Katie Kirk makes work that feels bright, generous, and deeply human. As one half of Eight Hour Day, she’s spent her career building a studio known for warmth, clarity, and work that quietly holds up over time.

In this episode, we get an unusually grounded look at what it actually takes to sustain a small independent design studio. Katie talks candidly about how her relationship to creativity has changed, how life pressure reshapes the work, and why staying small was always the point.

Here’s some of what we cover:

• How to build a small design studio that lasts (Eight Hour Day has just celebrated 20 years)
• Levers to bring in work when things are slow
• How personal work quietly shapes future client opportunities
• Simple little things you can get today to help bring joy to your day
• How life, family, and creativity intersect
• Simple habits that support creativity when things feel heavy

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep making meaningful work without turning your career into your entire identity, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and a more sustainable way forward.

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Brad Woodard

Brad is an illustrator and designer behind Brave the Woods, a full-service studio working with clients like PBS Kids, Ford, Target, and USPS. His bold, playful style and heart-led storytelling shine through everything from brand campaigns to children’s books.

View Brave the Woods

Dustin Lee

Dustin is the founder of RetroSupply, a shop for retro-inspired brushes, textures, and digital tools used by tens of thousands of creatives from indie artists to major studios. He shares what it’s really like to run a creative business while keeping it small, weird, and intentional.

View RetroSupply

Credits

Audio/video editing: Clara Wright
Cover art: Brad Woodard
Intro animation: Seth Austin
Intro music: “Snakes and Fire” (Instrumental) by Pär Hagström