148. The Spark: Kiser Barnes on kerning, nemeses and the power of nostalgia
Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration. And this season, we've switched things up.
Each Spark now features a bonus conversation with our week's guest. Today, we're joined once again by Kiser Barnes, partner and CCO at Red Antler, who returns for some quick-fire fun.
Kiser joined us on Monday to explore the intersection of creativity and technology, and why optimism and authenticity are so vital in an AI-driven world. If you missed that, you can catch up here. But for this Spark, we're diving into the part of our chat where things got a little more personal—and a little more playful.
Kiser shares the lessons he's learned from influential creatives, opens up about controversial opinions on design (including why kerning might be a bit overrated), and reflects on why nostalgia is such a powerful force in our lives. He also reveals why he thinks every creative should have a nemesis and offers a few surprising thoughts about inspiration and identity.
This season is proudly sponsored by the School of Communication Arts.
The Creative Boom Podcast
Join host Katy Cowan on The Creative Boom Podcast, where candid conversations with fellow creatives explore the real stories behind our careers—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Whether you're a graphic designer, illustrator, animator, marketer or creative entrepreneur, this show brings warmth, humour, and insight into the challenges and triumphs of the creative journey.
We tackle everything from confidence to burnout, offering advice and inspiration for building a fulfilling, sustainable career while not shying away from the tougher topics. Expect fun, honesty, and plenty of takeaways to help you thrive both personally and professionally.
The Creative Boom Podcast is part of Creative Boom, a magazine that has been a leading platform for the creative community since 2009. Discover more at www.creativeboom.com.
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