ArtsDesignEducation

Bloomerangas Podcast

Karalyte

A curious exploration of our future and creativity. Featuring conversations with progressive leaders in design, technology, business, and education who are creating better futures.

creativity.bloomerangas.com

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Avg 39 min
English

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Tuesday · 52 min
On the New Rules of Work with Amanda Schneider
I talked with Amanda Schneider, founder of ThinkLab and author of Work for What's Next. She was also just on The Oprah Podcast talking about the book, if you want another taste of her thinking. One thing she said has stayed with me since. We’re still running our workplaces on analog era norms, in a digital speed world. That gap, more than any single generation, is where most of the tension we feel at work actually comes from. It changed how I think about Gen Z, too. Amanda’s research keeps landing on the same point. They’re not really asking for anything new. They just grew up with more access and more context than any generation before them, so they ask for it louder. We also talked about what actually kills creativity inside a company. It's not a lack of tools or talent. It's fear, busyness, and certainty, in that order. Certainty is the one that worries her most, as AI gets more confident and more persuasive by the day. One more interesting idea stayed with me that Amanda shared: the difference between a game’s goal and its purpose. The goal of Monopoly is to win. The purpose is to connect with the people you’re playing with, think strategically, and enjoy the time together. She thinks most organizations have quietly optimized for the goal and lost sight of the purpose. We also got into why loyalty isn’t dead, just no longer blind, what Gucci’s shadow board did for their sales numbers, and what it might take to prepare the generation coming up after Gen Z for a future none of us can fully predict. If any of this resonates, I’d love for you to watch or listen to the full conversation, and read the write-up on the blog. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
August 7 · 46 min
A School with no Teachers with Heidi Rundt, CEO of Hyper Island
I talked with Heidi Rundt, CEO of Hyper Island, the Sweden-born creative business school that has spent thirty years training people in design, marketing, and innovation. Hyper Island now runs programs across Europe, the UK, Japan, and South America, but what struck me isn’t the reach. It’s how untraditional the model still is. The school has no teachers. Instead, it works with in-house facilitators and a global network of industry practitioners who bring in whatever is actually happening in the market right now. As Heidi put it, “We actually don’t have any teachers.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
July 23 · 54 min
Designing our Future with Ana Maria Pinto da Silva, Carnegie Mellon School of Design
I recently talked with Ana Maria Pinto da Silva — architect, former UX design leader at Microsoft and Amazon, founder of PechaKucha Seattle, and now Professor at the Carnegie Mellon School of Design — about a question she’s spent her whole career chasing: where does creativity actually come from? We got into the difference between learning and education, why friendship and nature are our original teachers, and why AI, in her view, makes education more urgent rather than less. She also shared what a decade of building PechaKucha Seattle taught her about community, and made a compelling case for design as a fundamentally optimistic, democratizing act. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
July 10 · 55 min
On Creative Leadership with Ekaterina Solomeina from Future London Academy
Here’s the advice Ekaterina Solomeina gives every designer who wants to be seen as a leader, not just an executor: learn the language the business actually speaks. I talked with Ekaterina — creative director, writer, and co-founder of Future London Academy — about what actually gets creatives into the room where strategy gets decided. Her answer wasn’t “make better work.” It was: translate the work you’re already doing into terms leadership cares about. “If you want to show that you are capable of bringing strategic value, start to understand all the language of PL, CAC and LTV, TAM-SAM-SOM.” Not instead of caring about craft — alongside it. Present the beautiful brand and the business value it created. That, she told me, is how promotions actually happen. It’s part of a bigger argument she makes: as AI commoditizes technical skills, the core creative ones — imagination, nonlinear problem-solving, empathy — become more valuable, not less. Her hope is ambitious: more chief design and creative officers sitting alongside the CFO and COO. Ekaterina spent twenty years as a creative director working alongside people like Michael Wolff and Donatella Versace before co-founding Future London Academy in 2013. Its alumni now lead design at Apple, Nike, Netflix, and BMW, and she also hosts her own podcast, Creative Capes. We also got into why 80% of creatives said they’d rather work at a company under 50 people, brand as a belief system rather than a campaign, and why founders need a “third identity” completely unrelated to work (hers is Muay Thai). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
June 9 · 51 min
Reimagining Creative Education in the Age of AI | Chris Mitchell, Royal College of Art
A few years ago, Dr. Chris Mitchell did something unsettling in his classroom at the Royal College of Art. He fed the same assessment brief his students were working on into a generative AI tool and then asked the students to evaluate the output. Almost all of them said it was a pass. He looked at it again on the train home, and thought: yeah, I think so too. His first reaction was terror. His second was more useful. “It was a reflection of my bad assessment design.” If an AI could pass it, he realised, then the assessment was never really measuring the things that mattered — curiosity, imagination, personal investment in the work. It was measuring the ability to compare and summarise information. Generative AI is very good at that. But that is not what creative education is actually for. So he redesigned it. Instead of comparing X and Y, he asked students to take a teaching session that had meant something to them — personally, formatively — and redesign it, explaining why. The results were completely different. Impossible to fake. “We had examples of people drawing on learning in a choir, or a workshop around ocarina making,” he told me. “It’s just so much fun to mark.” That moment captures something important about where we are with AI and education right now — and it’s just one thread in a really rich conversation. Chris is Head of Academic Strategy Development at the RCA and the creator of the MA in Creative Education. We talked for over an hour about what formal education is genuinely for, why the RCA builds everything around making and reflection, how hybrid learning can be done well (and what goes wrong when it isn’t), and why creativity is something every person can access — not a trait some people have and others don’t. We also got into the RCA’s long-standing pass/fail grading system — no marks, just detailed written feedback — and what it demands from both tutors and students. 👉 Watch the full conversation on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/BIrrwVRFUzc 👉 Read the blog posthttps://bloomerangas.com/blog/reimagining-creative-education-in-the-age-of-ai-insights-from-royal-college-of-art/ I hope it sparks something for you — whether you work in education, whether you’re a creative practitioner thinking about AI, or whether you’re just curious about what it looks like to build an institution around the act of making things. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
May 8 · 48 min
Can creativity be taught? | KTU, Head of Design Centre
Can creativity be taught? This is the question we explored in the newest episode of Bloomerangas with Ruta Valušytė, Head of the Design Centre at Kaunas University of Technology. Every person has the native ability to create. But like any muscle, creativity needs to be used, trained, and nurtured. If we stop using it, it fades. If we practise it, it becomes more natural and intuitive. What I found especially interesting in this conversation is that creativity does not necessarily need complete freedom. Very often, a blank canvas blocks people. What helps is a thoughtful structure: a clear task, a useful example, a safe environment, and enough freedom to experiment. Ruta describes this as a kind of creative playground: a space where people can explore, fail, try again, and slowly build confidence in their own creative process. Surely, this resonates with us very much as we create creativity playgrounds for offices and spaces for exactly this purpose. We also spoke about AI. AI can be a fantastic tool, but it is still a tool. Ruta compared it to a pencil: if you know what you want to draw, it can help you. But it cannot replace your intention, your judgement, or your imagination. This feels especially important now, when creativity and innovation are so often discussed through the lens of speed and productivity. AI can generate quickly, but true innovation still requires us to question the status quo, define the right challenge, and imagine something that does not yet exist. In the episode, we also talk about: * how universities can nurture creativity * why struggle is part of the creative process * why structure and play need each other * how design education can support a more sustainable future * what it means to design beyond only human users * why curiosity is still one of the most important creative skills One of the strongest ideas from the conversation is that a creative environment is not only about tools, studios, or technology. It is about culture. It is about the values, behaviours, and ways of thinking that make people brave enough to explore something unknown. I hope you will enjoy this talk as much as I did. Read the full summary here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
April 14 · 39 min
How to protect your focus, creativity, and wellbeing in a digital world
In our latest Bloomerangas Podcast episode, I speak with Lina Žemaitytė-Kirkman, Head of Rockit (a Startup and Innovation Centre) about something many of us are feeling right now: how hard it has become to stay focused, creative, and mentally clear in a world of constant digital input. We explore why digital overload affects more than productivity, how boredom and rest support creativity, and what simple habits can help us protect our attention in the age of AI. It’s a thoughtful and practical conversation for anyone who wants to feel less scattered and create with more clarity. Watch the episode below, listen on substack/spotify/Apple Podcasts or read the summary on our blog. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
March 10 · 55 min
Andra Bagdonaitė on Early-Stage Investment for Startups
In this episode, we speak with Andra Bagdonaitė, venture capital investor and Partner at FIRSTPICK — a high-speed VC fund and accelerator backing ambitious early-stage startups across the Baltic region (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia). Andra shares insights from her experience investing at the pre-seed and seed stages, supporting founders as they build and scale technology-driven companies. Before joining FIRSTPICK, she worked in early-stage investment and accelerator roles at Startup Wise Guys, one of Europe’s leading startup accelerators, where she helped guide emerging startups through growth and fundraising. Tune in to learn more about early-stage investing, what investors look for in founders, and how startups in the Baltic region are building globally competitive companies. 👀 Read the article on our website: https://bloomerangas.com/blog/andra-bagdonaite-on-early-stage-investment-for-startups/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
February 24 · 50 min
Jessica Dance on Building a Sustainable Creative Business
Jessica Dance is a UK-based artist, designer, and creative coach who has worked with brands including Vogue, Nike, Barbie, British Airways and Google. After years in the creative industry, she trained as a coach following a period of burnout, combining art, business and psychology to support creative entrepreneurs in building lives and businesses that are joyful, impactful and financially sustainable. In this talk, Jessica shares what truly creates sustainable success for creatives: regulating the nervous system, reshaping limiting beliefs, and building strategy from a place of safety rather than fear. 👀 Read the article on our website: https://bloomerangas.com/blog/jessica-dance-on-building-a-sustainable-creative-business This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
February 10 · 36 min
Emily Sharp on Activating Creativity Through Art Therapy
Emily Sharp is a licensed art therapist and psychotherapist who combines talk therapy with creative expression. From her early work in New York to her current online practice and international retreats, she explores how creativity can support resilience, self-discovery, and joy. In this talk, Emily reflects on her transition from clinical psychotherapy to art therapy, discusses the importance of creativity in mental health, and shares some of the tools and techniques she uses in her practice to activate creativity and creative flow. 👀 Read the article on our website: https://karalyte.com/emily-sharp-on-activating-creativity-through-art-therapy/ 👥 For more inspiration:Join our Substack community at https://creativity.bloomerangas.com and subscribe to the @Bloomerangas YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
January 20 · 37 min
Formafantasma on a Creative Process Rooted in Imagination and Social Responsibility
Formafantasma is a research-driven design studio founded in 2009 by Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin. Their work ranges from products and spatial projects to installations and exhibitions, created both independently and in collaboration with brands such as Hermès, Lexus, Max Mara, and Bvlgari. In this talk, Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin open up about their creative process. They dive deeper into the thinking behind projects such as Prada Frames and Staging Modernity for Cassina, reflect on design’s responsibility in a complex world, and share their perspective on ethics, AI, and working with brands in more meaningful ways. 👀 Read the article on our website: https://karalyte.com/formafantasma-on-a-creative-process-rooted-in-imagination-and-responsibility/ 👥 For more inspiration:Join our Substack community at https://creativity.bloomerangas.com and subscribe to the @Bloomerangas YouTube channel. Discover more of Formafantasma’s work at https://formafantasma.com and https://www.instagram.com/formafantasma/. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
January 6 · 43 min
Tina Touli on Designing Phygital Experiences
Tina Touli is a London‑based designer working across disciplines. Known for blending the analogue with the digital, she mixes materials and technologies in inventive ways. Her curiosity has led her to create phygital experiences, experimenting with materials, techniques, sound, and surroundings. In this talk, we explore creative expression through phygital experiences — spaces where physicality and technology meet, and where play opens the door to a more intuitive creative flow. Tina reflects on experimentation as a core design practice, how personal projects feed into client work, and how tools like AI can support — but not replace — a designer’s creative voice. 👀 Read the article on our website: https://karalyte.com/what-is-a-phygital-experience-tina-touli-on-creative-experimentation-across-mediums/ 👥 For more inspiration: Join our Substack community at https://creativity.bloomerangas.com and subscribe to the Bloomerangas YouTube channel https://studio.youtube.com/@bloomerangas. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
Dec 23, 2025 · 10 min
How do our emotions influence creativity?
Today we felt a little down, so we went out for dessert — because for us, dessert is a kind of therapy that always works. 🍰✨ We talk about our emotions and how they influence our creativity. We reflect on communication and how it can shift a dynamic and create a safe space to be yourself — and for others to feel safe around you. We also talk about how emotions build up when they stay unspoken, the courage it takes to communicate honestly, and how small routines and little joys help us move through down days. As this year comes to an end, we’re wishing you a beautiful holiday season and a gentle start to the new year. Thank you for being with us, for listening, and for sharing this space with us — we’re really grateful to have you here. 💬 What routines help you through those down days? We’d love to hear. ✨ Subscribe to our Substack channel https://creativity.bloomerangas.com , and let’s jump into 2026 together. _______________________________ More from us: 🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@bloomerangas 🌐 https://karalyte.com/bloomerangas 📷 https://www.instagram.com/bloomerangas/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
Dec 12, 2025 · 6 min
How to repackage your work?
In this episode, we explore the idea of repackaging your creative work. I’m sure you’re familiar with the situation of having leftover materials that aren’t being utilised. In our case, it’s different cards we don’t include in packages or fabrics left from setting up our creative studio. But it doesn’t mean they have to quietly sit in the corner waiting for their time to shine. You can think of new ways to mix and match them and let them materialise into new products. It’s part of the creative process — and a great way to train your creative muscle. Let us know what you end up creating! 🎄 P.S. If you’re still thinking about creative gifts for your funky friends, our pillows and ties make a perfect gift. You can grab them here - https://karalyte.com/shop/#goodies. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe to our Substack (https://creativity.bloomerangas.com) and join us on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@bloomerangas) 💛 ______________________ More from Bloomerangas: 🌐 https://karalyte.com/bloomerangas 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomerangas/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
