SESSIONS by Matte Black

A wide ranging conversation between Founder and ECD Chelsea Matthews and Sr. Designer Melina Sweet. This episode is a bit meta - talking all about the foundations of setting design foundations. Figuring out where to start is the true task of an agency, and there are plenty of great pieces of advice in this episode to point you in the right direction. Listen along to hear about how Another approaches visual strategy, sources of inspiration, and why Chelsea is master of skimming.

What do you do when you get blocked creatively? When that last line, perfect reference image, or original idea just won't come? These are the questions our Sr. Designer Melina Sweet and former Creative Director of Content Nolan Goff discuss in this episode. Starting with tricks to overcoming creative blocks, then moving on to discussions of autonomy vs. collaboration, the creative magic of naps and showers, and making progress through the process of definition.

What does true originality look like? When are you making inspired creative decisions vs. being derivative, or even worse, plagiarizing? In this episode, Founder Chelsea Matthew and Sr. Project Manager Jonathan Godinho examine how to keep an agency original, remixing creative, and how to be critical of your own process in order to become better.

And we're back with Season 4. Like all good beginnings, we are starting with the end. Or starting with the end in mind at least. In this episode, our Founder Chelsea Matthews chats with Managing Director Micah Heykoop about what meaningful goals actually look like, where our head has been at in the year since our last podcast, and what our aspirations are for a new season. Enjoy!

So you've been posting your art on Instagram...now what? We sat down with Steph DeAngelis, LA-based designer + illustrator who has worked with brand like Outdoor Voices, The Standard, and Man Repeller, to speak on the topic. Tune in to hear about Steph's creative journey, and her 5 tips on how to get your art out the wild, and the brands in your inbox. See Steph's Work: https://www.instagram.com/steph_angelis/

Thinking on how a brand maintains relevance in the market? Same for us, always. For this episode, we went to our friends over at Parks Project to speak on the topic. Listen in as Sevag Kazanci, Co-Founder of the brand, speaks to their approach to being a giveback brand, and 5 key things they do to maintain relevance in the market. Learn more about Parks Project -https://www.parksproject.us/

Let's tackle the taboos within the women's health industry. On this episode, we chat with Molly Hayward of Cora — the brand bringing healthy and organic period care to women around the world. Listen up as we talk about Cora’s origin story, and the five ways in which the brand are working to dismantle the taboos within the women’s health space. Learn more about Cora - https://cora.life

Agency friends — we've got some pro-tips on this one! On this episode, we chat with Megan Amberson, Brand Strategy Director and campaign guru. Listen in as Megan imparts her wisdom on the campaign brief process, and talks through her five key steps to getting to the core of a campaign brief; how a team should approach getting past internal assumptions to address the actual challenge at hand. Read Megan's latest in the Shape Shift Report — https://www.shapeshiftreport.co/robert-mueller

High times are ahead on this episode of SESSIONS. Tune in as we chat with Charlotte Palermino of Nice Paper — the media platform focused on cannabis education and content — about the ever-growing cannabis industry, how Nice Paper is spreading the good word about weed, and the five things fresh cannabis brands need to consider when entering the space. Learn more about Nice Paper — https://benicepaper.com/

This episode is all about the gram. We sit down with Brandy Pham, Founder of everyone's favorite Instagram planning tool — Planoly. Listen in as Brandy chats through the beginnings of Planoly, and the five ways a brand (or person) should consider using social to establish a story + setting for themselves. Get 1 month of Planoly for free, on us. Head over to Planoly.com, use PLANOLYSESSIONS at checkout, and happy planning!

SESSIONS is back, and we're kicking off the fresh season with a conversation that speaks to supporting community with the Founder of Unique Markets, Sonja Rasula. Tune in as Sonja chats about the origin of the markets, how she continues to foster the growth of the community, and her five reasons why shopping local benefits both the economy and community. Learn more about Unique Markets — https://www.uniquemarkets.com/

Let's talk about how you change marketing. On this episode, we chat with Rachel Halliburton, VP of Marketing at Beyond Yoga. Tune in as we talk about the evolution of the brand, what lies ahead for Beyond Yoga, and chat through Rachel’s five tactics to change marketing.

Refresh your sense of discovery. In this episode, we chat with Chelsea Neman Nassib, Founder of Tappan Collective, about their beginnings, how they're working to stay true to their mission statement, and for Chelsea's five ways that people can continue to discover new art + artists. Tappan Collective is reinventing the art buying experience and bringing art back into the common conversation. Learn more - https://www.tappancollective.com/

At Matte Black, "team culture" spans beyond the weekly happy hour. Tune in as Chelsea and Micah chat through the idea of company culture, and some touch points that business leaders should consider when establishing the culture for their team.

