The Creative Boom Podcast

We're back with the wonderful Matt Baxter of Baxter & Bailey for The Spark, our fun bonus episode with each week's guest. We talk about orange hats, forgotten skills, and the power of liking what you do. There's nostalgia, karaoke, and a bit of Play-Doh. Matt shares what he wishes he were good at, how he handles creative jealousy, and a few stories that reveal the lighter side of life. There's even an asteroid question and a brilliant one for our next guest. Light, funny and perfectly human, it's the ideal post-pod companion.

Designer, writer and hat connoisseur Matt Baxter of Baxter & Bailey joins us on The Creative Boom Podcast this week to talk about imperfection, community, and the creative life. Matt's been in the game for three decades – from Trickett & Webb and 300million to co-founding his Brighton studio with Dom Bailey in 2012. Since then, they've built thoughtful, human brands for Oxford University Press, The Body Shop, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Mail and the BBC. But it's his side project, The Design Laundry, that really caught my eye. It's a gloriously honest archive of our industry's mishaps – typos, rogue emails, pitch disasters – and the lessons that come from them. We talk about growing up in Burnley, moving south, why pondering still matters, and how to keep a studio human when speed rules everything. We also get into Brighton's creative scene, building community, and why staying off Instagram helps with creative jealousy. It's warm, funny and refreshingly honest... with bonus seagulls.

In this bonus episode, Pum Lefebure of Design Army opens the studio door and lets us peek at the small rituals that keep her sharp, the mindset that replaces work–life "balance", and the travel habits that refill her creative well. We talk about fear, firsts, and learning new tools the hard way. She shares the single phrase a client used to define Design Army's signature. It's a good one. There's scent, style, and a guilty pleasure that might surprise you. We finish with Pum's question for our next guest. A big what-would-you-do that you'll be answering in your head before the credits roll.

Pum Lefebure is the cofounder and chief creative officer of Design Army, the award-winning Washington DC studio behind bold campaigns for clients like The Washington Ballet, Bloomingdale's, and Hong Kong Ballet. Known for her clarity of vision, Pum set her sights on fashion, performing arts, and culture from the very beginning, building a portfolio that attracted exactly the clients she wanted. In this conversation, Pum shares how she and her husband Jake turned a yard sale poster into their first break, why every project is a calling card, and how choosing clients with intent can shape the future of your career. We talk about the balance between paid work and passion projects, what it really takes to build a studio with grit and perseverance, and why leadership means being a coach, a cheerleader, and sometimes a plumber. Pum also reflects on staying relevant in an industry shifting at lightning speed, how AI and social media are changing client expectations, and why authenticity and craft still matter more than ever. This conversation is about courage, focus, and carving your own path – and it's packed with practical wisdom for anyone dreaming of their own creative career.

Jeff Staple is back for The Spark – our quickfire after-hours chat where we dig beneath the surface and have a little fun. In this shorter episode, Jeff opens up about the small rituals that keep him grounded, how to turn jealousy into fuel, and why getting sunlight on your face at 6 a.m. can change your whole day. We talk about his inner critic (which sounds suspiciously like his mum), the smell of childhood baseball gloves, and why Bruce Lee remains his creative hero. There's talk of UFOs, the perfect typeface, and what he'd say if he ever met an alien. It's curious, funny, and full of unexpected wisdom... the perfect companion to Monday's deeper dive. Tune in, share it with a friend, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a moment of The Spark.