Design Lab with Bon Ku

Latest Episodes:

EP 9: Spatial Justice | Craig Wilkins Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

Craig Wilkins is an architect, activist, artist, author and academic. His work focuses on the intersection of design and social justice. He is the creative director of the Wilkins Project and a lecturer in architecture at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Craig, a leading scholar on African Americans in architecture, won the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in 2017. In this episode, Bon and Craig talk about hip hop architecture, urban acupuncture and spatial justice. Learn how the bad design of the environment and urban policies have negatively impacted the health of black communities in the U.S. and what can be done to change that.

EP 8: Designing with Data | Giorgia Lupi Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

Meet Giorgia Lupi. She’s an information designer and a partner at the global design studio Pentagram. Giorgia uses data as her materials for design — she is on a mission to make data more humane. The MOMA in NYC acquired her data visualization of soft power as one of its permanent collections and Fast Company named her one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2018. Giorgia’s TED Talk on her humanistic approach to data has >1,000,000 views! Learn about Giorgia’s stunning data visualizations and why you should create your own personal data diary.

EP 7: Technology and Design | John Maeda Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

John is a legend in design. Although he currently defines himself as a technologist, John is also an artist, educator, graphic designer, computer scientist and engineer. He is internationally known for his talks, books and thought leadership on the intersection of technology and design. His diverse career spans from teaching at MIT Media Lab to being the president of the Rhode Island School of Design. John is the recipient of nearly every prestigious design award such as the AIGA Gold Medal and the White House’s National Design Award. His latest book, How to Speak Machine, was published in 2019. Bon and John talk about computational design, John shares some sage tips on creativity, and they both make way too many Star Wars references.

EP 6: Food as Medicine | Nicole Marquis Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

Food can be as powerful as medications in improving health outcomes. But most of us struggle to eat a healthy diet. Nicole Marquis is on a mission to make plant-based food accessible to everyone, even meat-obsessed humans like Bon. She is the founder and CEO of the plant-based fast casual restaurant HipCityVeg that has locations in Philadelphia and D.C. Listen to how Nicole’s vegan restaurants have helped Bon and others on their journey to eat healthier. Challenge your misconceptions about a plant-based diet and get inspired to redesign your pantry.

EP 5: Designing for Equity | George Aye Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

Meet George Aye. He uses human-centered design to advance equity and creates solutions that improve society. He is a co-founder and principal at the Chicago based Greater Good Studio. His work spans diverse sectors from criminal justice to healthcare. Listen to Bon and George talk about how “gut checks” can inform our everyday decisions, their Asian identities, George’s journey to becoming a designer and why Bon was ashamed of the smell of kimchi.

EP 4: The Power of Making | Emily Pilloton Sep 24, 2020

Show notes

Meet Emily Pilloton. She’s a designer who has developed mastery of any power tool. Emily’s love of teaching through building led her to found the nonprofit Girls Garage, where girls are empowered to change the world around them by making. Using everything from drills to band saws, girls work together in a creative community unlike any other. In this episode, you will be inspired to use your own hands to shape the world around you.

EP 3: Art, Storytelling & Medicine | Mike Natter Sep 17, 2020

Show notes

Meet Mike Natter. He’s an artist turned doctor who uses comics, sketches and drawings to share his journey in Medicine. Mike is an Endocrinology Fellow in New York City where he finished his residency training treating patients with Covid-19. In his conversation with Bon, Mike shares how art helps him both as a doctor and a patient living with diabetes, embracing a creative mindset and being trolled on Instagram.

EP 2: Designing for Mental Health | Nzinga Harrison Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

Are we hardwired for addictive behaviors? How can we quiet our brains? Do you need a mental health trainer? Dr. Harrison, a psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist, is going to help us answer these questions and shine light to those things that we push into the dark. She is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Eleanor Health and hosts the In Recovery Podcast. Bon and Dr. Harrison discuss the stigma around mental health, redesigning our lives for better brain health and Bon’s unhealthy addiction to surfing.

EP 1: Sharing the Power of Design | Ellen Lupton Sep 03, 2020

Show notes

Meet Ellen Lupton, designer extraordinaire. Ellen has spent her career sharing the power of design beyond the design profession. She has written over 20 books on design, teaches graphic design at the Maryland Institute College of Art and is the senior curator at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Bon and Ellen discuss DIY design, why healthcare needs design and how each one of us can become more creative.

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