From Manchester to Pearlfisher NYC | Sheps

About this episode

Kristian Shepherd (Sheps) was kicked out of school in Manchester, ended up at Turner Duckworth, his "Real Madrid of design," and is now a Senior Designer at Pearlfisher in New York. Alongside the day job, he's hosted 65+ episodes of the What Does Your Mum Think podcast, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu daily, and just been announced as a D&AD Shift mentor. This is a different kind of conversation. We get into the journey, the moments of feeling completely lost, what mental health actually looks like inside the creative industry, and why he genuinely believes pressure is a privilege. 00:00 Intro: 17 years, three cities, one designer 03:18 Turner Duckworth: the dream agency and what really happens when you get there 08:37 Feeling lost after TD and the leap into freelance 12:32 Where the drive comes from: dad on the removals, kicked out of school 17:50 Pearlfisher: leaving a legacy and building community in New York 22:11 Three years of What Does Your Mum Think and how it has changed 29:00 Running a podcast alongside a full-time role: structured chaos 38:22 Delaying joy for success and learning to define it for yourself 45:48 Becoming a D&AD Shift mentor and giving back 53:26 Why vulnerability is the most underrated leadership skill Kristian Shepherd, known in the industry as Sheps, is a Mancunian designer with 17 years of experience across Turner Duckworth, B&B Studio and a freelance chapter in London, before moving to New York in 2023 to join Pearlfisher as a Senior Designer. He's the founder and host of the What Does Your Mum Think? podcast, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, and a recently announced D&AD Shift mentor. Subscribe for monthly conversations with creative directors, motion designers, brand strategists and studio leaders at the forefront of the industry. Follow OK Social: https://www.instagram.com/oksocial_/ Follow WDYMT?: https://www.instagram.com/wdymt_official/ Subscribe to WDYMT?: www.youtube.com/@WDYMT_OFFICIAL Months in Motion is produced by OK Social, a London-based motion design studio. #BrandDesign #DesignPodcast #CreativeIndustry