Debbie Millman is quite possibly the baddest bitch in brand.

If you know design, you know Debbie.

Designer, author, educator, artist, brand consultant and business leader, Debbie has spent more than four decades shaping the creative industry. She's one of only five women in the 100-year history of AIGA to serve as President, the Editorial Director of Print Magazine, Chair and co-founder of the Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts, and the author of eight books.

She's best known as the creator and host of Design Matters—one of the world's longest-running podcasts. For more than 21 years, she's interviewed over 700 of the world's greatest creative minds, earning a reputation as one of the best interviewers in the world.

Somehow, the day we recorded this chat i managed to strike up the courage to find my inner bad bitch and flip the mic to interview her.

In this conversation, we go on an eras tour through Debbie's incredible 40-year career. We talk ambition, identity, creativity, burnout, success, failure, reinvention, and what it really takes to build a meaningful creative life.

There's one thing Debbie is famous for saying:

"Anything worthwhile takes a really long time."

It's a line I think about often.

Debbie started Design Matters because she was burnt out and looking for a creative outlet beyond her day job. She had no idea it would become one of the most influential design podcasts in the world.

I think that's the biggest lesson this whole journey has taught me.

Your career doesn't have to fulfil every part of who you are. Sometimes the most meaningful thing you'll build exists alongside it.

For me, that's been Badass Bitches in Brand. And if this podcast has reminded even one person they're not alone, then it's been worth every second.

Before I hand you over to Debbie, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for listening, for sharing these conversations, and to every incredible woman who's trusted me with her story. I look forward to chatting to you all again next season.

From one badass bitch to another... please welcome Debbie Millman.

Shownotes

Listen to Design Matters

One of the world's longest-running and most influential podcasts, hosted by Debbie Millman.

https://designmattersmedia.com/

Follow Debbie Millman

Keep up with Debbie's latest work, writing, artwork and podcast updates.

https://www.instagram.com/debbiemillman/

Explore PRINT Magazine

Read Debbie's latest articles and conversations on design, creativity and culture.

https://www.printmag.com/

Watch Debbie's TED Talks

From branding and creativity to finding meaning through design.

https://www.ted.com/speakers/debbie_millman

Read Debbie's Books

Explore Debbie's books on design, branding, creativity and life.

https://debbiemillman.com/books-writing/

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Emily Sneddon is a former Coles checkout chick, part-time investigative journalist, and a designer so good that, at the age of four, her preschool ripped off one of her drawings and made it their very own logo.

And who says people don’t value real design?

If you know Em, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say she’s the biggest ray of sunshine. Full of wit, all heart, and fuelled by a genuine passion for making beautiful graphics.

Em’s career journey is about as non-linear as they come.

Without giving too much away, it starts in Newcastle, takes a wild four-month detour to Mexico for an internship, and eventually lands in Sydney, where she found her feet at some of the best studios in the game, including RE and Christopher Doyle & Co.

Then, like a lot of people, Emily lost her job during COVID.

Faced with uncertainty, she found the courage to back herself and take a shot at a role she never thought she’d get a look-in for.

And sure enough, ten interviews later, she landed a Senior Designer role at COLLINS in San Francisco where she rose to Design Director after almost 4 years —an opportunity that changed her life forever. ❤️

In this episode, I sit down with Em to pick her brain about her creative process and the lessons she’s learned from some of the industry’s greats along the way.

We talk about going deep on an idea. Following your curiosity. Getting lost in the work.

And trusting that sometimes you have to disappear into the process to come back with something worth keeping.

We also kick off my new favourite BABIB segment: Hot Chicks Make Fonts™.

A segment I built specifically so we could talk about Em’s first typeface, Fran Sans.

A love letter to San Francisco, Fran Sans started as a simple idea and quickly spiralled into a full-blown investigation of train nerd culture, all because Em wanted to make something that didn’t exist yet.

And that’s what this episode is really about. The beauty of making things. Seeing where they take you. Making your dreams happen.

Because sometimes the thing that changes your life starts as one tiny spark of curiosity.

Thanks for joining me Em x

SHOWNOTES

Follow or get in touch with Emily Sneddon on

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilysneddon/

Website

https://emilysneddon.com/

Fran Sans Font & Journey Essay

https://emilysneddon.com/fran-sans-essay

https://emilysneddon.com/fransans

COLLINS

https://wearecollins.com/

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Erin is an Australian writer, producer, Walkley-nominated documentary filmmaker, and co-founder of Entropico, a global production company and creative studio built on finding and fostering exciting, diverse voices across in entertainment and advertising.

She’s also the co-founder of WOOM, the startup fighting period shame, empowering workplaces, and making period care more accessible.

If that wasn’t enough, Erin was also the writer and producer of the 2023 Netflix film ONEFOUR: Against All Odds — a documentary that follows the rise of western Sydney-based drill rap group ONEFOUR.

In this episode, we get into Erin’s career journey — from music journalist making film clips with friends on the side, to building Entropico from her literal living room floor, all the way to being named Production Agency of the Year at last year's 2025 B&T Awards.

We talk about the lessons she’s learned growing the agency, what it was really like taking on the ambitious challenge of producing a Netflix film, what she actually looks for when repping new talent, and why sometimes you shouldn’t aim for first, but second best.

What I love most about Erin is how humble and chill she is. You can tell she’s the kind of producer you’d always want bringing your work to life.

She has a genuine ability to see something special in creative people and a real passion for helping diverse stories be told in ways that enrich culture.

Through Entropico, she’s creating space for new voices to actually shape the industry - not just exist within it.

We need more BABIBs like Erin at the helm, and I can’t wait to see more women like her shine.

SHOWNOTES

Follow Erin

https://entropico.com.au/

https://erinmoy.com.au/

Watch One Four; Against All Odds on Netflix

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81485425

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