James Brown's Loaded Magazine was at the heart of the UK's cultural explosion in the mid-1990s. Despite the misperception that it was no more than soft porn, the magazine was built on fun, chaos, creativity and the desire to capture the voice of young men at a time when nobody was representing them. James learned his trade by making his fanzine 'Attack On Bzag' and was NME's features editor by the time he was 22. His story is among the greatest examples of using initiative, passion and play to overcome economic and cultural hurdles and make something unique, that had soul. He opens up about th ..read more

One-half of Studio BND (But Never Dull) Ben Mottershead joins me to discuss allowing neurodivergent people to flourish in the right creative environment. Ben has ADHD and gives a great insight into the need for balance in a design environment so the weaknesses can be managed or carried by better-equipped people, and the strengths can be housed in a way that benefits all. We also get into the vital role of in-person socialising and positive relationships away from the screen among many other things. Out tomorrow! Supported by IllustrationX https://illustrationx.com https://studiobnd.com/ https ..read more

It's rough out there. We can't do it all on our own. Nor should we try. A ramble about protecting mental health by identifying our cause. Supported by Illustration X. https://illustrationx.com https://bentallonwriter.com https://bentallon.com ..read more

The 2nd in the new series of articles written for Design Week, brought to you in audio format by The Creative Condition, supported by Illustration X. The debates rage about AI art and design. Will we fall to the singularity, or can we assimilate this great tool into our profession? Only creativity and human empathy will decide. Read in full at designweek.co.uk bentallonwriter.com bentallon.com illustrationx.com ..read more

DixonBaxi is 21. Founders Simon Dixon and Aporva Baxi return to the show after five years. A lot has happened. We talk about what it takes to stay fresh, creative, and energised over the course of a long-term project. Why it's critical to create work for yourself to ignite passion and the challenge of designing for football clubs. This one is jam-packed with advice and insights for those in the visual communication world. The show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X. Their global portfolio of artists, illustrators, and animators can be seen at https://illustrationx.com https://bent ..read more

What is a flow state? How do we enter them? When do we have them? I'm joined by Professor Anna Abraham, a neuroscientist and psychologist who specialises in creativity. We cover the value of switching off in a hyper-busy world, and why creativity has a critical role to play in our futures and human happiness. The show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X. Their global portfolio of artists, illustrators, and animators can be seen at https://illustrationx.com https://bentallon.com http://www.anna-abraham.com/ https://bentallonwriter.com ..read more

Dark nights, bad news and bad weather. The dangerous cocktail that awaits us in winter 2022 can be tempered and managed if we can find the right balance of physical activity, good nutrition and screen time. I'm joined by NuPhysio & Fitness founder Matt McArdle to discuss the vital importance of strengthening mental health by staying active and keeping our minds and creativity honed. With some great takeaway tips and insights for all levels of physical fitness. The show is supported by Illustration X. See their broad range of illustration and animation portfolios now at https://illustration ..read more

In September 2006 began one of the toughest spells in my creative industry career. It was the big monstrous 'before' bit. Suddenly cut off from tutorial input, peers, and credible workspace after 7-years in full-time arts education, I lost all sight of the dream freelance illustration career while working a full-time job, completely demotivated. This is detailed in chapter 4 of 'Champagne and Wax Crayons: Riding the Madness of the Creative Industries.' My debut memoir, a book about turning creativity into a career will soon be released in a new e-book format, so here is a reading of Chapter 4 ..read more

The first of a new series of articles written for design week, brought to you in audio format by The Creative Condition, supported by Illustration X. We kick off this new series exploring creativity's capacity for catharsis in the face of seemingly constant bad news and its destructive impact on our moods. Read in full at https://designweek.co.uk https://bentallonwriter.com https://bentallon.com https://illustrationx.com ..read more

Agency coach and marketing expert Oliver Duffy-Lee joins Ben Tallon to talk about promotion and marketing for freelancers, agencies, and why the latest government marketing advice is utterly ludicrous to anyone who understands economics and marketing, especially in the creative industry. Visit the Authority Agency website: https://www.authorityagency.co.uk/ Oliver Duffy-Lee on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverduffylee/ Illustration X, show sponsor home: https://illustrationx.com Ben Tallon illustration: https://bentallon.com Ben Tallon Author site: https://bentallonwriter.com ..read more