Industrial designer Ayse Birsel grew up thinking she’d become a lawyer until a revelation with a teacup enlightened her to the principles and practice of design. Always a playful soul, her essence of playfulness is an important part of her creative process - a process she’s used to design award-winning products as well as to help people design a life and work they love. Now, she shows us an optimistic way to lean into the transformative opportunities that are inherent in these challenging times.

Images, links and more from Ayse Birsel!

This episode is presented as part of WantedDesign Manhattan Online Conversation Series, presented by Clever and Design Milk.

Many thanks to this episode’s partner:

Polish Cultural Institute New York - to learn more about Tomek Rygalik, the Circula project and Eco-Solidarity platform head to circula.org and polishculture-nyc.org. 

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

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Interior designer and art consultant Elena Frampton grew up in Southern California drawing floor plans and going to open houses. Sensitive and introverted as a child, her rebellious adolescence belied her unwillingness to conform to others’ expectations and may or may not have involved a stolen convertible. Now, as a professional interior designer and art advisor she operates as a sort of conduit between both worlds, creating aspirational spaces and placing art within them. Just don’t box her in!

Images, links and more from Elena Frampton!

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

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In this special Clever extra we teamed up with Paintzen to talk wall power. Walls are the backdrops of all our spaces. They are in the prime position to set the vibe and ambience of our lives. Paint and wallpaper have the power to transform, brighten, warm, refresh, and personalize a space. Two experts help break down the style and execution of wall treatments, Casey DeBois, Interior Designer and Meghan Stewart, color consultant, with inspiration, trends, how-to and services that will make it easy and fun.

Read the show notes

Many thanks to this episode’s sponsor:

Paintzen - Paintzen is offering remote quoting, an online visualizer color tool & a free swatch program to help you kickstart that paint job you've been putting off. Save 10% using code CLEVER & designers earn 10% on booked projects - sign up at paintzen.com/clever

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!

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Graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister did not care for engineering in high school. He found designing a poster that would communicate a vibe and draw crowds to an event to be way more compelling. After design school, the Austrian native decided that New York is the city that fits him best. With many awards and a big name in his field, he’s now focusing on art, exhibitions and taking a sabbatical every 7 years. He’s got a brain for planning and long-term data which allows for a very optimistic long view.

Images, links and more from Stefan Sagmeister!

Thanks to Adobe MAX for hosting us in the Airstream podcast lounge.

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!

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Industrial designer Catherine Bailey grew up playing with the old school computer punch cards that were the technological accoutrements of nearby Bell Labs. A public school art teacher gave her the push she needed to find her way to industrial design. After stints designing sneakers and snowboard boots, she and her husband Robin embarked on a creative adventure together stewarding the beloved and iconic Heath Ceramics brand back to health and into modern times. Also, she’s a fan of a good road trip.

Images, links and more from Catherine Bailey!

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!

Clever is proudly distributed by Design Milk.

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These are strange and difficult times. People are feeling anxious, isolated, and frightened. *raises hand* We reached out to friends and familiar voices you know and love from previous Clever episodes to bring you messages of solidarity, hope and coping strategies. Now, we really want to hear from you - How are you doing with all this? To leave us a voice message: call (323) 387-3329 (inside the U.S., anytime 24/7) OR record a voice memo and email it to [email protected] (anywhere in the world.)

‪Episode web page

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

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Artist and designer Misha Kahn grew up hustling his lakeshore Minnesotan neighbors with tin foil wrapped baked goods, sewing clothes and hanging with exchange student stragglers. A year of guzzling weird culture in Brussels set him on a path to study furniture design in school. Now, at the young age of 30, his career has snowballed and earned him a reputation in the art world as an exciting and provocative force working at the intersection of furniture and sculpture. Sewing and tin foil still included.

Images, links and more from Misha Kahn!

Please fill out Clever’s listener survey. Thank you for your input!

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!

Clever's promotional partner is Design Milk.

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Furniture and interior designer Claudia Washington grew up in El Salvador during the civil war. It was not safe for her to play outside so she spent her days clipping pictures from architecture magazines and redesigning her bedroom. In college, she predicted whom she would marry from seeing a work of his art. Now, Claudia and Harry Washington are designing work for international clients and championing design in El Salvador through a design biennale, education, artisan collaborations and economic growth. 

Images and more from Claudia Washington!

We would LOVE for you to fill out our listener survey. Thank you for your input!

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!

Clever's promotional partner is Design Milk.

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Artist, illustrator & author Lisa Congdon grew up being praised for hard work but not for creativity. She studied history in college, spent years as a classroom teacher, and didn’t even start dabbling in art until her early 30’s. At that time of internet nascency, Lisa was an early adopter sharing her work and getting positive feedback. It’s all blossomed into a thriving career, social media stardom, and solid relationships. Her recipe for success includes grit, hard work and NOT being a perfectionist.

Read the show notes: Images and more from Lisa Congdon!

Thanks to Adobe MAX for hosting us in the Airstream podcast lounge.

We would LOVE for you to fill out our listener survey. Thank you for your input!

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!

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This special Clever Extra, taped live at RISD as the keynote presentation of Design Week RI, four creative thought leaders come together for a discussion on the power of creativity. As a social value, creativity often gets dismissed as “making things pretty” rather than being understood as the fundamental impulse and effort behind every creation. Here, with Panelists Rosanne Somerson, Sara Ossana, Umberto Crenca and Sophie Chien, we are discussing creativity as a core component of personal empowerment. 

Click here to read the show notes and see images of the event

Many thanks to this episode’s sponsors:

Rhode Island School of Design: Explore RISD’s academic programs, campus life, executive education, continuing education, RISD Museum and more at https://www.risd.edu/

DesignxRI: We believe design is a critical economic sector that drives change globally, socially, and locally. Learn more at http://www.designxri.com/

Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and Jaime Derringer with music from El Ten Eleven and editing by Rich Stroffolino.

If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!

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