Ellen Lupton is a design thinker of the highest order. As curator of contemporary design at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City, she has produced numerous exhibitions and books, including Thinking with Type (2004), which is used by students, designers, and educators worldwide. Her most recent book, Design is Storytelling, published in late 2017, explores the connection between good design and a compelling narrative.

In this episode of Change Lab, Ellen makes a compelling case for the integral relationship between storytelling and design, drawing connections between a well-designed experience and the mythological hero’s journey and citing Ikea as Exhibit A for a successful experiential design narrative.

Finally, Ellen reflects meaningfully on her role as an educator and the importance of approaching design as a full-body sensory experience guided by the physicality of the materials used and the making process itself.

Learn more about Ellen's work:

• Thinking with Type
• Design is Storytelling
• Cooper Hewitt
• Maryland Institute College of Art

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