S02/E06 - Redefining Indigenous Design: Jennifer Taback on Leading with Culture, Story, and Courage

Jennifer Taback didn’t set out to become the co-founder of one of Canada’s leading Indigenous creative studios — but that’s exactly what she’s built with Design de Plume.

In this episode of CAPTN OffScript, Jennifer shares her journey from tech burnout to co-leading a values-driven design agency that works with clients like Indigenous Tourism Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Johns Hopkins University — all while centering Indigenous identity, storytelling, and cultural context in everything they do.

We talk about what it really means to run an Indigenous creative agency: the invisible labor, the cultural weight, the moments of pushback, and the deep joy of designing work that reflects community and connection. From decolonizing minimalism to designing complex, story-rich systems — Jennifer brings a perspective that’s as bold as it is needed.

She also opens up about the personal side of leadership — balancing motherhood with agency life, letting go of perfectionism, and using beadwork as a creative outlet. And in a first for this show, Jennifer brings a free gift to share with the entire design community…

✨ The Indigenous Communications Toolkit – created by Design de Plume – is now available and free to download. It’s a practical, thoughtful guide to writing and speaking with more clarity, respect, and cultural awareness.

Whether you’re an agency owner, creative director, designer, strategist, or simply someone who wants to do better — this episode is for you.

🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons.

Welcome to CAPTN OffScript.

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🔗 Full episode notes + transcript: https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e06-redefining-indigenous-design-jennifer-taback-on-leading-with-culture-story-and-courage

📖 Download the Indigenous Communications Toolkit: https://deplume.ca/IndigenousToolkit

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript

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