When you speak with Greg Branson and Carol Mackay, you’re not just talking to seasoned creatives, you’re sitting with two of the most generous minds in the Australian design industry.

I met them a year ago at The Design Conference in Brisbane. What started as an unassuming chat in the sun turned into a discussion that changed my perspective on the way I value my time and skills. Getting the impression that I was with my people, I quickly accepted their invitation to join them for breakfast the next day, where the creative experiences around the table ranged from regional to metro, freelance to agency, and graduate to veteran.

After co-founding and running Mackay Branson Design for decades, Greg and Carol pivoted to build the kind of business they wish they'd had while running a studio. That business is the Design Business Council; a resource, a guide, and a lifeline for creatives learning how to lead, charge, and grow.

Carol’s superpower is translating the hard-to-digest into plain, practical guidance, shaped by her experience designing for courts, ombudsmen, and emergency services. Greg’s fascination lies in systems, structure, and the business sideof creativity. Together, they research, mentor, and reimagine what a sustainable creative practice looks like.

What stood out to me in our chat is how aligned they are in values and vision, not just as collaborators, but as life partners. We spoke about the messy middle between art and commerce, the future of creative education, the soft skills no one teaches, and why generosity and curiosity are their chosen legacy.

Whether you’re just out of design school, in the thick of running your own practice, or navigating what’s next, this conversation will offer insight, clarity, and maybe even a little creative therapy.

So what could two people who have seen it all, possibly do with their time after winning $100 million? Keep listening for my chat with the dream team that is Greg and Carol.

Connect with Trish: www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone

Connect with Greg and Carol: www.designbusinesscouncil.com

Learn about Oath + Stone: www.oathandstone.com.au

Apply to be a guest: www.oathandstone.com.au/creativebones

Chloe Wickham is a designer whose work sits at the intersection of creativity, business and behavioural insight. With a degree in Business and Design from Griffith University, Chloe’s path began with a love of art and a desire to help out with her dad’s business, and quickly grew into a passion for strategic, purposeful design that connects with people and shapes the way we live.

Freshly graduated, Chloe is now building her freelance practice from regional Victoria, and in this episode, we speak aboutwhat it’s really like to move from the structure of university to the ambiguity of creative entrepreneurship.

We speak about routine and rest, black-and-white thinking vs the grey, and how both city streets and bushland walks can shape your creative output. We’ll also dig into the psychology of design, the impact of visual communication on behaviour, and why Chloe believes design should always serve people and the planet.

Want to know how she would spend day two if she had $100 million in the bank? Please enjoy this thoughtful and energisingconversation with Chloe Wickham.

> Connect with Trish: https://www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone/

> Learn more about Oath + Stone: https://www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone/

> Apply to be a guest: https://www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone/

Rach Viski is the founder of Minta Viski, a graphic design studio based in Wagga Wagga. She’s part artist, part graphic designer, known for creating site-specific envirographics and bold visual identities that feel deeply rooted in place. She’s a storyteller, a collaborator, and a forager of meaningful connections. If there’s a conversation to be had in a country show line or over a cup of tea at the school hall, Rach is in it, gathering insight, listening deeply, and transforming it into design that whirrs and hums with the heart of human experience.

I met Rach at a client launch event in the first year of my business, and soon realised she lived down the road from my Mum. Before long she was pouring me a cuppa in her kitchen, and for years we’ve talked freely about being small business owners, our love for design, and how we balance the demands of creative work and school pickup. When she speaks, shereminds me of the simple beauties of the world, and to take a breath of crisp country air.

In this episode, we speak about creativity in wide open spaces. What it’s like to live and work as a designer in regional New South Wales. The visibility gap between metro and country creatives. The challenges that come with slow internet and fast deadlines. And the value of creating work that might not go viral, but makes a real difference on the main street, in a hospital lift, or in the eyes of a child who sees themselves represented on the wall.

This conversation is also about belonging. About finding your people, building your own stage, and celebrating the “perfectlyimperfect” creative moments that make regional design unique. Rach is a kindred spirit and a long-time collaborator of mine, and I’m thrilled to finally share her voice with you here, beyond her kitchen table.

As always, I started by asking Rach what she’d do with her days if $100 million suddenly landed in her lap. Please enjoy my conversation with sunshine in a mug, Rach Viski.

Oh...and listen right to the end to fill up your bingo card.

> Connect with Trish

> Learn about Oath + Stone

> Apply to be a guest on Creative Bones