Home Podcasts Brand Design Masters - Personal Branding, Creative Entrepreneurship, Small Business Marketing & Career Success for Designers
Brand Design Masters - Personal Branding, Creative Entrepreneurship, Small Business Marketing & Career Success for Designers

Brand Design Masters - Personal Branding, Creative Entrepreneurship, Small Business Marketing & Career Success for Designers

Philip VanDusen 170 Episodes Oct 6, 2026

Brand Design Masters is a podcast for designers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and content creators looking to advance their careers and creative businesses. Hosted by Philip VanDusen, a brand consultant and founder of BONFIRE, the show covers personal branding, content creation, freelancing, and creative career growth. Each episode offers practical coaching, strategies, and inspiration to help listeners market their work, attract clients, and build long-term success in the Creative Economy.

Episodes

The One Career Skill No One Talks About
The One Career Skill No One Talks About Oct 6, 2026 700 The One Career Skill No One Talks AboutWhat's the hardest thing in a long creative career? It isn't starting something new. It's letting go of something you've already built.In this short solo episode, Philip makes the case that knowing when to walk away is the most overlooked career skill there is. The things that helped you grow in one chapter can quietly start holding you back in the n
The Hard Truth About Becoming a Creative Director
The Hard Truth About Becoming a Creative Director Sep 29, 2026 823 The Hard Truth About Becoming a Creative DirectorMost creatives think the creative director title is the ultimate creative job. It's usually the opposite. The higher you climb in your design career, the less your job is about design, and that catches a lot of talented people off guard.In this episode, I talk about what the creative director role really involves. I cover why great design s
Building a Personal Brand Won't Fix Everything
Building a Personal Brand Won't Fix Everything Sep 22, 2026 890 Building a Personal Brand Won't Fix EverythingThere's a dangerous idea floating around right now: that you can just "build a personal brand" and skip the hard part of actually becoming good at what you do. In this episode, I push back on that.I spent over 20 years inside global branding agencies and corporations before I ever picked up a microphone or camera. I talk about what that path t
7 Skills Designers Need in the Age of AI
7 Skills Designers Need in the Age of AI Sep 15, 2026 611 7 Skills Designers Need in the Age of AIAI can generate a hundred logo concepts in thirty seconds. It still can't tell you which one is right for the brand, the market, or the moment. That gap is exactly where your future value as a designer lives, and in this episode I break down the seven skills that live inside it.I'm not talking about prompt engineering or tool tutorials. I'm talking
Erik Evans: Creativity is an Act of Rebellion
Erik Evans: Creativity is an Act of Rebellion Jun 23, 2026 2525 What does it take to stay creative through decades of career pivots, industry disruption, and personal reinvention?In this episode of the Brand Design Masters Podcast, Philip VanDusen sits down with designer, creative director, author, and workshop facilitator Erik Evans to explore the enduring principles of creativity in a rapidly changing world.Erik shares lessons from a career that has
AI Without the Hype: with Mitali Deypurkaystha
AI Without the Hype: with Mitali Deypurkaystha May 11, 2026 3701 AI is in the midst of changing the landscape of business, careers and humanity as a whole. And if you're like most creative professionals or business owners, you're probably feeling a mix of curiosity, overwhelm, and maybe even a little fear.In this episode, I sit down with certified AI consultant Mitali Deypurkaystha to cut through the noise and get practical. We talk about what’s really
ReDesigning Your Creative Career After 50
ReDesigning Your Creative Career After 50 Apr 20, 2026 828 ReDesigning Your Creative Career After 50with Philip VanDusenIf you’re a creative professional over 50, redesigning your creative career after 50 isn’t about starting over, it’s about building resilience, relevance, and long-term leverage. In this episode, I walk you through a practical framework for career reinvention, income diversification, and staying professionally valuable in an AI-
Most Small Businesses Are Using AI Wrong - Here’s How to Fix It
Most Small Businesses Are Using AI Wrong - Here’s How to Fix It Apr 13, 2026 782 Most Small Businesses Are Using AI Wrong - Here’s How to Fix Itwith Philip VanDusenMost small businesses are using AI wrong, and in this episode I break down exactly how to fix it with practical, real-world strategies you can implement immediately.If you’re a small business owner feeling squeezed by rising marketing costs, shrinking attention spans, and increasing customer expectations, t
How to Stop Wasting Time - 7 Time Management Hacks That Actually Work
How to Stop Wasting Time - 7 Time Management Hacks That Actually Work Apr 6, 2026 1512 How to Stop Wasting Time - 7 Time Management Hacks That Actually Work with Philip VanDusenMany creative professionals feel constantly busy but still end the day wondering if anything meaningful actually moved forward.In this episode, Philip VanDusen explores why traditional productivity advice often falls short and why most time management systems fail to solve the real problem. The issue
Navigating Career Transitions and Inflection Points - with Kathy Oneto
Navigating Career Transitions and Inflection Points - with Kathy Oneto Mar 30, 2026 3195 Navigating Career Transitions and Inflection PointsCareers rarely unfold in straight lines.In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation I originally recorded with strategist and executive coach Kathy Oneto about navigating career transitions and professional inflection points. We explore why careers often evolve through pivots rather than predictable steps up a ladder, and how moments of f
How to Stay Relevant as a Creative Professional
How to Stay Relevant as a Creative Professional Mar 23, 2026 626 How To Stay Relevant as a Creative ProfessionalIn this episode, I break down how you can stay relevant as a creative pro in a fast-changing industry where ageism, AI, and commoditization are real forces. If you’re a mid-career designer, creative director, strategist, or agency owner, this is about building career insurance that protects you from volatility you can’t control.I share the un
How to Get Promoted When You Work Remotely
How to Get Promoted When You Work Remotely Mar 16, 2026 643 How To Get Promoted When You Work RemotelyIf you want to get promoted when working remotely, this episode breaks down what actually drives career advancement when you’re not in the office every day. I walk through how remote employees can increase visibility, earn trust, and position themselves for a promotion even when their manager and leadership team rarely see them in person.In this e

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