Imagine a Place

Latest Episodes:

Creativity Tips from LEGO’s Creative Director, James Gregson Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

This summer, the Imagine a Place team huddled to ask the question: Who would be the perfect guest to explore creativity? So, naturally, the conclusion was: Let’s talk to a Creative Director at a REALLY creative company.

This led us straight to James Gregson at Lego. James’ work as the Creative Director for LEGO’s internal creative agency has landed him on AD Week’s Creative 100 List and over the course of his career, he’s done work for brands that include New Balance, Atari, and Mercedes-Benz. Currently, James is a leader within The LEGO Group’s internal creative agency, leading a team of digital content strategists, creative designers, producers, and video editors, responsible for creating best-in-class digital content for LEGO social media channels.

And… you know… we didn’t want to just hog James all to ourselves, so we opened up a call out on social media for questions… and wow, did they pour in for James - you’ll hear those questions in this interview. There’s advice for building creativity in remote and hybrid work, how to stay inspired, and what element is at the core of creativity… It’s a 100% Creativity-Centered episode.

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Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

Design Thinking for Games | Brenda Romero, CEO and Game Designer Sep 05, 2022

Show notes

Brenda Romero is an award-winning game director, entrepreneur, and Fulbright award recipient who entered the video game industry in 1981 and is presently CEO and co-founder of Romero Games. As a game developer, she has worked on 50 games and contributed to many seminal titles, including Wizardry, Ghost Recon, and Dungeons & Dragons.

Brenda has been designing and inventing games her whole life and she’s become one of the world's best at it. So, what's the connection between designing a game and designing for physical space? In today's episode, Brenda helps us discover it just might be the challenge of designing for the interactive, complex, and emotional experience of being human.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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Why design matters with Debbie Millman Aug 22, 2022

Show notes

Named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company, Debbie Millman is an author, educator, curator, and host of the podcast, Design Matters.

Launched in 2005, Design Matters, is one of the first and longest-running podcasts, and as host, Millman has interviewed nearly 500 of the most creative people in the world over the past 17 years examining the arch of their lives, fully exploring what it means to be inspired, creative, and curious.

But today, we get the privilege to turn the table on Debbie and explore the arc of Debbie’s life and the richness of her life as a designer, podcaster, communicator, and all-around fascinating human being.

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Was that ok? A look back after 100 episodes. Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

Well, here we are...episode 100! And we're thrilled - not just because of the milestone, but because of what we get to share with you today. In this episode, we’ll be introducing you to the people, the strategy, and the work that goes into making these episodes.

We also take you back to some of our favorite moments from the podcast - and if you stick around until the end, you'll hear Doug's "aha moment" when reflecting on what he's learned after 100 conversations.

And as a quick note of appreciation, we want to thank YOU - the Imagine a Place audience! Thank you for listening, sharing, asking questions, suggesting guests, and well...just being here with us on this journey.

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Sketching around with Brian Graham Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

Designer. Advocate. Advisor. Humorist - Brian Graham's talent extends far beyond furniture design. For nearly 25 years, Brian has been turning out award-winning and internationally recognized work, but it's his ability to connect and communicate with people that just might be his greatest skill and a not-so-secret to success.

In the wee hours before NeoCon, we sat down together in the OFS showroom to discuss what drives his creativity, how design is a "team sport," and the critical skills needed to be successful that might not be taught in design school.

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Love is in the details | Jenny McMath, Los Alamos National Laboratory Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

This is a really special conversation. Jenny McMath is going to give us an all-access pass to Los Alamos National Labs, aka "LANL" — LANL is where the most important, secretive, and secure research is happening in the United States and Jenny leads all furniture for the 8,000,000 square feet that makes up LANL. But — None of that is what makes this conversation so awesome. It’s Jenny’s enthusiasm for getting the workplace right and her rock-solid belief that there is incredible potential to unlock through building better workplaces.

Today – Jenny lets us into how she’s orchestrating a post-pandemic workplace that meets the needs of her workforce and the mission of LANL.

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It Takes a Village | David Lancaster, Furniture Designer, Roger Webb Associates Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

It takes a village. Design is certainly no exception. David Lancaster is a member of the London based furniture design studio Roger Webb Associates. For over 2 decades, David and his teammates have been designing award-winning and innovative furniture products for workplaces all over the globe. Most recently, they’ve designed OFS’s Heya, Obeya, Khaleid and many more.

I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Webb Associates team as member of the OFS marketing staff and I’ve particularly enjoyed the relaxed and casual conversations that I’ve had with David Lancaster over the years, whether that be at a dark and moody german style bar or coffee at the office… So I wanted to bring you into one of those conversation.

David and I met in person to record this one… Today he will share his point of view on creativity and design and you’ll quickly pick up that David is passionate about one particular area of design while others at his studio are focussed on other aspects. Hence the title… It takes a village.

Kick back, relax… I think you’ll enjoy David’s style.

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How will technology change design? | Mike Haley, Autodesk Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

Autodesk is best known as the source for AutoCAD and Revit. They are a technology company that enables the designers and makers of the world. In today's episode, we welcome Mike Haley, Autodesk’s VP of Research. Mike leads a world-class team of researchers, engineers, and other specialists, at Autodesk, who are exploring the future of how people will design and make things.

In this conversation, Mike describes the future of our relationship with technology in the field of design. He also draws a surprising connection between AI and creativity.

Peering into the future is often like looking down a dark hallway… and in this conversation, Mike will be turning on the lights.

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Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

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The skills that make us | Cheryl Durst, IIDA Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

We are thrilled to introduce the latest addition to the Imagine a Place Productions family of podcasts…. It’s called The Skill Set and as you might have heard by now, it’s hosted by the one and only Cheryl Durst. An exceptional communicator, innovator, and visionary leader, Cheryl Durst has spurred progress, driven change, and encouraged the expansion of the Interior Design industry.

Cheryl has spent a lifetime fascinated by the backstories that reveal where those foundational skills come from. With The Skill Set, she taps into those stories to uncover the not-so-apparent abilities that power success.

Now – The Skill Set may be brand new, but the idea is something that has lived in Cheryl’s head for quite some time. Here’s our conversation where we seek to uncover her true "why" behind launching this new podcast.

Subscribe to The Skill Set

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Living your true self. Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

The story you’re going to hear today is a powerful one.

I met Alejandro Estrada (Designer at Empire Office) at what I would rank as one of the top local design events that I’ve witnessed – The New Year New You event in Miami, Florida, where I hosted a panel. When we met at this event, what stood out about Alejandro was his aura… He had a magnetic, creative, and positive energy that you could just feel. Over coffee, I learned more about Alejandro’s story and the more he spoke, the more I was determined to share this story with you.

In today's episode, you'll hear the challenges Alejandro overcame, which include escaping violence in his native Colombia, as well as his journey to coming out at 16-years-old and how these events shaped who he is today.

Alejandro's journey through life is a story of courage and a story of what it is to be human.

Reach out! Want to ask Doug a question for our next podcast? Leave him a question or comment here.

Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal

Follow Imagine a Place on Instagram: @imagineaplace

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Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.

Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

Click here to get your own Imagine a Place Conversation Card Deck.