You've claimed the Instagram handle, but when is the right time to go live with the first post? Listen in to our conversation with Elena Hansen, Founder of social media marketing agency SWIM Social, for her five factors that show if your brand is ready (or not) for social media marketing. Learn more about SWIM Social - http://www.swimsocial.com/

Let's get down to business, with Facebook Business Manager. Tune in as Micah chats through the platform's marketing tool, breaks down it's key functions, and demystifies some of the confusion behind using the resource.

Take a minute to light up with Broccoli Magazine, an international print publication created by and for women who love cannabis. Tune in as we chat with Anja Charbonneau Broccoli’s Founder + Creative Director, about the magazine's roots, the evolution of the cannabis industry as it becomes more mainstream, and the five reasons why cannabis culture needs a publication like Broccoli. Learn more about Broccoli Magazine: https://broccolimag.com/

So you've hired your first creative team to tackle the brand positioning for a fresh project - now what? On this episode of The Riff, Chelsea chats through a few tactics + guidelines to successfully making things come to life with a creative team.

Let's talk about the creative path, and how one should go about finding their way. Listen in as we dive into the topic with our guest, Alex Tan - photographer, co-founder of Mouthwash, and all around creative spirit, and for his five thoughts on finding yourself as a creative. Learn more about Mouthwash: https://mouthwash.co/ About Alex Tan: https://www.instagram.com/jalexandertan/

Do it for the culture. On this episode of SESSIONS, we explore how brands fuse their products with the cultures and communities around them. Enter Stumptown - the quality coffee roasters who are known for making a mark within the cities they are located. Tune in as we chat with Mallory Pilcher, their marketing events director, about the evolution of the brand and how the team has come to establish brand filters that help them resonate with their communities.

You've done the legwork, now how do you get your brand in the spotlight? On this episode, we chat with Vicky Simmons, Founder of Mean Mail. Tune in as she chats her career + growth as an Art Director, how Mean Mail came to be, and her five elements to getting your brand noticed. Learn more about Mean Mail at https://www.meanmail.co/

Your next outdoor adventure just got easier thanks Happier Camper, the ultra-light travel and utility trailer. On this episode, we chat with Derek Michael - Founder of Happier Camper - about how he came to discover the company and the five ways he marries great design with great experiences. Learn more about Happier Camper: http://happiercamper.com/

What's happening in your inbox, or rather, the inboxes of your audience? On this episode of The Riff, our Director of Operations breaks down 2 simple MailChimp hacks that will put the email odds in your favor.

Since it's uprising a few years ago, the state of influencer marketing is constantly shifting. Tune in as Chelsea and Micah chat about said changes, how we've adapted to those changes in the industry, and how Matte Black leveraging influencer in a new and exciting way - via the Candid Network. Learn more about the Candid Network - https://www.candidnetwork.co/

Let's discuss values - specifically, brand values. Building these are easy, but how does one make sure to include them throughout the brand on the daily? Tune in as we chat with Chelsea Sonksen of Bossladies about translating brand values into the business, and cultivating a community that stands behind them. Learn more about Bossladies - https://www.bossladies.us/

Don't call it your standard stock photo site - Death to Stock concentrates on creating beautiful, unique imagery for creatives to use across their platforms. In celebration of our recent collaboration with DTS, we sat down with Founder David Sherry to chat the origin of the site, and his five tactics to building (and inspiring) creative communities. Check out our Shape Shift Report x Death to Stock collaboration in The Future Issue - https://www.shapeshiftreport.co/ Learn more about Death to Stock - https://deathtothestockphoto.com/

SHHHOWERCAP is putting the beauty basic back on the map in a way we haven't seen it before. Tune in as we chat with the Founder + Beauty Boss, Jackie De Jesu, about the roots of the brand and her five things to keep top of mind when turning a product from basic to noteworthy. Learn more about SHHHOWERCAP: https://www.shhhowercap.com/

Coast to Costa isn't your typical travel agency. The company focuses on curating experiences that encourage travelers to veer away from the tourist traps and live like locals. Tune in as we chat with the Founder, Andrew Tyree, about the roots of the agency and his five components for creating unique experiences around the world. Learn more about Coast to Costa: http://www.coasttocosta.com/

This is The Riff, where Matte Black sits down between SESSIONS to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, our Director of Operations talks about the idea of "momentum brands," and how emerging brands can set themselves up to be in that lane. Read the article in the latest issue of the Shape Shift Report: https://www.shapeshiftreport.co/articles/a-guide-to-establishing-brand-culture

Career building - how should one go finding their niche? On this episode, Miki Reynolds, Community Builder + Connector, breaks down her guide to foraging your own career path.

In line with our Impact Issue, we sat down to chat with a brand that's making an impact through their business. The Giving Keys exists to employ those transitioning out of homelessness in Los Angeles. Tune in as we chat with Brit Gilmore, President of The Giving Keys, about building the brand, the evolution of their products, and how they measure impact.

