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© 2026 Rebecca Russell & Rebecca Balogh
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Behind the Scope hosts conversations about the business behind creative work. We talk about pricing, positioning and building a sustainable career in the creative industry.
128 Episodes
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Design used to mean something. Now it's a $5 Fiverr logo and an AI prompt away. So what the hell happened?In this episode, we're getting into the uncomfortable truth about how digitalization and globalization were just the beginning of what we are seeing today with AI.We're talking about how design went from a specialized craft to a commodity, why platforms like Fiverr and 99designs accelerated the race to the bottom.We also get into the ethics of it all: the outsourcing, the exploitation, the "exposure" economy, and what it means for creatives trying to build a real business today.
It's a common experience as a creative to lose out on a project to someone not as good. If we feel like our work is good, why isn't that enough? We kind of assume that if someone is the best option it should just be obvious. But clearly that's not how it works. A conversation on positioning and how communication can change everything.Guest links:Website: https://fromblandtobrand.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-from-bland-to-brand/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromblandtobrand/Photo credit:© Arnela Kameric
Most people run their business around deadlines, clients, and expectations. The toxic "hustle culture" rhetoric online tends to glorify consistent high productivity and being busy. Why are we leaving out the fact that half the population experiences a menstrual cycle is it left out of the productivity conversation? Guest links:Website: https://www.femergency.atInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/femergency.at?igsh=MWhmdG5jemY0b25lZw%3D%3DPhoto credits:© olivialaura.at
Behind the Scope hosts honest & transparent discussions about the creative industry, pricing creative work and all things business.Follow links:InstagramThreadsYouTube
We may have unintentionally triggered the AI vibe coders on Threads. We pointed out an obvious issue: many AI-generated websites look impressive at first, but fall apart once a real client needs to edit or maintain them. No proper content management, no flexibility, and no clear handover after launch. So we asked ourselves is this really the future or are we setting clients back decades while devaluing our industry further?
Some freelancers might know deep down that they should be charging more, but have they ever actually looked at their own numbers to confirm?In this episode we talk about the psychology behind bad pricing decisions in the creative industry. Competition anxiety, fear of losing out on projects, and the discomfort of looking at your own financial reality. We explore why pricing stubbornness can be tied to identity and/or insecurity.
This week we’re joined by wedding stationery and branding designer Marina Brooks, who has spent years inside one of the most emotionally charged corners of the design industry. We talk about what really happens when design stops being a business decision and becomes identity, taste, pressure, and expectations all at once.We also get into the stories. Unrealistic requests, disagreements between partners… and one project that sadly didn't end in a wedding. This episode is less about weddings and more about what happens when design becomes a deeply personal product.Guest links:Website: https://vonschoenstein.atInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vonschoenstein
In this episode, we talk to Alber Armendáriz, co-founder of Armen + Max, about building a creative business that’s rooted in values, purpose, and transparency. Alber shares how he went from studying engineering to building a creative career working with founders, helping them articulate what they stand for and why it matters. We talk about following your passions, navigating perfectionism, and learning to define success on your own terms instead of borrowing someone else’s version of it.Guest links:Website: https://www.armenmaks.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/armenandmaks/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@alber_armendariz
In this episode, we talk with freelance illustrator Carina Lindmeier about her path from agency project management into a full-time freelance illustration career. Carina shares what it really looked like to leave a structured role behind, finding her style, and start taking her own creative work seriously.Guest links:Website: https://carinalindmeier.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/carinalindmeier/
In this episode, we talk with Katharina Luger, former managing director of Traktor, about her journey through the advertising industry and her recent exit from the agency. Together, we look at her path from creative roles into leadership, how Traktor built its distinct approach to advertising, and what it really means to lead creative teams through change, including the challenges of the pandemic years.Guest links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharina-luger-078a4414a/
We break down the main things you should factor into your prices: creator factors like experience level and whether you are a solo freelancer or a team, commissioner factors like client size, funding stage, location and influence, and industry factors that change how much companies are willing to spend on design. We also talk about rush fees, discounts, payment provider fees and why most people forget to include them.Faktor: https://www.faktor.soLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faktor-app/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@faktor.soInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/faktor.so
In this episode, we break down how hourly pricing emerged from male dominated consulting models, why it rewards speed and constant availability, and how that harms women, especially mothers and anyone who cannot or does not want to sell 40 hours a week. We explore value based pricing as a feminist position that centers impact, insight and emotional labor instead of hours, and what it means for women to step into roles as strategists, decision makers and value definers without simply reinforcing the existing system.
