Design is Everywhere

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. 

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Designing in Nature’s Image

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.

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The Responsibility of Architecture

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.

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From the Archive: Making Your Home Smarter: Robot Design for Humans

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.

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Navigating Work-Life Fulfillment

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. 

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Designing for Work and Life that Satisfies your Spirit

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.

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Common Space for the People, by the People

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.

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From the Archive: Designing for Mindfulness and Gratitude

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. 

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From the Archive: The Intersection of Design and Policing

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.

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From the Archive: Creating a Brand for a Community

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.  

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Design Museum Everywhere: Year in Review 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.

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Design Thinking for Change Management

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. 

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The Strategic Importance of Design in Venture Capital

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. 

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Campus Design for Engagement and Equity

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. 

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Trauma-Informed Design for End-of-Life Decisions

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.

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