Mike Perry is the founder and chief creative officer of Tavern, a Brooklyn-based global creative agency crafting timeless brands across food, beverage, hospitality, and beyond.

With 15+ years at the forefront of brand building, Mike’s earned a reputation as a certified creative powerhouse. His career spans leading roles at top global studios like Stranger & Stranger, Design Bridge, and JKR, and media giants like NBC Sports and TikTok. He’s the creative mind behind some of the industry’s most recognizable rebrands for clients such as Budweiser, Burger King, and Diageo.

Mike Perry Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mike_l_perry/

Mike Perry LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelperry/

Tavern Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tavern.agency/

Tavern X - https://x.com/tavern_agency

Tavern LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tavernagency/

Drop us a line - cheers@tavern.agency

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Podcast art by Maliya Naz

What if the most powerful kind of creativity isn’t about making things beautiful, but making them clear?

Gordon Kaye never planned to work in design. He studied law, built a career in New York, and handled media and trademark cases before joining NBC as counsel, reviewing everything from late-night jokes to broadcast standards. But when his father’s health declined, he stepped away from law to take over the family publication, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), a magazine his father had launched in the 1960s to celebrate the people behind design, not just the work itself.

What began as a rescue mission became a lifelong calling. Gordon brought his legal mind and curiosity for communication to a creative field that thrives on clarity. Over the decades, he’s evolved GDUSA into more than a design magazine, it’s a respected voice for how ideas move through business, marketing, and culture.

On this episode of Design Of, Gordon and Justin talk about what design can teach every leader: how to communicate simply, lead with empathy, and build trust through the way we share information. They discuss how his outsider’s view helped him see design not as decoration, but as direction. And how clarity, when done well, can turn creative thinking into real influence.

For business and marketing leaders, this episode is about more than design. It’s about the responsibility of communication. About how we help people see what matters. And how legacy, when guided by purpose, can evolve without losing its truth.

Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.

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Podcast art by Maliya Naz

In this episode of The GDUSA Podcast, we welcome Paige Breedlove, Vice President and Senior Digital Recruiter at Robert Half’s Digital Talent Center, and Lucy Marino, Executive Director of Robert Half’s marketing and creative practice.

Together, Paige and Lucy offer an expert perspective on the evolving nature of creative work—specifically, the accelerating shift from traditional graphic design to digital-first production and media. Drawing on their extensive experience guiding both companies and individuals, they explore how these changes are influencing hiring practices, skill requirements, and career development strategies across the industry.

Topics Covered:

• The transformation of graphic design roles in a digital-first world
• What hiring managers are prioritizing in today’s creative candidates
• Strategies for job seekers to remain competitive and relevant
• Insights into workforce trends and the future of creative talent

Featured Guests:

• Paige Breedlove — Vice President & Senior Digital Recruiter, Robert Half Digital Talent Center
• Lucy Marino — Executive Director, Marketing & Creative Practice, Robert Half

Resources:

• Robert Half | Marketing & Creative Talent Solutions
• Lucy Marino’s career column in GDUSA

Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.

Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!
https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recent

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Podcast art by Maliya Naz