Let's take a minute to talk about data. On this episode of The Riff, Matte Black's Director of Operations gives a data guide for people who may not be experts in the area. Tune in for a breakdown of three simple steps that will help you acquire insights about your customers.

What does it take to open a hospitality business in a bustling city? Our friend Cyndi Ramirez is here to share her insights. On this episode, we chat with Cyndi about her recent business Chillhouse, a salon and coffeeshop hybrid in NYC. Tune in as we chat her career history, opening Chillhouse, and her 5 tactics for building a fruitful business. Learn more about Chillhouse - http://chillhouse.com/ About Cyndi Ramirez - https://www.instagram.com/cyndiramirez/

This is The Riff - a podcast where Matte Black sits down between Sessions to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, Matte Black Founder + Creative Director, Chelsea Matthews, talks about taste levels - making sense of what taste is, how to define your own, and a few key questions to ask yourself when approaching the topic of taste.

Forgo the vitamin aisle. Care/of is the brand that let's you build daily vitamin packs made to suit your needs. Tune in as we chat Craig Elbert, Care/of's Founder, about their beginnings and the five non-negotiable factors that the team vowed to keep while building the brand.

This is The Riff, a podcast where Matte Black sits down between Sessions to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, Micah chats about the 1 year anniversary of the podcast - our challenges, points of differentiation, and our game plan for the next year.

In a time when "farm to table" is a staple phrase for most restaurants, how do you stand out from the crowd? Tune in as we chat with Christina Wong - Director of PR and Brand Expression at Tender Greens - about the history of the brand, crafting unique stories, and what's in store for Tender Greens.

This is The Riff, a podcast where Matte Black sits down between Sessions to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, we discuss music festivals - how they've evolved, how brands have participated in the past, and how to be strategic about participating in the music festival mayhem.

Behind every impact story, there is a strategy. Enter Picture Motion, marketing and advocacy firm for issue driven films. Tune in as we chat with Founder Christie Marchese about the company, the strategy behind truly making an impact through storytelling, and the importance of issue-driven films in this day and age. Learn more about Picture Motion:http://www.picturemotion.com/

This is The Riff, a podcast where Matte Black sits down between Sessions to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, we chat about the gig economy - it's highs, lows, and it's future.

Starting a new business is all about experimenting until the pieces fit together. Christina, Founder of Jig+Saw, and Maggie, Community Director, know all about it. Tune in as we chat the spaces' history, building a community amongst strangers, and why it's important to hustle instead of work. Learn more about Jig+Saw: http://jigplussaw.com/

It's the toothbrush that you've seen everywhere - quip, the functional brush with a beautiful design. Tune in as we chat with quip Founder, Simon Enever, about the history, milestones, and future for the disruptive brand. Learn more about quip: https://www.getquip.com/

You're listening to The Riff, a podcast where Matte Black sits down between Sessions to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, we chat about social media channels - how they're all starting to have similar functions and how we should adjust our social media content strategies as they evolve.

Introducing The Riff, a podcast where Matte Black sits down between Sessions to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, our Director of Operations chats about a brand who's doing customer service the right way.

In order for a brand to reach great heights, there's got to be a cozy cohesion between brand messaging and content. We chat with Rebecca Prusinowski, Director of Content at Parachute Home, about content strategy. Tune in as we break down building + establishing content, maintaining a disruptive brand, and creating content that has a longtail effect.

Introducing The Riff, a podcast where Matte Black sits down between Sessions to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, we chat about a few recent campaigns by Spotify and how they're making data cool again.

It's always better to be nice. Michaela d'Artois puts the childhood lesson to use in her everyday life, especially when it comes to building her brand. Tune in as we chat with the Founder of Verité Published about building a brand, growing a community, and letting niceness lead the way. Learn more: http://veritepublished.com/

Introducing The Riff, a podcast where Matte Black sits down between Sessions to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, we chat about ads from the Big Game - the recurring themes, favorites, and ones that just didn't score.

Introducing The Riff, a podcast where Matte Black sits down between SESSIONS to chat about industry happenings and creative musings. On this episode, we chat about a MailChimp campaign that has caught our eye...

Video is on the rise. With it becoming a more prevalent form of content for brands, how does one choose how to implement it into content strategy? We chat with Drew Shannon from StyleHaul about just that. Tune in as we chat video strategy, establishing ad spend, and the methods behind using influencers on YouTube. Learn more about StyleHaul: http://www.stylehaul.com/

A design is only the first step, but where can creatives go to get their designs out in to the world? Tune in as we chat with Stephan Ango, Co-Founder of Lumi, about the design industry, the path to finding his company, and the importance of making sure creativity stays within a whole project - from ideation to distribution. Learn more about Lumi -https://www.lumi.com/