In this episode, we talk about value in the creative industry through a feminist lens. Who decides what is valuable and how has it affected our industry? We look at how execution work and emotional labor are still treated as less valuable than strategy, how that connects to the history of women doing the invisible parts of design, and why the industry keeps rewarding awards, speed and output instead of process. We also get into how AI will push execution work to be worth even less, why that makes value based pricing more important than ever.
In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to build a creative business that does not burn you out. We share how we went from severe burnout in our first years as a studio to building systems, boundaries, and pricing that actually support us. We cover planning your year with realistic capacity, making time for holidays, choosing tools and workflows that fit how you work, and setting working hours that match your energy instead of a 9 to 5 template. We also get into positioning, pricing, and project planning so you can avoid scope creep, chaotic timelines, and clients who do not respect your time. A practical check in for anyone who wants their business to feel sustainable this year, not just busy.
In this episode, we look back at our year as a studio and talk honestly about what happened behind the scenes. We share why our monthly recaps quietly stopped, how guest interviews took over our schedule, and how 2025 became the year of internal projects. We also talk about highs and lows, hiring our first assistant, and building community through Discord and events.
In this episode, we take a radical feminist look at why the creative industry remains inaccessible for many women. We talk about the pressure to work for free, the expectation to prove yourself before being taken seriously, and how this creates a barrier that women, especially those without financial safety nets, cannot cross. We also discuss the lack of women in leadership roles, the gatekeeping that happens in award jurys, and how decision making power is still concentrated in the hands of men. A conversation about access, opportunity, and the hidden costs of succeeding in the creative industry.
In this episode, we look at the feminist history of design and how the industry we know today was shaped by decisions, structures, and narratives that left many women out of the story. We explore how early design movements pushed women into “craft” while men defined what counted as “design,” why credit was unevenly distributed, and how these patterns still show up in creative work today. A conversation about recognition, visibility, and understanding the systems we inherit as creatives.
In this episode, we talk with Scy Heidekamp, creative technologist and founder of Qtures, about working at the point where art and technology meet. Scy shares how she approaches AI in her creative practice, why documenting your process matters, and what ethical questions creatives should think about as tools evolve. We also explore the idea of quantum creativity, what it could mean for the future of creative work, and why claiming your identity as a creative is more important than ever. A conversation about curiosity, community, and staying grounded while the industry shifts around us.Guest links:Qtures: https://qtures.comWebsite: https://scyheidekamp.nlQuantum Creativity Framework: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vcLYPwDfv0k1UzinDmRW45VF-zP0wrk2/view?usp=drivesdk
In this episode, we talk with Shideh Heravi, UX researcher and founder of Healthblokk, about how a personal health challenge led her to build a startup for people with dietary restrictions. She shares what she learned from her own journey, the reality of starting something on your own, and why asking questions matter more than perfect answers. We also talk about building around a problem, staying resilient, and finding your place in the tech startup scene as a woman.Guest links:Website: https://healthblokk.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shideh-heravi/
In this episode, we talk with Vanessa Olt, a Berlin-based business consultant and until 2025 the co-founder of Nea-Kosma with Rea Stamatoulakis, about the financial realities behind building a creative business. Vanessa shares the insecurities she sees most often in her clients, from money anxiety to business clarity struggles, and explains how she supports them through a mix of co-creating and what she calls “business therapy.” We discuss the importance of understanding how creatives think, speaking their language, and adapting business models to match their needs and financial comfort levels. A grounding conversation about money, financial literacy, and helping creatives feel supported rather than overwhelmed.Guest links:Website: https://www.vanessaolt.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/v.olt/Photo credits:© Marina Hoppmann
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