In this episode of The Spark, Mark Scrivner sits down with Dale Addy—veteran designer, agency founder, and Belmont University professor—to talk about creativity, collaboration, and the bridge between professional design practice and education. Dale shares insights from three decades of creative leadership, reflecting on lessons learned at global agencies, the founding of DNA Creative with his wife April, and his transition into teaching.

Listeners will discover how Dale helps young designers balance craft and concept, navigate client relationships, and approach creative work with humility and purpose. From original thinking and black-and-white presentations to teaching design students the value of research and empathy, this conversation highlights what it truly means to design for others—and not just yourself.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:02 — How Dale found his path from art to design and business

• 05:33 — Starting DNA Creative and lessons in small-agency collaboration

• 10:11 — Why originality matters: using your brain before Google

• 11:33 — Teaching design clients with black-and-white first principles

• 21:19 — How Dale found purpose in teaching the next generation

• 26:37 — Designing for your client’s client: empathy and research

• 34:14 — The real feedback students need from creative mentors

• 39:09 — Why creative leaders must give back to the next generation

Learn More & Connect
Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/
Connect With Dale Addy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-addy-a8652a5/ | https://belmont.edu
Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com
Our Sponsor – Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com