Dec 2, 2025 · 46 min
Amy Hood on Creative Collaboration and Community Building
Amy Hood is the co-founder of Hoodzpah Design, a studio she runs with her twin sister, Jennifer. Their work is rooted in bold typography, playful humor, and a distinctly Californian style. In this talk, Amy shares insights into the unique aesthetic of her studio, the dynamics of working with her twin sister, and the importance of community in building a successful design business—with all the messy, human, hilarious moments that come with it. Check out Amy's and Hoddzpah design work: https://hoodzpahdesign.com & https://www.instagram.com/hoodzpahdesign/ 👀 Read the article on our website: https://karalyte.com/amy-hood-on-creative-collaboration-and-community-building/ 👥 For more inspiration:Join our Substack community at https://creativity.bloomerangas.com and subscribe to the @Bloomerangas YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
Nov 25, 2025 · 8 min
How to avoid creative burnout?
In this episode, we explore the question: “How to avoid creative burnout?” We talk about why burnout often shows up when you’re creating for external rewards — and how everything shifts when your work aligns with your values and calling. We also dive into the role of self-care, rest, and finding a way of working that truly fits your personality.It’s a reminder that sustainable creativity comes from balance, alignment, and knowing what fuels you. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe to our Substack and join us on our YouTube channel 💛 🎙️ Substack: https://creativity.bloomerangas.com 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloomerangas This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
Nov 20, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
David Sedgwick on Human Connection Through Design
David Sedgwick is the founder of Studio DBD, an independent design studio based in Manchester. For over two decades, he has shaped the city’s creative identity through branding projects, exhibitions, and collaborations that celebrate people as much as design itself. In this talk, David Sedgwick explores how human connection sits at the heart of both his work and life, emphasizing the importance of slowing down, staying close to people, and finding balance between creativity and everyday living. He opens up about curating exhibitions between Manchester and Barcelona, the lessons that shaped him, and the need to stay grounded amid the rapidly shifting landscape of design in the age of technology. Check out David Sedgwick’s work: https://www.instagram.com/studiodbd/ 👀 Read the article on our website: https://karalyte.com/david-sedgwick-on-human-connection-through-design/ ✨ For more inspiration:Join our Substack community at https://creativity.bloomerangas.com and subscribe to the @Bloomerangas YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
Nov 11, 2025 · 6 min
How to stay consistent when creating?
In this episode, we explore the question: “How to stay consistent when creating?” We dive into what it really takes to keep showing up for your creative projects — especially the long-term ones. From finding the right balance between structure and flexibility to creating systems that support your flow. We talk about the importance of clarity, how structure can actually free your creativity (not cage it), and why patience and adaptability are key ingredients for bringing big visions to life. As always, leave us some love 💛 — like, share, and subscribe. More about Bloomerangas: 🌐 https://karalyte.com/bloomerangas 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomerangas/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
Nov 4, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Monika Bielskytė on What Is a Futurist and How to Engage in Future Thinking
Monika Bielskyte is the founder of Protopia Futures and currently serves as Futurist in Residence at Nike (Embodied Futures: Storyworld Design and Strategy). She is also a futurist advisor to Climate Spring and Inclusive AI Lab, as well as a member of EY’s Luminary Expert Circle. In this talk, Monika unpacks what it truly means to be a futurist — exploring how our values, stories, and embodied experiences shape the futures we design. From life-centric innovation to prototyping futures, she reveals how we can move beyond tech hype to imagine futures grounded in humanity, creativity, and care for all life. See more of Monika Bielskytė’s work on https://www.instagram.com/monikabielskyte/ & https://www.instagram.com/protopiafutures/ 👀 Read the article on our website: https://karalyte.com/monika-bielskyte-on-what-is-a-futurist/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe
Oct 28, 2025 · 8 min
What if the version of success I used to chase no longer excites me?
In this episode, we explore the question: “What if the version of success I used to chase no longer excites me?” We dive into the evolving meaning of success — how it’s often shaped by family, culture, and society, and how we can redefine it on our own terms. We also touch on the cycles of desire, the courage it takes to let go of old definitions, and the freedom that comes with aligning your creative path with what genuinely lights you up. ✨ If you’re in a moment of redefinition, our Self-Reflection Cards are the perfect companion. They’ll help you explore where you are now, what truly matters to you, and what kind of success feels right for the next chapter of your creative quest. 👉 Check them out here: https://karalyte.com/product/self-reflection-cards/ More about Bloomerangas: ◆ https://karalyte.com/bloomerangas ◆ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomerangas/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativity.bloomerangas.com/subscribe

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