d95dca6e3c4401
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexdesignagency/

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, we’re joined by Avalana Simpson, British artist, wallpaper designer, and founder of Avalana Design - a luxury homeware brand known for bold, colourful wallpapers, fabrics, and immersive interior murals.
Avalana shares her journey from working in textile and surface pattern design to building her own global creative business. Starting with hand-painted watercolour artwork, her designs evolve into large-scale wallpapers and interiors used in residential and commercial spaces worldwide.
We dive into the realities of building a design brand - from navigating creative freedom without client briefs to developing a signature style that stands out in a trend-driven industry. Avalana also discusses how travel, nature, and storytelling influence her work, including how a trip to Costa Rica inspired her early collections.
This episode is packed with insights for interior designers, creatives, and small business owners, covering everything from colour theory in interiors to building a personal brand as a designer.
https://www.avalanadesign.co.uk/
Thanks for listening!
Subscribe, follow, visit: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LexDesignAgency
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lex-talk-design/id1797431854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SrN9hpHzI6cUjmDj2eRIK?si=64d95dca6e3c4401
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexdesignagency/

This week on Lex Talk Design, Renee is joined by Kyle Hughes-Odgers - an acclaimed Australian artist whose work spans painting, illustration, publishing, and large-scale public murals across the globe. Based in Perth, Kyle has built a distinctive visual language that explores the relationship between people, nature, and place through bold geometric forms and stylised figurative imagery.

Since his first solo exhibition in 2009, Kyle’s work has travelled far beyond Australia, with exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, the Netherlands, Spain, Singapore and Berlin. Alongside his gallery practice, he has created more than 50 public commission works worldwide, bringing art into everyday spaces on an impressive scale.

In this episode, Renee and Kyle talk about building a creative career over time, the realities behind making art professionally, balancing studio practice with large public projects, and how to keep evolving while staying true to your style.

A thoughtful and inspiring conversation for creatives, founders, designers, and anyone curious about what it really takes to make a life in the arts.

In this episode:
Kyle’s path from early exhibitions to international recognition
Developing a signature artistic style
The crossover between art, design, and public space
Balancing commercial opportunities with creative integrity
The discipline behind a long-term creative career
Bringing large-scale ideas to life
#LexTalkDesign #KyleHughesOdgers #AustralianArt #CreativeCareer #DesignPodcast #PublicArt #ContemporaryArt #LexTalk
Thanks for listening!
Subscribe, follow, visit: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LexDesignAgency
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lex-talk-design/id1797431854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SrN9hpHzI6cUjmDj2eRIK?si=64d95dca6e3c4401
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexdesignagency/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Design, we sit down with Melbourne-based artist and interior designer Danielle Brustman - a creative force known for her bold use of colour, playful forms, and deeply emotive spaces.
Danielle’s work spans residential, retail, and hospitality design, alongside striking art installations exhibited both locally and internationally, including at the National Gallery of Victoria and Milan’s Salone del Mobile. Her distinctive style blends dreamlike palettes with a sense of joy and accessibility - spaces that don’t just look beautiful, but feel something.
In this conversation, Danielle shares her unconventional journey into interior design - from taking nearly a decade to complete her degree, to finding her creative footing in theatre set design, and eventually returning to interiors with a renewed sense of confidence and clarity.
We explore the tension between creative freedom and commercial reality, the importance of curiosity in young designers, and why sometimes the best ideas come when you temporarily ignore constraints altogether.
Danielle also dives into her deep relationship with colour - how it shapes her emotional response to spaces, influences her process, and ultimately defines her work. Drawing inspiration from the expressive design eras of the 1960s and 70s, she reflects on the loss of boldness in modern design and why it might be time to bring it back.
This episode is a must-listen for designers, creatives, and anyone interested in building a career that balances artistic instinct with real-world application.
Connect with Danielle:

https://www.daniellebrustman.com/
https://designweek.melbourne/event/superhot-shop/
Thanks for listening!
Subscribe, follow, visit: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LexDesignAgency
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lex-talk-design/id1797431854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SrN9hpHzI6cUjmDj2eRIK?si=64d95dca6e3c4401
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexdesignagency/