Design is Everywhere

From the Archive: Designing in Nature’s Image Jun 02, 2022

This episode originally aired on March 3, 2022.
What is the designer’s role in the climate crisis? At Climate Designers, Sarah Harrison and her team use their creative skills for climate action and ask the question, “What if every designer were a climate designer?” In this week’s episode, we chat about how designers of all kinds can take climate action. Sam is joined by Sarah Harrison, Co-Founder of Climate Designers and The Determined. Sarah shares how she came to found Climate Designers with Marc O’Brien and the role of design in creating real climate action. Later on in the show, they are joined by Bobby Gill, Director of Development and Communications at Savory Institute, which uses holistic management to facilitate the large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands and the livelihoods of their inhabitants. Together, they talk about why it is important to regenerate the world’s grasslands and how the Savory Institute uses Holistic Management.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
From the Archive: Designing in Nature’s Image

From the Archive: Beyond the Word: Designing Type May 26, 2022

This episode originally aired on October 14, 2021.

How does type affect the brand identity? In this week’s episode, we learn about the power of typography to transform the voice of a brand. Sam is joined by Blake Goodwin, the Founder and President of Proportion Design, a Boston-based branding agency whose work spans all areas of the built environment, extensive lifestyle and consumer verticals, and a broad range of corporate services. Blake chats about his projects and process. Later on in the show, they are joined by Matteo Bologna, the Principal, Creative Director, and Founder of Mucca Design, an award-winning New York-based branding firm that transforms businesses through uncommon creative solutions. Together they discuss how they incorporate typography in their own brand identity projects and how they discovered their love for type design.

For links to resources we discuss in this episode, visit our show page:

Beyond the Word: Designing Type

From the Archive: Reframing the Workplace for the Knowledge Economy May 19, 2022

This episode originally aired on August 19, 2021.
What does it look like to design a workplace that supports and values learning? In this week’s episode, we are talking about the role of education in the workplace. Sam is joined by Elizabeth Lowrey, Principal and Director of Interior Architecture at Elkus Manfredi Architects and a member of Design Museum Everywhere’s Board of Directors. Elizabeth chats about the co-creation process at Elkus Manfredi and how employees find meaning in their work. Later on in the show, they are joined by Michael Horn, a speaker and author on the future of education. His works include the award-winning book Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns and the Amazon-bestseller Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools. Together they chat about what learning in the workplace looks like, how it works, and what research says about the science of learning.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Reframing the Workplace for the Knowledge Economy

From the Archive: The Shared Mindsets of Designers and Musicians May 12, 2022

This episode originally aired on May 20, 2021.

How do design and music influence one another? In this episode, Sam learns more about music’s impact on design and the shared mindsets of the creative process. He chats with R. Michael Hendrix, Partner and Global Director of Design at IDEO, singer, musician, and co-author of Two Beats Ahead: What Musical Minds Teach Us about Innovation alongside his co-author Panos Panay. Michael talks about the influence of design thinking in music and how he uses music in his design process. Later on in the show, they are joined by Adam Larson, founder and Executive Creative Director of A&Co, a creative consultancy designed for the modern era. Adam chats about how he approaches his design process, collaborating with artists, and how he translates music to a visual medium.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Shared Mindsets of Designers and Musicians

From the Archive: A New Form of Design Firm for Startups May 05, 2022

This episode originally aired on September 16, 2021.
How can design firms center less on the “design for hire” model and more on building relationships with innovative young companies? In this week’s episode, we learn more about a new type of design firm for startups. Sam is joined by Bret Recor, the Founder and Creative Director of award-winning design agency Box Clever. Bret chats about the process of this new hybrid model where Box Clever actually takes a stake in the companies that they work with, which allows them to be more of a partner to these companies. He shares more on how this approach looks different from the “Design for Hire” model. Later on in the show, they are joined by Jamison Pereira, Co-founder of Eddi, a new startup that is launching a sustainable soap dispenser for the modern home. Together they chat about collaborating during lockdown and the power of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
From the Archive: A New Form of Design Firm for Startups

From the Archive: Designing for a Rebrand or Relaunch Apr 28, 2022

This episode originally aired on November 18, 2021.

What is the process and design of a rebrand and how is it different from a relaunch? In this week’s episode, we learn about the process of revitalizing and invigorating brands. Sam is joined by John Roescher, co-founder and CEO at handsome, a holistic experience design agency. John explains how a holistic design agency helps a brand think about every component holistically and the process of a rebrand. Later on in the show, they are joined by Simon Forster, Founder and Executive Creative Director of Robot Food. Together they discuss how they have approached rebranding and relaunching their own projects and guiding other companies through the process.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Designing for a Rebrand or Relaunch

From the Archive: Campus Design for Engagement and Equity Apr 21, 2022

This episode originally aired on December 9, 2021.

In this week’s episode, we learn how institutions are designing equity into their decision-making process. Sam is joined by Linsey Graff, a Senior Campus Planner at DLR Group, a global, integrated design firm with a core practice in architecture, engineering, interiors, and planning. Linsey chats about the importance of getting voices heard to reimagine what the campus is. Later on in the show, they are joined by Melissa Soto, Program Planner at California State University, Long Beach. Together they share how the team at DLR Group worked to capture the realities facing institutions nationwide during the pandemic.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
From the Archive: Campus Design for Engagement and Equity

City Planning: A Conversation with Urban3 and unPlanned Apr 14, 2022

What does it mean to design better city planning and what does that look like? On this week’s episode, we learn about how cities have been designed. Sam is joined by Joe Minicozzi, the Principal of Urban3 and an urban planner imagining new ways to think about and visualize land use, urban design, and economics. Joe talks about the way cities have and have not been designed and the tax implications of city design. Later on in the show, they are joined by Sam Seidel, host of unPlanned, a video podcast about cities and how they work. Together, they talk about how cities have changed since Covid and what Sam has gleaned from his show “unPlanned.”

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
City Planning: A Conversation with Urban3 and unPlanned

Social Work: Design with Purpose Apr 07, 2022

How can designers anticipate the needs of social workers and how can social workers use design thinking in their own work? On this week’s episode, we explore the intersection of social work and design. Sam is joined by Chōkdee Rutirasiri, VP of Experience Strategy and Research at Mad*Pow and Adjunct Professor of Design Thinking at Boston College. He chats about how design can be a tool to change the world through empathy and compassion. Later on in the show, they are joined by Rachael Dietkus, Founder of Social Workers Who Design, a cause-driven, trauma-responsive design consultancy. Together, they talk about what social work is and some common misconceptions about social work.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
Social Work: Design with Purpose

Creating a Space and Opportunity for Artists Mar 31, 2022

How did Liz Powers and her team connect artists who are homeless or disabled with corporate buyers? On this week’s episode, we are learning about an organization that is designing a new marketplace for artists. Sam is joined by Liz Powers, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at ArtLifting where artists impacted by homelessness and disabilities are given a platform to share their talents. Later on in the show, they are joined by Bryan Parker, Director of National Real Estate's Workplace Strategy, Performance and Optimization at PwC, a corporate client of ArtLifting. At PwC, the ArtLifting Curated Collection showcases a diversity of artwork and embodies PwC’s mission of solving important problems and building trust in society. Together, they talk about how corporations can be involved in this work and the impact of art in the workspace.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
Creating a Space and Opportunity for Artists

Hospitality Design that Takes Care of People Mar 24, 2022

What components make up good hospitality? On this week’s episode, we are looking at the decisions seen and unseen that make a hospitality experience captivating, seamless, and truly elevate travel. Sam is joined by Denise Korn, the Founder and Creative Director of Yellow&, a dynamic creative consultancy that brings together the power of a multi-disciplinary mindset and bold talent with a fresh perspective. Denise talks about the design decisions behind thoughtful hospitality and immersing the local culture to the design. Later on in the show, they are joined by Bashar Wali, Chief Executive Officer at Practice Hospitality and the Founder of This Assembly. Bashar is a hospitality evangelist, hotel fanatic, deal maker, risk taker, and passionate leader. Together, they talk about the importance of listening to guests, what most hotels get right, what most hotels get wrong, and putting the consumer front and center.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
Hospitality Design that Takes Care of People

Augmented Reality: Redefining the World as We Know It Mar 17, 2022

How can augmented reality shape the way humans interact? On this week’s episode, we talk about the future of augmented and mixed reality and the potential to change the way we interact with one another. Sam is joined by Gustavo Fontana, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Fresco Design, a forward-thinking product design studio. He shares how AR has shaped the Fresco Design process and the potential of this technology. Later on in the show, they are joined by Avraham Raskin, an Augmented Reality Designer and Founder and CEO of AR by A.R., which helps startups and individuals build augmented reality experiences into new or existing products. Together, they talk about AR in everyday experiences.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
Augmented Reality: Redefining the World as We Know It

The Role of Design for Better Science Communication Mar 10, 2022

What is the role of design thinking to health and risk communication, especially when audiences may be conflicted or disagree on ideological world views?Mad*Pow's Chief Design Strategy Officer, Jen Briselli, published a two part series titled Designing Science Communication that helps answer the question about the role of design in science communication. Sam is joined by Jen Briselli as guest co-host. Jen chats about design’s power for more effective science communication. Later on in the show, they are joined by Dr. Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, Professor of Public Health, Director of the Office of Public Health Practice, and Director of the Global Health Concentration at the Yale School of Public Health. Together, they talk about the U.S. response to the pandemic and the value of design thinking for science communication.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
The Role of Design for Better Science Communication

Designing in Nature’s Image Mar 03, 2022

What is the designer’s role in the climate crisis? At Climate Designers, Sarah Harrison and her team use their creative skills for climate action and ask the question, “What if every designer were a climate designer?” In this week’s episode, we chat about how designers of all kinds can take climate action. Sam is joined by Sarah Harrison, Co-Founder of Climate Designers and The Determined. Sarah shares how she came to found Climate Designers with Marc O’Brien and the role of design in creating real climate action. Later on in the show, they are joined by Bobby Gill, Director of Development and Communications at Savory Institute, which uses holistic management to facilitate the large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands and the livelihoods of their inhabitants. Together, they talk about why it is important to regenerate the world’s grasslands and how the Savory Institute uses Holistic Management.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
Designing in Nature’s Image

The Responsibility of Architecture Feb 24, 2022

How can architecture reflect the needs of a community? In this week’s episode, we chat about the social impact of architecture that creates social awareness in the built environment. Sam is joined by David Silverman, Principal at Silverman Trykowski Associates, an imaginative architecture and design studio that designs for wellbeing. David shares examples of this work and the importance of including the community in the conversation. Later on in the show, they are joined by Pascale Sablan, Founder & Executive Director of Beyond the Built Environment, activist, mentor, and 2021 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award Recipient, an award that distinguishes an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access. Together, they talk about what social impact architecture is, what it looks like, and how it can impact a community.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
The Responsibility of Architecture

From the Archive: Making Your Home Smarter: Robot Design for Humans Feb 17, 2022

This episode originally aired on April 15, 2021.

How do designers craft robots to make life easier and better for humans? In this episode, Sam is joined by Betsy Goodrich, the Vice President of Design and Co-founder at Manta to chat about the design of complex robots that help people. Betsy shares how she founded Manta, her product design process, and how designers test out scenarios for robot design. Later on in the show, they are joined by Rick Hoobler, the Senior Director of Design at iRobot. Rick shares his background and what led him to robot design. Together, they discuss their various robot design projects, the way robots can help make cleaning better and easier, and they each share their favorite robots portrayed in the media.
For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
From the Archive: Making Your Home Smarter: Robot Design for Humans

Navigating Work-Life Fulfillment Feb 10, 2022

What steps can help achieve more work-life fulfillment? In this week’s episode, we learn about cultivating happiness at work. According to statistics by Career Vision, across America, only 45 percent of workers say they are either satisfied or extremely satisfied with their jobs. Sam is joined by Ginger Dhaliwal, Co-Founder at Upflex, a coworking space that provides instant workspace access anywhere and anytime, allowing teams to work better, happier, and more conveniently. Ginger shares more about founding Upflex and how to create moments of belonging in work culture. Later on in the show, they are joined by Dr. Tracy Brower, the author of “The Secrets to Happiness at Work"” and “Bring Work to Life” where she empowers people to create and choose the conditions for happiness, wellbeing, fulfillment and success. Together, they discuss common misconceptions about happiness at work and the components that influence work-life fulfillment.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
Navigating Work-Life Fulfillment

Designing for Work and Life that Satisfies your Spirit Feb 03, 2022

What role should work play in one’s identity? In this week’s episode, we learn about designing a holistic approach towards work and life. In Jai Chakrabarti’s article for Fast Company, “Embracing the whole you: You are more than your job,” Jai talks about the experience of quitting his role as a technologist to pursue his MFA in Creative Writing. He writes, “There is no linear life, at least I haven’t found one I’d wish to live. Rather there are the meandering paths, all the pursuits of beauty that reward us with their own vistas of the world underneath.” Sam is joined by Jai Chakrabarti to learn more about the impetus behind his Fast Company article and the balance of work and life. Later on in the show, they are joined by Dr. Melissa Steach, an award-winning artist and bestselling author who became an industrial-organizational psychologist in order to make work well. As part of MillerKnoll's Workplace Performance Network, Melissa consults business leaders on how to leverage macro-ergonomics and workplace well-being to positively impact team dynamics and business strategy. Together, they discuss the importance of trust, authentic conversations, and work that helps satisfy the spirit.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Designing for Work and Life that Satisfies your Spirit

Common Space for the People, by the People Jan 27, 2022

How can design rethink the common space to serve the common good? In this week’s episode, we learn about designing common spaces for the common good. Sam is joined by Ron Mallis, Executive Director of BostonAPP/Lab, which serves as an incubator for new artistic collaborations throughout Greater Boston’s public spaces. CommonSpace/CommonGood is an initiative developed by BostonAPP/Lab in collaboration with Hoverlay, and with inputs and recommendations from Operation P.E.A.C.E. and the Fenway Community Center. Ron talks about his work and seeking ways to build on the voices of neighborhood residents to conceive, design, and implement art for a neighborhood. Later on in the show, they are joined by Daniel Callahan, multimedia artist, designer, and president of Roxbury Cultural District. Together, they discuss how they view the role of public art to transform the ways in which people use and think about public space.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Common Space for the People, by the People

From the Archive: Designing for Mindfulness and Gratitude Jan 20, 2022

This episode originally aired on May 13, 2021.

How do you design for a healthier mindfulness routine? In this episode, Sam learns more about how to design a mindfulness and gratitude routine that is practical, helpful, and consistent. Sam chats with Tracy Swyst, a Design Operations Consultant, Producer, and a member of Design Museum Everywhere’s Board of Directors. Tracy shares her mindfulness and gratitude routine and how she began her own mindfulness practices. Later on in the show, they are joined by Rahul Kulkarni, the CEO and co-founder of Sukhi. Together, they chat about mindfulness, emotional pulse checks, and how companies can incorporate mindfulness practices.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: Designing for Mindfulness and Gratitude

From the Archive: The Intersection of Design and Policing Jan 13, 2022

This episode originally aired on July 8, 2021.

What role does design play in policing? In this episode, Sam is joined by Jennifer Rittner, a writer, educator, and Principal at Content Matters. Jennifer was the guest editor of our latest Design Museum Magazine Issue, The Policing Issue, which explores how one of the most powerful institutions functions by design. Jennifer shares more on how she chose the contributors for the issue and the role of design in policing. Later on in the show, they are joined by Timothy Bardlavens, a design leader, cultural strategist, and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant and writer. Currently, he is a Product Design Manager at Facebook and he co-founded &Design with Antionette Carroll. In the Policing Issue, Timothy and Jennifer wrote the essay “Designed for Harm: How Products of Policing Enforce Extra-judicial Practices of Control and Submission.” Timothy discusses the products and practices of control and submission and how design can be used for harm. Together, they discuss how to design against harm and rethinking the current framework.
For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: The Intersection of Design and Policing

From the Archive: Creating a Brand for a Community Jan 06, 2022

This episode originally aired on July 1, 2021.

What does it look like to brand for a community? You may be familiar with the impact of branding, but what does it look like when a brand can help connect a community to their mission? In this episode, Sam meets with Nadia Husain, Design Director at Trollbäck+Company to learn how their team collaborated with Mixteca, a Brooklyn community-based organization addressing the health, educational, legal needs of New York’s Latin American immigrant community. Nadia shares her design process and how she approaches translating values into brand values. Later on in the show, they are joined by Maria Carolina Simon, the VP of DEI at CFW Careers and Board Co-Chair at Mixteca. Maria talks about how she joined Mixteca and the collaboration process with the team at Trollbäck+Company to make Mixteca’s vision come to life. Together, they discuss what a shift in brand identity has done to grow the organization’s reach.
For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
From the Archive: Creating a Brand for a Community

Design Museum Everywhere: Year in Review 2021 Dec 30, 2021

Meet the team from Design Museum Everywhere! In this episode, Sam is joined by the staff of Design Museum Everywhere. Sam chats with the team about their 2021 accomplishments and what they’re looking forward to in the new year for the Design Museum.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Design Museum Everywhere: Year in Review 2021

Design Thinking for Change Management Dec 23, 2021

How can change be designed to be easier, better, and more effective? In this week’s episode, we learn about the role of design in change management. Sam is joined by Tim Creasey, an author, researcher, and change expert. As Chief Innovation Officer at Prosci, Tim enables change teams to catalyze adoption and usage to deliver results and outcomes. Tim explains what change management is and the Prosci approach to change management. Later on in the show, they are joined by Christa Engelmann, Transformation Facilitator at Microsoft. Together they chat about coaching individuals, teams, and organizations on their digital transformation journey and the process of guiding change.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Design Thinking for Change Management

The Strategic Importance of Design in Venture Capital Dec 16, 2021

How do venture capital firms inspire design with a point of view? In this week’s episode, we learn about the intersection of venture capital and design. Sam is joined by Irene Au, Design Partner at Khosla Ventures. Irene breaks down how venture capital firms work and design that is critical for success. Later on in the show, they are joined by James Buckhouse, Design Partner at Sequoia Capital. Together they chat about the importance of story, their advice for founders, and design that envisions a new type of world.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Strategic Importance of Design in Venture Capital

Campus Design for Engagement and Equity Dec 09, 2021

How are campuses using space differently? In this week’s episode, we learn how institutions are designing equity into their decision-making process. Sam is joined by Linsey Graff, a Senior Campus Planner at DLR Group, a global, integrated design firm with a core practice in architecture, engineering, interiors, and planning. Linsey chats about the importance of getting voices heard to reimagine what the campus is. Later on in the show, they are joined by Melissa Soto, Program Planner at California State University, Long Beach. Together they share how the team at DLR Group worked to capture the realities facing institutions nationwide during the pandemic.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Campus Design for Engagement and Equity

Trauma-Informed Design for End-of-Life Decisions Dec 02, 2021

How does design influence how we make the difficult decisions after a loved one passes? In this week’s episode, we learn about the role of design to improve the decision-making process after a death. Sam is joined by Lisa deBettencourt, Founder and Principal at Forge Harmonic, an innovation and strategic design firm that works with digital health and life sciences. Lisa shares her experience after her mother’s passing and how the process can be improved. Later on in the show, they are joined by Megan Yip, an attorney at The Law Office of Megan Yip where she drafts estate plans and assists with post-death trust administration. Together they chat about how they approach difficult conversations and the importance of being trauma-informed in this work.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Trauma-Informed Design for End-of-Life Decisions

From the Archive: The Magic of Toymaking: From Concept to Playtime Nov 25, 2021

What makes a toy design memorable, fun, and interactive? In this episode, Sam is joined by Mike Hoeting, President of Bang Zoom Design, to learn how toy designers generate new ideas to create a product that is fun and imaginative. Mike explains how he discovered toy design in college after a childhood of loving toys. Later on in the show, Sam and Mike interview Rinn Hirotsu, a product designer at Hasbro. Together, they discuss discovering the magic of toy design, Rinn’s work with Mr. Potato Head and nerf, and the process of generating and completing their ideas with a team.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: The Magic of Toymaking: From Concept to Playtime

Designing for a Rebrand or Relaunch Nov 18, 2021

What is the process and design of a rebrand and how is it different from a relaunch? In this week’s episode, we learn about the process of revitalizing and invigorating brands. Sam is joined by John Roescher, co-founder and CEO at handsome, a holistic experience design agency. John explains how a holistic design agency helps a brand think about every component holistically and the process of a rebrand. Later on in the show, they are joined by Simon Forster, Founder and Executive Creative Director of Robot Food. Together they discuss how they have approached rebranding and relaunching their own projects and guiding other companies through the process.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Designing for a Rebrand or Relaunch

From the Archive: How Design Transformed a School Nov 11, 2021

How does the design of a space lead to success in educational settings? In this episode, Sam is joined by Taryn Kinney, a Principal at DLR Group, to learn how space can influence a student’s educational success. What are the different phases of learning? And how can space affect those phases? Taryn brings her architecture background and education in Organizational Psychology to make the design of schools better for the student and the educator. Later on in the show, they are joined by Phillip Nowlin, Principal at Canyon View High School, to learn how he and Taryn collaborated to make the design of Canyon View High School. Phillip describes the look, feel, and energy of Canyon View High School and how educators can use design to make a difference in learning.
For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
From the Archive: How Design Transformed a School

The Myth of Legal Names Nov 04, 2021

What role does a name play in our identity? In this week’s episode, we learn about the myth of legal names. Sam is joined by Remy Green, Civil Rights Lawyer, Teacher, and Founding Partner at Cohen&Green, where they specialize in civil rights, defamation, free speech, consumer rights, and intellectual property litigation. Remy shares how they first learned about the myth of legal names and the role that names play in identity. Later on in the show, they are joined by Cori Alonso-Yoder, a visiting faculty member at Howard Law School. Together they discuss a brief history of the common law, the design behind the law of name change, and how naming oneself can serve as an act of liberation.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Myth of Legal Names

Connection through the Retail Experience Oct 28, 2021

What is the role of design in physical and digital retail experiences? In this week’s episode, we learn more about the future of the store. Sam is joined by Larry Rodgers, the Head of Retail and Assisted Channel Experiences at Verizon. Larry shares the evolution of retail in the last year and the reasons why customers go to retail. Later on in the show, they are joined by Toby Barnes, the Head of User Experience at Amazon Alexa Northstar. Together they discuss how they have used design to engage customers, the effects of digital adoption, and telling a story through retail.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Connection through the Retail Experience

Innovating for Sustainable Everyday Fashion Oct 21, 2021

How is the fashion industry making sustainable choices? In this week’s episode, we learn more about the design process behind sustainable everyday fashion design. Sam is joined by Suzanne McKenzie, the Founder and CEO of Able Made, a New York-based company specializing in sustainable, eco-friendly athleisure. Suzanne chats about Able Made’s origin story and her thoughts on the future of sustainable everyday fashion. Later on in the show, they are joined by Jordana Guimaraes, Co-Founder of Fashinnovation, a platform showcasing innovations that shape the fashion industry. Together they discuss the changes being made to create more sustainable designs in everyday fashion.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Innovating for Sustainable Everyday Fashion

Beyond the Word: Designing Type Oct 14, 2021

How does type affect the brand identity? In this week’s episode, we learn about the power of typography to transform the voice of a brand. Sam is joined by Blake Goodwin, the Founder and President of Proportion Design, a Boston-based branding agency whose work spans all areas of the built environment, extensive lifestyle and consumer verticals, and a broad range of corporate services. Blake chats about his projects and process. Later on in the show, they are joined by Matteo Bologna, the Principal, Creative Director, and Founder of Mucca Design, an award-winning New York-based branding firm that transforms businesses through uncommon creative solutions. Together they discuss how they incorporate typography in their own brand identity projects and how they discovered their love for type design.

For links to resources we discuss in this episode, visit our show page:

Beyond the Word: Designing Type

From the Archive: Redesigning Care for Everyone Oct 07, 2021

How can we design a better care system that relieves a family’s stress and gives patients the healthcare they need? In this episode, Sam is joined by Patrice Martin, CEO and Co-Founder of The Holding Co, to learn how design is being incorporated in the care system. The current care system overburdens caretakers. But how can the future of care change? Patrice discusses the Care 100, a list of people reimagining the care system. Later on in the show, Sam and Patrice interview Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO of Wellthy. Together, they discuss how the care system benefits from good design, how the concierge system gives families the help and resources they need and the role technology can take on the caretaking grunt work, giving room for human connection.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: Redesigning Care for Everyone

Enhancing the Museum Experience with Design Sep 30, 2021

How does design evoke the museum experience? In this week’s episode, we are talking about graphic design in museums and how graphic design is approached when designing for the arts. Sam is joined by Katherine Hughes, Design Director at Stoltze Design Group. Katherine talks more about the impact of design on the visual arts. Later on in the show, they are joined by Lisa Fischman, Director and Chief Curator at The Davis Museum on the Wellesley College campus. Together they discuss how the team at Stoltze Design and The Davis Museum have worked to produce exhibition identities, catalogues, and exhibition graphics.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Enhancing the Museum Experience with Design

Redefining Single-Use Beauty Products Sep 23, 2021

What does sustainable beauty product design look like from concept to product without harming the planet? In this week’s episode, we are talking about designing sustainable beauty products. Sam is joined by Monica Becker, the Director of Beauty, Personal Care and Household Products at Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Monica shares more about the Cradle to Cradle certification process and brands that are making innovative sustainable designs. Later on in the show, they are joined by Isabel Aagaard, the Co-Founder of LastObject, a zero waste store of reusable everyday products. Isabel chats about the founding of LastObject and their newest launch, LastPad. Together they discuss more about incorporating new habits and sustainable materials in beauty product design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Redefining Single-Use Beauty Products

A New Form of Design Firm for Startups Sep 16, 2021

How can design firms center less on the “design for hire” model and more on building relationships with innovative young companies? In this week’s episode, we learn more about a new type of design firm for startups. Sam is joined by Bret Recor, the Founder and Creative Director of award-winning design agency Box Clever. Bret chats about the process of this new hybrid model where Box Clever actually takes a stake in the companies that they work with, which allows them to be more of a partner to these companies. He shares more on how this approach looks different from the “Design for Hire” model. Later on in the show, they are joined by Jamison Pereira, Co-founder of Eddi, a new startup that is launching a sustainable soap dispenser for the modern home. Together they chat about collaborating during lockdown and the power of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

A New Form of Design Firm for Startups

From the Archive: The Power of Story Sep 09, 2021

What is the power of story? In this episode, Sam is joined by Jon Campbell, Head of Innovation Capability at EPAM Continuum, to learn about the value of storytelling in design. They chat about how designers convey stories to bring impactful designs and how storytelling is used in the prototyping phase. Later on in the show, they are joined by Debbie Millman, designer, author, educator, and host of Design Matters. Debbie shares her earliest interview experiences and how her process has changed over the years. Together, they discuss how podcasting has evolved and why design matters to them.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: The Power of Story

Live Show: Design Firms Focused on Social Good Sep 02, 2021

How can design be a tool for social good? In this week’s episode, we learn more about how design firms marry social impact and design. Sam is joined by Augusta Meill. Augusta founded Agncy Design, a firm that applies and adapts human-centered design practices to the work of justice and equity. Augusta shares when she discovered the role of design in social impact work and the founding of Agncy. Later on in the show, they are joined by Michael Brennan who founded Civilla, a non-profit design studio dedicated to changing the way our public-serving institutions work through human-centered design. Together they chat about the long-term nature of social impact work and the importance of good leadership. Augusta and Michael answer audience questions.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Live Show: Design Firms Focused on Social Good

Live Show: Building Climate-Positive Cities Aug 26, 2021

What is a planetary boundary city? In this week’s episode, we learn more about climate-ready and resilient cities. Sam is joined by Jonelle Simunich, a Foresight Strategist and Manager in Arup’s Global Foresight team and a member of Design Museum Everywhere’s council. Jonelle talks about what it means to be a foresight analyst and the need for planetary boundary cities. Later on in the show, they are joined by Chris Luebkeman. Chris is currently the leader of strategic foresight in the Office of the President at ETH Zurich. Previously, he worked as an Arup fellow and director of global foresight, research, and innovation. Together they chat about [y]our 2040, which aims to be a yearly gathering with different focuses dedicated to co-creating the world they want to live in someday, and designing for the future. Jonelle and Chris answer audience questions.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Live Show: Building Climate-Positive Cities

Reframing the Workplace for the Knowledge Economy Aug 19, 2021

What does it look like to design a workplace that supports and values learning? In this week’s episode, we are talking about the role of education in the workplace. Sam is joined by Elizabeth Lowrey, Principal and Director of Interior Architecture at Elkus Manfredi Architects and a member of Design Museum Everywhere’s Board of Directors. Elizabeth chats about the co-creation process at Elkus Manfredi and how employees find meaning in their work. Later on in the show, they are joined by Michael Horn, a speaker and author on the future of education. His works include the award-winning book Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns and the Amazon-bestseller Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools. Together they chat about what learning in the workplace looks like, how it works, and what research says about the science of learning.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Reframing the Workplace for the Knowledge Economy

From the Archive: Set Design: Bringing Stories to Life Aug 12, 2021

How does design create better stories? In this episode, Sam is joined by Jessica Kender, the production designer of Little Fires Everywhere and Future Man, to learn how research, characters, money and space inform her work. Jessica shares her journey from theater to TV and her favorite tool to use. Later on in the show, Sam and Jessica interview Lisa Clark, a set decorator. Together, they discuss how they collaborated on Little Fires Everywhere and Future Man, what brings them joy in set design and how they combine research and innovation in storytelling.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: Set Design: Bringing Stories to Life

From the Archive: From Human-Centered Design to Relationship-Centered Design Aug 05, 2021

Many of us are aware of human-centered design, which is all about placing real people at the center of our design work, so that we’re always designing with empathy and thoughtfulness. But what if we take it a step further and design with relationships in mind, so that we’re strengthening the bond between people, or between people and organizations, and build real loyalty? This is particularly interesting when we think about financial organizations and their customers, many of whom are adversely affected by the current financial crisis. So instead of blindly selling services and products, these organizations can focus on where people are in every moment of their journey to develop a life-long and trusting relationship. You can imagine this has business impact as well as social impact for the customer, as the fates of both the company and the customer are intertwined. We discuss with Mike Kirkpatrick, SVP of Client Experience & Strategy at Mad*Pow and Russ Wilson, Chief Experience Officer and Head of Design at Fidelity Investments. Plus our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: From Human-Centered Design to Relationship-Centered Design

Designing Hybrid Learning for Roomies and Zoomies Jul 29, 2021

How do we design rich interactions between students and teachers remotely? In this week’s episode, we are talking about how to design for concurrent hybrid learning without spending a lot of money on technology, training, and new software platforms. Sam is joined by Allan Chochinov, an educator, writer, and speaker whose recent Medium article titled, “How to Teach Hybrid in the Fall with Zoom and Almost No Money” explores this very topic. Allan chats about the pitfalls of learning remotely and he dives deeper into the factors that affect education via Zoom. Later on in the show, they are joined by Fred Deakin, who runs a studio called FANDCO that specializes in interactive and educational projects. Together they discuss ways to combat Zoom fatigue and designing hybrid learning that works.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Designing Hybrid Learning for Roomies and Zoomies

Crafting Museum Experiences through Technology Jul 22, 2021

How are museums being shaped and designed with technology in mind?
In this week’s episode, Sam is joined by Brendan Ciecko, the founder and CEO of Cuseum, which helps museums, public attractions, and nonprofits engage their visitors and members using the power of digital. Brendan chats about the impact that museums have had in his life and the role that technology plays in the museum experience. Later on in the show, they are joined by Sara DeYoung, the Director of Visitor Experience and Engagement at Brooklyn Museum. Together they discuss the ASK Brooklyn Museum app, how the pandemic has shaped the museum experience, and recent exhibitions they’ve loved.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Crafting Museum Experiences through Technology

Live Show: Unlock Your Inner Design-preneur Jul 15, 2021

As part of our monthly Design is Everywhere live series, we learn more about launching a startup and how to design startups for success. Sam is joined by Sara Hartmann, an educator and arts entrepreneurship change agent who has designed costumes for The History Channel, The Boston Conservatory, and more. Sara chats about combining her background in design to the startup world and MassArt’s Creative Economy Workshop Series. Later on in the show, they are joined by Steve Hoffman, the CEO of Founders Space, one of the world’s leading startup accelerators. He’s also a venture investor, serial entrepreneur, and author of several award-winning books, including Make Elephants Fly and Surviving a Startup: Practical Strategies for Starting a Business, Overcoming Obstacles, and Coming Out on Top. Together, they discuss the importance of good design and how to build a successful startup team.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Live Show: Unlock Your Inner Design-preneur

The Intersection of Design and Policing Jul 08, 2021

What role does design play in policing? In this episode, Sam is joined by Jennifer Rittner, a writer, educator, and Principal at Content Matters. Jennifer was the guest editor of our latest Design Museum Magazine Issue, The Policing Issue, which explores how one of the most powerful institutions functions by design. Jennifer shares more on how she chose the contributors for the issue and the role of design in policing. Later on in the show, they are joined by Timothy Bardlavens, a design leader, cultural strategist, and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant and writer. Currently, he is a Product Design Manager at Facebook and he co-founded &Design with Antionette Carroll. In the Policing Issue, Timothy and Jennifer wrote the essay “Designed for Harm: How Products of Policing Enforce Extra-judicial Practices of Control and Submission.” Timothy discusses the products and practices of control and submission and how design can be used for harm. Together, they discuss how to design against harm and rethinking the current framework.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Intersection of Design and Policing

Creating a Brand for a Community Jul 01, 2021

What does it look like to brand for a community? You may be familiar with the impact of branding, but what does it look like when a brand can help connect a community to their mission? In this episode, Sam meets with Nadia Husain, Design Director at Trollbäck+Company to learn how their team collaborated with Mixteca, a Brooklyn community-based organization addressing the health, educational, legal needs of New York’s Latin American immigrant community. Nadia shares her design process and how she approaches translating values into brand values. Later on in the show, they are joined by Maria Carolina Simon, the VP of DEI at CFW Careers and Board Co-Chair at Mixteca. Maria talks about how she joined Mixteca and the collaboration process with the team at Trollbäck+Company to make Mixteca’s vision come to life. Together, they discuss what a shift in brand identity has done to grow the organization’s reach.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Creating a Brand for a Community

Designing With: Moving Towards an Equitable Future for All Jun 24, 2021

How can design be a tool for impactful change? In this episode, Sam meets with Boyuan Gao, a designer and futurist who is partnering with companies to create equitable products, services, content, and experiences. Boyuan talks about how she and Jahan Mantin founded Project Inkblot and how the core of their work centers around the “why.” Later on in the show, they are joined by Antionette Carroll, the President and CEO of the Creative Reaction Lab, a nonprofit educating and deploying youth to challenge racial and health inequities impacting Black and Latinx populations. Antionette shares what led her to her work, the value of taking a break, and the ramifications around language. Together, Boyuan and Antionette dive deeper into work that designs with diversity.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Designing With: Moving Towards an Equitable Future for All

The Emotional Design Behind Video Games Jun 17, 2021

What makes video game storytelling unique? In this episode, Sam chats with Shawn Kittelsen, the VP of Creative Development of Games at Skybound Entertainment. Shawn chats about how his background in playwriting and screenwriting contributes to storytelling in video games and developing narratives that connect the player to the games. Later on in the show, they are joined by Mike Pondsmith, a role playing, board and video game designer who founded R.Talsorian Games and the creator of the acclaimed Cyberpunk series. Mike chats about the value of storybuiling in video games and how he came to develop the Cyberpunk Universe. Together, they chat about their favorite recently played video games.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Emotional Design Behind Video Games

Live Show: How do we teach empathy? Jun 10, 2021

From the Design is Everywhere live show, Sam Aquillano learns more about how to design for empathy in the classroom. He is joined by Susie Wise, an equity design ally with a focus on culture change and building belonging in organizations and an Adjunct Professor at the d.school where she founded and led the K12 Lab. Susie chats about how to define empathy and what empathy looks like in the classroom. Later on in the show, they are joined by Matthew Kressy, the founding director of the MIT Integrated Design and Management program and the Innovation Advisor and Trustee at NEIA, the first middle and high school that prepares innovators to shape the world through human-centered design. Together, they discuss teaching empathy, empathy’s inherent quality, and the work at NEIA. Susie and Matt take questions from the live audience.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

How do we teach empathy?

Making Youth Design Education Real for Students Jun 03, 2021

How can students learn how to problem-solve with design thinking? In this episode, Sam chats with Design Museum Everywhere’s very own Director of Learning and Interpretation, Diana Navarrete-Rackauckas, about launching the Neighborhood Design Project to teach youth design skills in an accessible, engaging, and meaningful way. Diana explains the reasons behind the program and why it is important for students to choose their own challenges. Later on in the show, they are joined by Manny Guardado, the Director of Innovation at Notre Dame Academy. Manny shares more details about designing and launching Notre Dame Academy’s Innovation Lab and the tools for learning. Together, they discuss teaching creativity to be a force of change and how design thinking can be used in the classroom.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Making Youth Design Education Real for Students

From the Archive: How Do You Design a Community? Start with the Why or the Who May 27, 2021

We’re all able to connect through our phones and social media, but humans crave coming together, and yet participation in the classic religious and civic communities has declined over decades. COVID-19 has certainly complicated our ability to gather in person. Community is so important to us at the Design Museum, and like anything, you can be intentional about designing creating, maintaining, and growing community. It’s more than simply bringing people together and watching the magic happen, even though that’s definitely part of it! In this episode we talk to two community experts. Sara Sigel is a product and community builder who advises and invests in profit-from purpose companies — she’s an Advisor and Investor at Rev Boston. And Sascha Mombartz is a multidisciplinary design director, and the Founder of The Office for Visual Affairs. Sascha and his 2 other community-loving friends created the Community Canvas, which is a framework that will help you build a community. Plus we have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: How Do You Design a Community? Start with the Why or the Who

The Shared Mindsets of Designers and Musicians May 20, 2021

How do design and music influence one another? In this episode, Sam learns more about music’s impact on design and the shared mindsets of the creative process. He chats with R. Michael Hendrix, Partner and Global Director of Design at IDEO, singer, musician, and co-author of Two Beats Ahead: What Musical Minds Teach Us about Innovation alongside his co-author Panos Panay. Michael talks about the influence of design thinking in music and how he uses music in his design process. Later on in the show, they are joined by Adam Larson, founder and Executive Creative Director of A&Co, a creative consultancy designed for the modern era. Adam chats about how he approaches his design process, collaborating with artists, and how he translates music to a visual medium.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Shared Mindsets of Designers and Musicians

Designing for Mindfulness and Gratitude May 13, 2021

How do you design for a healthier mindfulness routine? In this episode, Sam learns more about how to design a mindfulness and gratitude routine that is practical, helpful, and consistent. Sam chats with Tracy Swyst, a Design Operations Consultant, Producer, and a member of Design Museum Everywhere’s Board of Directors. Tracy shares her mindfulness and gratitude routine and how she began her own mindfulness practices. Later on in the show, they are joined by Rahul Kulkarni, the CEO and co-founder of Sukhi. Together, they chat about mindfulness, emotional pulse checks, and how companies can incorporate mindfulness practices.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Designing for Mindfulness and Gratitude

The Story Behind Designing Book Covers May 06, 2021

How do designers craft the perfect book cover? In this episode, Sam learns more about how book covers are designed. He is joined by Scott Berkun, an author and popular speaker whose talks range in topics from creativity, leadership, public speaking, design and more. Scott chats about the collaboration process and the surprising reality behind book cover design. Later on in the show, they are joined by Jon Key, an artist, designer, writer and educator who co-founded the Brooklyn design studio Morcos Key with Wael Morcos. Together, Jon and Wael designed the long-awaited Black Futures book by New York Times journalist Jenna Wortham and art curator Kimberly Drew. Jon chats about how he uses writing during his design process and landing on the cover for the Black Futures book.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Story Behind Designing Book Covers

Wayfinding the Future: Logos to Landmarks, Live show Apr 29, 2021

As part of our monthly Design is Everywhere live series, Sam Aquillano learns how designers use wayfinding as an indicator of space that guides people through a physical environment. He is joined by Kayte Muse, a designer and strategist who is passionate about creative problem solving, design strategy, storytelling, teaching, and mentoring. Kayte is a co-chair of the Boston Chapter of SEGD- the Society for Experiential Graphic Design. She discusses what experiential graphic design is and how wayfinding is used. Later on in the show, they are joined by Cliff Selbert, the founding partner of Selbert Perkins Design, a collaboration between him and Robin Perkins and their team. Together they discuss the importance of landmarks in the built environment and the process of designing notable landmarks. And they take questions from the live audience.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Wayfinding the Future: Logos to Landmarks, Live show

Designing Immersive Experiences Apr 22, 2021

How do designers craft experiences that are immersive and impactful? In this episode, Sam is joined by David Schwarz, the Founding Partner of HUSH to learn how design choices are considered when crafting spatial experiences. David explains how he discovered design as a career option and the shift to founding his own company. Later on in the show, they are joined by Nikolai Cornell, the Creative Director and Senior Design Manager of Brand Experience at Uber, to learn how the teams at Uber create meaningful spatial experiences for their employees and customers. Together, they chat about their collaboration process for designing Uber’s Mission Bay HQ.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Designing Immersive Experiences

Making Your Home Smarter: Robot Design for Humans Apr 15, 2021

How do designers craft robots to make life easier and better for humans? In this episode, Sam is joined by Betsy Goodrich, the Vice President of Design and Co-founder at Manta to chat about the design of complex robots that help people. Betsy shares how she founded Manta, her product design process, and how designers test out scenarios for robot design. Later on in the show, they are joined by Rick Hoobler, the Senior Director of Design at iRobot. Rick shares his background and what led him to robot design. Together, they discuss their various robot design projects, the way robots can help make cleaning better and easier, and they each share their favorite robots portrayed in the media.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Making Your Home Smarter: Robot Design for Humans

From the Archive: Infusing Equity in K-12 Curriculum Design, In the Classroom & At Home Apr 08, 2021

Every teacher is a curriculum designer, creating experiences for people to understand and learn. In this episode, we explore curriculum design with an important lens: equity. In this episode, we explore curriculum design with an important lens: equity. Successful curriculum connects with kids of different backgrounds and learning styles, and contains content beyond a white-centric history and approach. We discuss with Design Museum Everywhere’s very own Director of Learning and Interpretation, Diana Navarrete-Rackauckas, and Dr. Aaliyah Samuel, who at the time of the recording was the Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Partnerships at NWEA. Now, Dr. Aaliyah Samuel is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for State and Local Engagement at the U.S. Department of Education. The conversation also explores strategies for parents who were transformed into teachers almost overnight because of COVID-19. It’s all connected because our kids are growing up and learning in the context of a global pandemic — their learning experience has dramatically changed — and during a growing, global protest movement against police brutality against Black Americans. Our guests provide insights on how we can meet this unique moment for our kids and our communities. Plus we have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

From the Archive: Infusing Equity in K-12 Curriculum Design, In the Classroom & At Home

Your Table is Ready: Designing the Restaurant Experience Apr 01, 2021

How does design influence the restaurant experience? In this episode, Sam chats with Greg Bleier, the Founding Principal of Studio UNLTD, an award-winning design firm whose work includes restaurants like Bavel, Otium, and Bestia. Greg walks through design choices that enhance the restaurant experience and how he and his team crafted the look of Bestia and Bavel. Later on in the show, they are joined by Chef Sang Yoon who is the Chef and Proprietor of Father’s Office, Lukshon restaurant, and the Chef and Partner of Two Birds/One Stone in St. Helena, California. Together, they dive into the importance of practical and functional design in restaurant spaces and how they are collaborating on a new project.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Your Table is Ready: Designing the Restaurant Experience

The To-Go Cup for A Better, More Sustainable World Mar 25, 2021

How are designers rethinking the to-go cup? In this episode, Sam learns more about the NextGen Consortium to address the world’s single-use food packaging waste. In 2018, Closed Loop Partners launched the NextGen Consortium to bring together leading brands, industry experts, and innovators. Sam chats with Kate Daly, the Managing Director for the Center of Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners. Kate explains what a circular economy is and how the Consortium gleaned consumer insights for better designs. Later on, in the show, they are joined by Chris Krohn, who is a Portfolio Lead at IDEO, a global design company, which is running and designing the pilots in the San Francisco bay area on behalf of the NextGen Consortium. Chris explains the process of redesigning the reusable to-go cups and the concepts that came out of the NextGen Consortium.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The To-Go Cup for A Better, More Sustainable World

Launching a Movement: Graphic Design for Social Change, Live Show Mar 18, 2021

In the first of our monthly Design is Everywhere live shows, Sam Aquillano learns how designers can be agents of change through their work. He is joined by Yvette Perullo, Co-Author of Renourish: Sustainable Graphic Design in Practice, and Co-Founder and Partner at Re-nourish, a nonprofit that works with designers to understand and advocate for design decisions that center people and the environment. Later on in the show, they are joined by Jessie McGuire, Managing Director at brand design studio, ThoughtMatter. Together they discuss her experience designing for socially progressive causes while spearheading creative projects and their advice for designers who want to do similar work. And they take questions from the live audience.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Launching a Movement: Graphic Design for Social Change, Live Show

Research-Fueled Design Insights Mar 11, 2021

How can empathy be used as a tool for designers? In this episode, Sam is joined by Renae Geraci, who currently leads the Research & Operations team for Autodesk’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction Design Group to learn how research builds understanding of user’s needs. Renae talks about what led her to research and how user research is used. Later on in the show, they are joined by Jen Shaffer, the Director of User Experience at Optum. Jen wrote an article for our magazine called “UnitedHealth Group and Optum Emphasize the Care in Healthcare". Together, they chat about how designers use empathy as a tool in design and creating user personas. Jen shares more details behind her article and the surprises of her findings.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Research-Fueled Design Insights

The Power of Story Mar 04, 2021

What is the power of story? In this episode, Sam is joined by Jon Campbell, Head of Innovation Capability at EPAM Continuum, to learn about the value of storytelling in design. They chat about how designers convey stories to bring impactful designs and how storytelling is used in the prototyping phase. Later on in the show, they are joined by Debbie Millman, designer, author, educator, and the host of Design Matters. Debbie shares her earliest interview experiences and how her process has changed over the years. Together, they discuss how podcasting has evolved and why design matters to them.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Power of Story

What Makes Design “Good”? Feb 25, 2021

What is the criteria for good design? In this episode, Sam chats with Karen Korellis Reuther, a former creative executive at corporations like Nike and Reebok and a 2021 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow to learn how design informs brand identity and how she characterizes good design. We learn more about Karen’s career leading creative teams and thinking about design in new ways. Later on in the show, they are joined by Ralph Wiegmann, the CEO of iF International Forum Design, the organization behind the prestigious iF Design Awards, to discover how design is judged. Ralph shares his practices, criteria, and the way the design field has changed over the span of his career. Together, they chat about the iF judging process and why design matters.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

What Makes Design “Good”?

Using Futures Thinking to Prevent Burnout Feb 18, 2021

How can futures thinking be used as a tool to change today? In this episode, Sam chats with Nedret Sahin, a Senior Experience Designer at Mad*Pow, on the way that some human problems can be addressed by design thinking. They are joined by Liz Possee Corthell, an Experience Strategist at Mad*Pow, to discuss futures thinking and how it can prevent burnout. Earlier in the pandemic, Nedret and Liz were faced with the question, “how do you safely bring people back into their offices?” What they uncovered were the tools to build personal resilience while working remotely. Together, they chat about the use of mental models, equity in design and the way burnout manifests.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Using Futures Thinking to Prevent Burnout

Remote Readiness: Designing for Change in the Workplace Feb 11, 2021

How do we design for significant change in the workplace?

In this episode, Sam is joined by Angie Lee, Partner and Design Director of Interiors at FXCollaborative to learn how workspaces can adapt to be more inclusive and offer different typologies of space. Angie explains the problems that architects and designers may face to create better work environments and how portable technologies can be embedded in the office. Later on in the show, Sam and Angie are joined by Natasha Bonugli, the Global Principal of Design for Unispace Global. Together, they discuss emotional literacy, digital body language, and the creative process while working remotely.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Remote Readiness: Designing for Change in the Workplace

How Design Transformed a School Feb 04, 2021

How does the design of a space lead to success in educational settings? In this episode, Sam is joined by Taryn Kinney, a Principal at DLR Group, to learn how space can influence a student’s educational success. What are the different phases of learning? And how can space affect those phases? Taryn brings her architecture background and education in Organizational Psychology to make the design of schools better for the student and the educator. Later on in the show, they are joined by Phillip Nowlin, Principal at Canyon View High School, to learn how he and Taryn collaborated to make the design of Canyon View High School. Phillip describes the look, feel, and energy of Canyon View High School and how educators can use design to make a difference in learning.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

How Design Transformed a School

Redesigning Care for Everyone Jan 28, 2021

How can we design a better care system that relieves a family’s stress and gives patients the healthcare they need? In this episode, Sam is joined by Patrice Martin, CEO and Co-Founder of The Holding Co, to learn how design is being incorporated in the care system. The current care system overburdens caretakers. But how can the future of care change? Patrice discusses the Care 100, a list of people reimagining the care system. Later on in the show, Sam and Patrice interview Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO of Wellthy. Together, they discuss how the care system benefits from good design, how the concierge system gives families the help and resources they need and the role technology can take on the caretaking grunt work, giving room for human connection.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Redesigning Care for Everyone

Sourcing Sustainable Materials: LIVE at the Workplace Innovation Summit Jan 21, 2021

What is the importance of sustainable design materials in the workplace? During Design Museum Everywhere’s Workplace Innovation Summit in December, Sam chatted with Nicole Schmidt, the CEO at Source, the world’s largest commercial construction product database. Nicole discusses how she uses her design background to lead her efforts at Source and the value of material transparency. Together, they dive into the benefits of healthy sustainable materials on productivity and wellness. Later on in the show, they are joined by Carissa Mylin, a Senior Interior Designer at SERA Architects. Carissa shares the resources and tools designers can use to make healthier design decisions for the office space and at home.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Sourcing Sustainable Materials: LIVE at the Workplace Innovation Summit

Allyship in the Workplace: LIVE at the Workplace Innovation Summit Jan 14, 2021

What does it mean to be an ally in the workplace? During Design Museum Everywhere’s Workplace Innovation Summit in December, Sam chatted with Design Museum Everywhere’s very own Director of Learning and Interpretation, Diana Navarrete-Rackauckas, and the Director of Learning from C Space, Leah Ben-Ami, about the importance of allyship in the workplace. Together, they help define what allyship looks like, the value of education in the framework and how difficult conversations are important for organizations to embrace.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Allyship in the Workplace: LIVE at the Workplace Innovation Summit

Bring Your Full Self to Work: LIVE at ABX with BosNOMA Jan 07, 2021

How do you bring your full self to your work? In Design is Everywhere’s first live episode, we collaborated with BosNOMA to record a live podcast for ABX, the Architecture Boston Expo. Sam is joined by Julian Phillips from Goody Clancy and MASS Design Group Jha D Williams to chat about their experience bringing their full selves to their work. Together, they explore how architecture can impact social change, using engagement skills in their work and reinventing the architecture profession to serve more people.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Bring Your Full Self to Work: LIVE at ABX with BosNOMA

Design Museum Everywhere: Year in Review Dec 31, 2020

Meet the team from Design Museum Everywhere! In this episode, Sam is joined by the staff at Design Museum Everywhere. Sam chats with the team about their 2020 accomplishments and what they’re looking forward to in the new year for the Design Museum. Together, they talk about creating and publishing a magazine during a pandemic, creating an online exhibit, starting a podcast, and growing the team.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Design Museum Everywhere: Year in Review

The Magic of Toymaking: From Concept to Playtime Dec 24, 2020

What makes a toy design memorable, fun, and interactive? In this episode, Sam is joined by Mike Hoeting, President of Bang Zoom Design, to learn how toy designers generate new ideas to create a product that is fun and imaginative. Mike explains how he discovered toy design in college after a childhood of loving toys. Later on in the show, Sam and Mike interview Rinn Hirotsu, a product designer at Hasbro. Together, they discuss discovering the magic of toy design, Rinn’s work with Mr. Potato Head and nerf, and the process of generating and completing their ideas with a team.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Magic of Toymaking: From Concept to Playtime

Set Design: Bringing Stories to Life Dec 17, 2020

How does design create better stories? In this episode, Sam is joined by Jessica Kender, the production designer of Little Fires Everywhere and Future Man, to learn how research, characters, money and space inform her work. Jessica shares her journey from theater to TV and her favorite tool to use. Later on in the show, Sam and Jessica interview Lisa Clark, a set decorator. Together, they discuss how they collaborated on Little Fires Everywhere and Future Man, what brings them joy in set design and how they combine research and innovation in storytelling.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Set Design: Bringing Stories to Life

Curiosity in UX Design Dec 10, 2020

How can UX designers use curiosity to make a big impact in healthcare? In this episode, Sam is joined by Jonathan Follett, Principal at GoInvo and Producer at Creative Next, to learn how curiosity leads to big impact on UX design in healthcare. They explore the tools that UX designers use and the value of research. Later on in the show, Sam and Jon interview Corey Roth, Lead Designer at Cantina. Together, they discuss how to build a design culture within teams, the process of building a UX design team from scratch and accelerating telemedicine during a pandemic.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Curiosity in UX Design

Building Material Transparency Dec 03, 2020

How can designers integrate material transparency into their designs? In this episode, Sam is joined by Business Development Manager at the International Living Future Institute Ren DeCherney, to learn how designers are revolutionizing the way that buildings are built to make them healthier for communities and the environment. Later on in the show, Sam and Ren interview Lona Rerick, an Associate Principal at ZGF Architects. Together, they discuss how designers can incorporate tools like Declare to make healthier and more sustainable products in their designs and the future of sustainable practices for businesses and communities.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Building Material Transparency

Making Design Problems Real in the Classroom Nov 26, 2020

How do we bring real world problems to the classroom to enrich the student experience? In this episode, Sam is joined by Principal Design Strategist and Health Suite Labs Engagement Lead at Philips, Matt Templeton, to learn how design students can interact with real problems in the classroom. Matt has incorporated his own lessons as a professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Later on in the show, Sam and Matt interview the President of ArtCenter College of Design, Lorne Buchman. Together, they discuss how to bring industry in for sponsored projects, how students confront social dilemmas in their work, and the value of interpersonal connections in design education.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Making Design Problems Real in the Classroom

Reimagining the Architecture Profession, with BosNOMA Nov 19, 2020

How can we shape the field of architecture to be more inclusive? In this episode, we’re joined by Elyse Ayoung of Gensler and BosNOMA, and Wentworth Institute of Technology architecture student and NOMAS chapter leader Xavier Fernandes. Together, they discuss the importance of building a community of architects that is inclusive, relaxed and whole. They explain their journeys into architecture and how the field must evolve to better serve practitioners, make the built environment more inclusive and build equity in the overall community.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Reimagining the Architecture Profession, with BosNOMA

How Play is Evolving Nov 12, 2020

What does the future of play look like in a socially distanced world? In this episode, Sam is joined by Cheri Ruane to dive into the world of play design. Cheri is the Vice President and Landscape Architecture Practice Leader at Weston and Sampson, a design and engineering firm committed to improving the natural and built environment. Their guest is Michael Laris, the VP of Global Innovation at PlayPower, the world's largest playground and recreational equipment manufacturer. Together they discuss the unique design behind playful environments, how to build more playful experiences into our cities, and the effect COVID has on outdoor play.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

How Play is Evolving

Hybrid, Healthy Workplaces as Employee Engagement Centers Nov 05, 2020

As we approach Design Museum’s Workplace Innovation Summit (December 7-11), on this week’s episode we’re talking about designing healthy workspaces in these unprecedented times — and what lessons we can learn from healthcare environments that can be applied to the workspaces. While many office workers are still working at home — healthcare workers don’t have a choice; they’ve have had to quickly adapt their environments to make them even safer for folks during the pandemic. For the work-from-home crowd, the shine might be wearing off purely remote work as we seek connection with our colleagues and customers. We’re physical beings, and collaboration is just easier in-person. Work environments are and will (probably) always be part of our lives, so we can connect in person, share ideas, and develop new ideas. We have two design leaders from HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm, to discuss the future of the workplace and how they design healthy workplaces. Our guest co-host is Donald Cremers — he’s a Principal and Senior Project Interior Designer in HOK’s San Francisco studio. And then we’re joined by Donald’s colleague in the New York office, Christine Vandover — she’s an Interior Design Principal at HOK. Plus, we’ll have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
Hybrid, Healthy Workplaces as Employee Engagement Centers

Mass Timber Buildings Help the Planet, Create Jobs, and Make People Happy Oct 29, 2020

Today we’re talking about building buildings out of wood — sounds pretty normal, but no we’re talking about building tall, high-rise buildings out of wood instead of steel and concrete, using a concept known as mass timber and construction products like cross-laminated timber. There’s a wood revolution happening in real estate, architecture, and construction — mass timber is a term for a relatively new group of engineering wood products that rival the strength and durability of traditional construction methods. There are roughly 400 large mass timber buildings in the US and many hundreds more on the way. There are huge environmental benefits to using wood instead of steel and concrete, as well as new jobs and a rebirth of the lumber industry, plus people love living and working in predominately wood buildings. Our expert guests give us all the details. Guest co-hosting this week is Judith Sheine, the Director of Design at the TallWood Design Institute, a collaboration between Oregon State University and the University of Oregon focused on the research and advancement of mass timber and structural wood building solutions. And we interview Emily Dawson, an architect and Partner at Kaiser + Path, a real estate and architecture firm in Portland, Oregon, and a leader in mass timber design and development. And as always, we share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:
Mass Timber Buildings Help the Planet, Create Jobs, and Make People Happy

Racial and Environmental Justice in the Built Environment, and the New NOMA President Oct 22, 2020

This week, we have an important topic — we’ll be discussing how designers can infuse equity into the built environment. We’re in a racial inequity pandemic that has lasted for centuries, the impacts of which are felt by communities of color in the form of racism, inaccessibility of resources, and under-investment. This pandemic spills into the built environment where for centuries, the design of our cities, neighborhoods, and public spaces has added to and truly made physical this racial injustice. When designers create the built environment in collaboration with real estate developers and civic leaders, every design element sends a signal about what space is for and who it’s for — and too often, urban designs exclude rather than include. So designing the built environment needs to change so that our communities, neighborhoods, and resources are accessible and shared by all, now and into the future — because designs for the built environment usually last a very long time. Our guest co-host this week is Atianna Cordova, a native of New Orleans, an urban designer and founder of Water Block and Waterblock Kids. She works to advance racial and environmental justice in the built environment through design, community-driven practices, and planning. Sam and Atianna talk about her work in advocacy, design, and education to ensure an equitable future. Then Atianna leads our interview of Jason Pugh, a licensed architect & certified planner with over 15 years of experience serving both the public & private sector — and he’s the incoming president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Atianna and Jason discuss NOMA’s mission and his agenda for the year ahead to make diversity and representation in design a priority. Plus, we share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Racial and Environmental Justice in the Built Environment, and the New NOMA President

Visions for a Future Food System that’s Sustainable and Equitable by Design Oct 15, 2020

The food system is massive — it’s the largest industry in the world. Think about what it takes to feed 8 billion people… and it’ll be 10 billion people in 2050, so there are some big challenges around sustainability for our planet and for equity and accessibility as well. Upwards of 50% of the earth’s habitable land is used for food production, and the food system utilizes 70% of our fresh water. The current outcomes seem dire around pollution, sustainability, and the infrastructure and economics that support and drive the system — it’s a huge design challenge. In this episode, we learn all about it all from two experts. Our guest co-host is Lauren Abda, CEO of Branchfood, the largest community of food entrepreneurs and startups in New England. She’s also Co-founder at Branch Venture Group, an angel network for investment in early-stage food startups. Lauren schools us on the food system overall and shares how entrepreneurs turn our biggest food challenges into smart business opportunities that support people and planet. Then we’re joined by Matthew Ridenour, Senior Portfolio Lead at IDEO. Matt is part of the team, along with others from OpenIDEO, The Rockefeller Foundation, and SecondMuseum, who recently announced the 10 finalists for the Food System Vision Prize, an effort to move toward a more regenerative and nourishing food future for 2050. The finalists will share in $2 million and join an accelerator program to make their visions a reality and create a collective vision on how we can improve the overall food system. Matt shares stories of some of the finalists and how design plays a role in shaping a positive future. And as always, we have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Visions for a Future Food System that’s Sustainable and Equitable by Design

Designing the Voter Experience for Accessibility and Engagement Oct 08, 2020

There’s a presidential election coming up in less than a month, in an unprecedented time. Today we’ll be discussing the intersection of design and voting; how to make voting a good experience and make it accessible and equitable for all. Every election’s stakes are high, yet roughly 60% of Americans don’t turn out to vote. As one of our guests wrote: The real problem is that voting in America is just hard. Like anything, voting is an experience that should be designed to maximize participation. This week’s guest co-host is an expert on design and voting; Dana Chisnell is the Director of Project ReDesign at the National Conference on Citizenship. Prior to her current role, she was instrumental in developing the Field Guides to Ensuring Voter Intent. We talk to Dana about her career in civic design and how design plays a role in making voting easier for everyone involved. And our guest is Beth Huang. She’s the Director of Massachusetts Voter Table, where she works with community organizations to increase voter turnout and civic leadership in communities of color and working-class people in the state. We chat with Beth about her strategies for engaging new voters, not just for the 2020 presidential election, but for local and state elections as well as for ongoing political participation. Plus, we have our weekly dose of good design for you.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Designing the Voter Experience for Accessibility and Engagement

How to Freelance Without Losing Your Mind Oct 01, 2020

In medieval times, a free lance was a medieval mercenary who would fight for whichever nation or person paid them the most. So goes the etymology of the word “freelance” from Merriam Webster — the joke being that freelance has literally always been a battle. With the economy in recession because of COVID-19, some organizations are hiring, but many are holding off and instead hiring freelancers to fill gaps as the economy slowly starts to improve. Becoming a freelancer can seem daunting because it’s so different than having a structured job. Our guests this week offer their advice from over 10 years each in the freelance and consulting business. Trish Fontanilla, aka Trish of All Trades, joins us as guest co-host and helps us understand what freelancing means and how she navigates opportunities while remaining true to her values. Then we’re joined by Sydney Janey, who founded her solo graphic and communication design practice in 2007 — we all discuss the design-sides and non-design sides of freelancing, including business development and… yes, taxes. Plus, we all share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

How to Freelance Without Losing Your Mind

Medical Product Design That’s Saving Lives Sep 24, 2020

If you’ve gone to the doctor recently or the hospital, you’re surrounded by medical professionals, of course, but there’s another layer of medical devices surrounding the entire experience. From diagnosing tools and drug delivery devices to surgical instruments and rehabilitation equipment — medical product design spans a wide range of functions and product typologies. Medical product design is unique from consumer products in the amount of regulatory oversight, and of course, these products can mean life or death for patients. Our guests are experts in medical devices. Scott Stropkay joins us as our guest co-host — Scott is the Co-Founder and Co-Leader of Essential Design, where he focuses on helping clients interpret technology to create breakthrough products and services. And we’re also joined by Richard Eisermann, Head of Design at Philips Connected Care, where they design a suite of medical products and tools for every level of the healthcare experience. Plus, we share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Medical Product Design That’s Saving Lives

The Bionic Hand: Powered Prosthetic Devices Controlled by Sensors Sep 17, 2020

This week we’re talking prosthetic design, specifically advancements that utilize sensors and robotics to improve the lives of individuals living with limb-loss and limb-difference. In early-2018, we unveiled a new exhibition called Bespoke Bodies: The Design & Craft of Prosthetics. The traveling exhibition explores the relationship between craft, design, material, and the human body. Is there any design more impactful than the designs we connect directly to our bodies? One of our amazing partners in the effort to curate and develop the Bespoke Bodies exhibition was Mike Benning from Hanger Clinic. We speak with Mike, Marketing Manager at Hanger Clinic, and champion for the limb-loss and limb-difference community. Mike is also a prosthetic device user — he was the first American to be fitted with the i-Limb quantum, an advanced bionic hand. And we have a special guest, the inventor of the i-Limb, David Gow, who joins us from Scotland. David is the retired, former head of SMART Services at the UK’s National Health Service, who went on to found and run Touch Bionics, the company that productized the i-limb platform and brought it to market. This is the first time Mike and David have met, and it’s incredible to hear the gratitude Mike has for the work David did on the prosthetic hand. Plus, we all share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Bionic Hand: Powered Prosthetic Devices Controlled by Sensors

Being Black in Design Sep 10, 2020

We hear from two prominent Black designers on the Black experience in design, including their amazing career journeys, how they’ve navigated an industry dominated by white designers, and their advice for young designers of color. Our guest co-host, Zoë Middelton, produced a series of conversations amongst Black creatives to share experiences and highlight Black design talent. Zoë is the Director of Design, Marketing, and Product Development at Fabrique, a design and manufacturing company focused on bags and cases. Zoë shares what she learned from those conversations. She leads the discussion with our special guest, Kevin Bethune — he’s the Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Dreams • Design + Life, a think tank delivering design & innovation services using a human-centered approach. Kevin’s background spans engineering, business, and design in equal proportions over his 20+ year career, which has positioned him to help brands deliver meaningful innovations to enrich people’s lives and experiences. Zoë and Kevin’s discussion covers many aspects of being Black designers and the importance of racial diversity in creating innovation. Plus, we share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Being Black in Design

Civic Design with Intention and Service at the Core Sep 03, 2020

Design impacts everything around us, and so does government. Think of all the services you use and experience within local, state, and federal government. Everything from the DMV to elections to unemployment to city streets, government plays a significant role in our lives. Government is, in essence, a service provider. Like any service provider, these services and experiences are designed, either designed well or designed poorly — too often, our interactions with government are not great. On this episode to have two experts, civic designers who are working at different scales and levels of government. We talk about applying design within government, using creative problem solving and innovation to improve service, digital, and physical experiences. We speak with Sabrina Dorsaninvil, Director of Civic Design for the Boston Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics about their work in the urban environment. And we interview Anne Petersen, Director of Experience Design at 18F, an office of federal employees that collaborates with other agencies to improve how government serves the public through technology and more. Plus, we share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Civic Design with Intention and Service at the Core

Good Brands Exists in our Hearts and Minds - Brand Design for Authenticity & Delight Aug 27, 2020

Look around and you’ll see brands and branding everywhere. Brands play an important role in our lives and are likely one of, if not, the most critical elements of a business or organization. Design is a big part of branding because so much of brands must be visual, strategic, and intentional to be effective. On this episode, we explore branding from a few different angles: what it means, how it manifests, and how designers create and maintain successful brands. Our guest co-host, Jennifer Bryan, is the Founding Partner and Creative Director at Think Joule, a brand strategy firm. Jennifer gives us a crash course in authentic branding that touches all 5 senses. Then we’re joined by Michael DiTullo, a world-renowned industrial designer, who shares how he infuses brand and design language into products and experiences for a vast array of different clients. Plus, Jennifer and Sam share their weekly doses of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Good Brands Exists in our Hearts and Minds - Brand Design for Authenticity & Delight

Design Makes the World! Design Museum’s 11th Anniversary Episode Aug 20, 2020

Today is Design Museum Everywhere’s 11th birthday — so we have a special episode to celebrate. We talk with two special guests on how design shapes the world around us, how we can all be designers, and all be better designers. Our guest co-host is George White, Chief Innovation Officer at Cantina. George gives his definition of design, why it’s important, and where the field is going. And we discuss some great design examples. Then we bring in Scott Berkun, best-selling author of the new book How Design Makes the World. Scott’s book perfectly aligns with our mission to make design accessible to everyone. We chat with him about the book, strategies for telling design stories, and much more. Plus Sam and George each share their weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Design Makes the World! Design Museum’s 11th Anniversary Episode

How Schools Should be Designed, Now and Post-Pandemic Aug 13, 2020

Important topic this week: across the nation, parents, and guardians are having to decide whether to send their children back to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some families won’t have a choice. It’s a complex problem without a lot of good solutions. We’ll explore how design can play a role in creating a safer return to school this year, how schools should be designed, now and in the future, and how remote learning comes into the picture. Our guest co-host is Karina Ruiz, Principal at BRIC Architecture — Karina is an expert in shaping spaces for learning. Karina shares what she’s hearing from her education clients and how she’s collaborating with them to re-imagine schools. And we’re joined by Kyle Laier, Assistant Superintendent of Operations for Oregon City Schools. Kyle and Karina have worked closely on school building projects, and they share how they welcomed students and teachers into the design process, empowering them to do user interviews, and truly listening to their feedback to craft a new type of school. They even built a full-scale prototype that teachers are using to plan future lessons and activities. Plus we have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

How Schools Should be Designed, Now and Post-Pandemic

Listen for Understanding. Creative Problem Solving Requires Designers to Listen, Learn, and Get Out of the Way Aug 06, 2020

At the Design Museum, we see design as a creative problem-solving process that can be applied not only to design buildings, products, websites, clothing, etc. but also used to solve the biggest social and environmental problems we have. But what does that mean? How do designers help solve issues like climate change, racial equity, and education? This week we talk to two epic creative problem solvers about how they think about and step up to help solve big, thorny problems. Our guest co-host, Pinar Guvenc, is a partner at Sour Studio, an international award-winning architecture, and design studio based in New York City and Istanbul. Pinar and her team infuse purposefulness into everything they do. Pinar talks about self-commissioning projects and reframing the creative brief. In her words, designers must educate clients in order to create the best designs. And we’re joined by Marquise Stillwell, Founder and Principal of OpenBox, a people-centered design firm focused on improving people’s lives in the communities their clients serve. Marquise gives insight into his authentic approach to listening for understanding and talks about how designers can step up when it comes to equity and anti-racism. Plus, we share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Listen for Understanding. Creative Problem Solving Requires Designers to Listen, Learn, and Get Out of the Way

Peloton, Hydrow, and Designing the Multi-Faceted Connected Fitness Experience Jul 30, 2020

With the pandemic keeping most gyms closed, the connected fitness industry is booming. Peloton alone reported a 66% increase in sales through the spring. On this episode, we’re talking about the big moves in connected fitness equipment and digital experiences, and how they’re designed. Think Peloton for biking and running, Mirror for cardio, Tonal for weight training, Hydrow for rowing, and many more. These are internet-connected devices you have at home that allow you to work out with a digital and community experience on screen. As our guest co-host, David Knies shared, connected fitness companies need to get three things right: the hardware, the software, and the content, all while delivering a unified, best-in-class experience. David is the Chief Growth Officer at Essential Design, the design firm behind Hydrow, the live outdoor reality rowing machine. We interview Hydrow Founder and CEO, Bruce Smith, to dig into the design process behind his amazing rowing platform. Plus we share our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Peloton, Hydrow, and Designing the Multi-Faceted Connected Fitness Experience

The Fabric of the City. Designing Parks & Open Spaces that are Flexible and Equitable Jul 23, 2020

Many of us are putting on our masks and heading to public parks to get some sun and fresh air — on this episode; we explore how landscape architects create these outdoor spaces and experiences. Parks and open spaces are always a joy to have in our lives. Particularly now, during the pandemic, outdoor public space feels essential to living our lives to the most of our ability while also keeping our distance to help stop the spread of the virus. We welcome two landscape architects who are experts at developing dynamic, flexible, and equitable spaces: Cheri Ruane is Vice President and Landscape Architecture Practice Leader at Weston & Sampson; and Chris Reed is the Founding Director of Stoss. We discuss the unique moment in Boston where three major parks are being imagined or reimagined at the same time — in Cheri’s words: it’s an opportunity to impact the fabric of the city. It may prove to be a model for improving the urban experience for all residents in cities across the country. Plus, we have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

The Fabric of the City. Designing Parks & Open Spaces that are Flexible and Equitable

An Employee-Centered Design Approach for the Next Evolution of the Office Jul 16, 2020

COVID-19 changed the game for remote work, with large companies like Twitter and Shopify announcing they’re now fully remote. The CEO of Shopify even boldly proclaimed that “Office centricity is over.” Some experts estimate that 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home by the end of 2021 That’s great and all, but Zoom can’t fully replace working and collaborating in person in a shared space. As one of our guests explains: humans have dimension. So how do we design for a return to the office even as there’s a resurgence of COVID-19? What’s the next evolution of the office environment? We discuss with two experts: Leila Mitchell is an architect, graphic designer, and marketing strategist; she’s the Founder and Creative Director of LLM Design. And Kelliann McCabe is the Chief People Officer at Imprivata, a healthcare information technology company that enables trust across the system. While many firms are thinking about the physical augmentations that lead to a return to the office, Leila and Kelliann discuss the human element, an employee-centered way of thinking about a blended — physical and virtual — work environment. Plus, our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

An Employee-Centered Design Approach for the Next Evolution of the Office

Telemedicine & COVID-19, Technology, Design, and Robots Jul 09, 2020

Since the dawn of telecommunications technology, people have been figuring out ways to use it in healthcare. Of course, now that high-speed internet access is expanding and we can seamlessly video conference, the possibilities for connecting with healthcare remotely are really interesting. Plus, with COVID-19 still impacting so many and stressing our healthcare system, telemedicine could be how many of us receive care in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Why would you ever want to sit in a doctor’s office waiting room right now, when you could simply hop on a website, do a zoom call, or even text your doctor instead. Telehealth can take limited medical resources, namely doctors and specialists, and expand their reach and capacity — it can increase accessibility to medical advice and care to many people regardless of geographic proximity. We discuss design and telemedicine and its impact, with George White, Chief Innovation Officer at Cantina. We interview Ava Robotics CEO, Youssef Saleh, about how their robot, Ava, is being utilized in the fight against COVID-19. Plus, we have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Telemedicine & COVID-19, Technology, Design, and Robots

How Do You Design a Community? Start with the Why or the Who Jul 02, 2020

We’re all able to connect through our phones and social media, but humans crave coming together, and yet participation in the classic religious and civic communities has declined over decades. COVID-19 has certainly complicated our ability to gather in person. Community is so important to us at the Design Museum, and like anything, you can be intentional about designing creating, maintaining, and growing community. It’s more than simply bringing people together and watching the magic happen, even though that’s definitely part of it! In this episode we talk to two community experts. Sara Sigel is a product and community builder who advises and invests in profit-from purpose companies — she’s an Advisor and Investor at Rev Boston. And Sascha Mombartz is a multidisciplinary design director, and the Founder of The Office for Visual Affairs. Sascha and his 2 other community-loving friends created the Community Canvas, which is a framework that will help you build a community. Plus we have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

How Do You Design a Community? Start with the Why or the Who

Always. Be. Curious. Design Thinking and Sales Unite for Extraordinary Results Jun 25, 2020

Sales and design thinking in the same sentence? It’s a new way of selling that builds off of the design process: empathy, discovering insights, and genuinely building relationships with customers. Ashley Welch, Co-Founder of Somersault Innovation and Author of Nakes Sales, joins us to discuss her Sell by Design methodology. She’s teaching sales professionals the tools of design thinking to drive customer centricity and revenue growth. We dive into her process and design-informed sales strategies. We’re also joined by Sachin Rai, a Senior Account Executive at Salesforce, who utilized Ashley’s training and advice to transform how he sells. Before selling to a new customer, Greyhound, Sachin took an 8-hour bus ride to learn about his potential customer and the pain-points in their service. Armed with surprising insights from his own first-hand experience, he was able to close a multi-million dollar deal. Sachin tells his story and the impact on his work. Plus, our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Always. Be. Curious. Design Thinking and Sales Unite for Extraordinary Results

Infusing Equity in K-12 Curriculum Design, In the Classroom & at Home Jun 18, 2020

Every teacher is a curriculum designer, creating experiences for people to understand and learn. In this episode we explore curriculum design with an important lens: equity. Successful curriculum connects with kids of different backgrounds and learning styles, and contains content beyond a white-centric history and approach. We discuss with Design Museum Everywhere’s very own Director of Learning and Interpretation, Diana Navarrete-Rackauckas, and Dr. Aaliyah Samuel, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Partnerships at NWEA. The conversation also explores strategies for parents who were transformed into teachers almost overnight because of COVID-19. It’s all connected because our kids are growing up and learning in the context of a global pandemic — their learning experience has dramatically changed — and during a growing, global protest movement against police brutality against Black Americans. Our guests provide insights on how we can meet this unique moment for our kids and our communities. Plus we have our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Infusing Equity in K-12 Curriculum Design, In the Classroom & at Home

Regenerating Earth’s Living Systems by Design Jun 11, 2020

Design and the ecological systems that support life (including human life) are intimately connected. Typical to design and make something we’re removing resources from ecological systems and transforming those resources into something: a product, a building, an article of clothing, etc. In this episode we explore that relationship, including how design can help protect, learn from, and regenerate those systems. We talk with Lana Sutherland, Co-Founder and CEO of TEALEAVES about sustainability and biomimicry, the focus of TEALEAVES’ latest documentary, Garden of Secrets. The film positions botanical gardens as “idea banks” for future designs based on nature. And we speak with Dawn Danby, Co-Founder and Principal of SPHERICAL about her work on strategies for actually regenerating Earth’s living systems. Plus our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

Regenerating Earth’s Living Systems by Design

From Human-Centered Design to Relationship-Centered Design Jun 04, 2020

Many of us are aware of human-centered design, which is all about placing real people at the center of our design work, so that we’re always designing with empathy and thoughtfulness. But what if we take it a step further and design with relationships in mind, so that we’re strengthening the bond between people, or between people and organizations, and build real loyalty? This is particularly interesting when we think about financial organizations and their customers, many of whom are adversely affected by the current financial crisis. So instead of blindly selling services and products, these organizations can focus on where people are in every moment of their journey to develop a life-long and trusting relationship. You can imagine this has business impact as well as social impact for the customer, as the fates of both the company and the customer are intertwined. We discuss with Mike Kirkpatrick, SVP of Client Experience & Strategy at Mad*Pow and Russ Wilson, Chief Experience Officer and Head of Design at Fidelity Investments. Plus our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

https://designmuseumfoundation.org/007-human-to-relationship-centered-design

Fix Room 16! Designing Healthcare Facilities to be More Resilient & Equitable May 28, 2020

As cases of COVID-19 spike, hospitals are simply running out of space and beds for people who need them. This is one of the main reasons we’re quarantined, not just to keep ourselves safe from the virus but also to “flatten the curve,” and help our hospitals keep up with a growing number of cases. On this episode we talk about how hospitals are designing solutions for surge capacity and what lessons there are for the future of hospital architecture. Those lessons could be very important as we may see new spikes in COVID-19 and as we must adapt facilities to be equitable for all patients, healthcare workers, and staff. We’re joined by Dr. Diana Anderson, a doctor architect, or Dochitect, currently a geriatric medicine fellow at the University of California, San Francisco; and Dr. Esther Choo, she’s an emergency medicine physician and health services researcher based in Portland, Oregon at Oregon Health & Science University, and she’s the chief medical advisor for a startup called Jupe, which is creating pop-up medical facilities. Plus our weekly dose of good design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

https://designmuseumfoundation.org/006-fix-room-16/

#COVIDStreets, How Cities are Re-Designing Streets for Safety and Livability May 21, 2020

COVID-19 is necessitating rapid change in our cities. As many stay-at-home orders are lifting, people are getting outside, but we still need to stay 6 feet apart, so citizens and cities are stepping up in some interesting ways. How do you stay 6 feet apart when many sidewalks aren’t even 6 feet wide? The answer might just be rethinking the design of our streets and our cities overall. From tactical urbanism to open streets to changing the very notion of what a shared street is: we discuss with Jonathan Berk, placemaking advocate and a Director at Patronicity; and Jeff Speck, city planner, author, and long-time advocate for more walkable cities.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

https://designmuseumfoundation.org/005-covidstreets/

The Future of Design Education is Flexibility May 14, 2020

With pretty much every design student in the world learning remotely, it’s a good moment to talk about the state of design education at the college and university level. To train a well-rounded designer, the number of things students need to learn increases every year, but the amount of time in class stays the same. How do professors and administrators plan to teach the next generation of designers to enter an ever-changing industry and world? And then, how can design be taught remotely? We speak with Derek Cascio, newly appointed Chair of the Industrial Design department at Wentworth Institute of Technology; and Jason Schupbach, Director of the Design School at Arizona State University. Derek and Jason agree the future of design education is flexibility. Design has the proverbial “seat at the table,” so, in Jason’s words, “We must prepare students to be in that room.” Plus, our Weekly Dose of Good Design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

https://designmuseumfoundation.org/004-the-future-of-design-education/

The Big Reset on Production & Consumption Practices May 07, 2020

This year is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and it just so happens to coincide with a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic. There’s an interesting phenomenon happening while the majority of the world’s human population is staying at home: we’re driving less, flying less, and consuming less; and as a result the earth is getting cleaner. This may be the first time in our lives that we can see how action on a massive scale can have an immediate, real impact on our environment. Perhaps COVID-19 presents an opportunity to hit the reset button on production and consumption practices that cause damage to the planet. One way designers can make an impact is by helping us move to a circular economy — an economy where our resources are in a closed loop, so we take materials once, make and consume, and then those resources are repurposed, then repurposed again and again in a closed loop. To discuss we’re joined by Bergen Hubert, Manager for Built Environment at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, a global nonprofit that certifies products within a circular economy; and Roxane Spears, VP of Sustainability in North America at Tarkett, and innovative flooring manufacturer with a number of Cradle to Cradle certified products.

https://designmuseumfoundation.org/003-the-big-reset-on-production/

Working Remotely During and After a Pandemic Apr 30, 2020

Unless you’re an essential worker (thank you), you’re likely working from home right now. And for many of us, this is a whole new reality. With stay-at-home orders across the world, companies, and individuals are shifting to work remotely, at a scale we’re never seen before. How are they handling the challenges of this transition? Is the cat out of the bag on remote work, will we see more companies shift now that we’re all experiencing this paradigm? We discuss the challenges and ways forward with two experts: Tracy Brower, Ph.D. sociologist, and principal within Steelcase’s Applied Research + Consulting Group; and Richard Banfield, Vice President of Design Transformation at InVision, one of the largest, full distributed companies in the world. Plus our Weekly Dose of Good Design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

https://designmuseumfoundation.org/002-remote-work

The Design Community Steps Up During COVID-19 Apr 23, 2020

COVID-19 is straining our frontline healthcare workers and systems. As designers often do, they see a problem and they jump in with creativity, and they start making things. We are seeing individual designers, collectives, and 3D-printing factories all springing into action to help. We discuss the global design relief response with George White, Chief Innovation Officer at Cantina, and interview Gustavo Fontana, Founder and Creative Director at Fresco Design who is leading an effort called UShield.us to mass-produce face shields and distribute them to hospitals around the country. Plus our Weekly Dose of Good Design.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: The Design Community Steps Up During COVID-19

Design is Everywhere Preview Apr 13, 2020

In this preview episode, hosts Sam Aquillano and Liz Pawlak introduce each other and discuss their vision for Design is Everywhere — the new podcast from Design Museum Everywhere.

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