Design Futures

In episode seven, 2018 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Kim Lê joins me for a discussion about all things Boston, such as what it’s like working for Opus Design, a small design studio, enjoying the T, and finding four-leaf clovers in her neighborhood park — a hobby that started as a college experiment during one summer break. We also talk about her family expectations of career and how those didn’t include graphic design. Kim acknowledges that science was not her strength, as she quickly learned at Clarkson University, and that she was truly an art kid. Finally, we talk about life at Saint Rose, including Kim’s confession that she was her own worst enemy when it came to redesigning her projects at the last minute. Stop wasting time and listen now.

Show Links

• Kim’s portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Behance
• Opus Design
• Kombucha
• The Boston T
• The College of Saint Rose
• Luck of Four-Leaf Clovers

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode six, the first of 2023, 2014 graduate of The Sage Colleges, Jared Schafer joins me for a conversation about 3D motion graphics, water-cooled computers, and creating animated videos for virtual reality. He talks about instead of watching TV he enjoyed a healthy drawing competition with his brother when they were kids that developed his illustration passion and skills. We also discuss the challenges of InDesign, hating web design, and having side projects to fuel your creativity as well as the 20 dudes that would buy what results from those side projects. And Jared talks about finding design after he tried a few other things in his 20s, like playing guitar, video games, and tending bar. If you’re ready for the honest truth, press play now.

Show Links

• Jared’s portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Art on Lark
• Upside Collective
• Learn After Effects
• Onewheel
• The Sage Colleges
• Ira Glass talks about the gap between taste and falling short

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode five of this season, I talk with 2017 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Moira Gilligan about her career as a designer and art director in the fashion world. We discuss big budgets, location scouting, and hiring models for fashion shoots. And she educates me in such fashion trends as dressing a goat in a cashmere sweater, chunky white dad sneakers, and high-waisted mom jeans. Speaking of moms and dads, Moira credits her parents with unquestioning support to pursue a creative career. She also tells me about the time she and some college friends went looking for a place to use the Ouija board in the basement of an old residence hall that also happened to have the drawing studios in it. After seeing the drawings in the studio she knew she had to change majors to earn her B.F.A. It’s time to put on that cozy boyfriend sweater, grab a hot beverage, and press play, because this episode is on-trend.

Show Links

• Moira’s portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Koio
• Naadam
• Harper’s Bazaar
• Ouija
• Klaviyo
• The College of Saint Rose
• Washington Park (Albany, NY)

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Ringling College of Art & Design and Accenture alumus (he currently works for Brunswick Creative), Yuri Priamo Canales joins me to talk about high level brand strategy in experiential design, running disruption sessions in the Mural whiteboard space, questioning what the client thinks they want for design deliverables, and trying to understand the Metaverse. He also retells the story of organizing his own New York City apartment viewing before anybody else had a chance to look at it, thus ensuring he got the apartment and upsetting at least one real estate agent in the process. We also discuss getting into graphic design through is father’s vinyl record collection and learning a lot about his Ringling faculty by packing up their offices to move into new building. Pass the box cutter, it’s time to unpack episode 04.

Show Links

• Yuri’s portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Accenture
• Brunswick Creative
• Storm Thorgerson
• Alex Steinweiss
• Mural
• Ringling College of Art & Design

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode, 2014 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Taira Perrault, schools me in digital product design jargon like M.V.P.s, D.S.M.s, and sprints as we view her portfolio and nerd-out about components and templates for editorial design experiences. She also talks about her experience with a UX/UI bootcamp where she mentioned to the teachers that some of their exercises about visual design were wrong (hey, she does have BFA in graphic design) and despite that feedback she created a product design portfolio that redirected her career. Taira shares fond memories of trips to New York City and drawing on one of the eight wonders of the world during her time in college. For all you high school students listening, Taira discusses  getting college credits during her senior year that gave her a head start in higher ed. And of course we talk about baking for fun and for interviews. Bon appétit!

Show Links

• Taira’s portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Thinkful (formerly Bloc) UX/UI Bootcamp
• Figma
• Cupcake recipe
• Healthline
• Healthline Design System
• A Comprehensive Guide to Design Systems
• The College of Saint Rose
• Design Sprints
• Minimum Viable Product
• The Great Wall of China

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this second episode of Season 3, Boston-based art director, Nelson Couto, talks about balancing a design consulting business with family life and moving rocks in his front yard. One of his strategies is meditating each morning after bringing the kids to school. We also put our memories to the test and try to remember how we met at MassArt over 20 years ago. Nelson also shares his struggles with learning to airbrush, falling asleep on the commute to Boston from Rhode Island, and his love of MotoGP.  Hold off on that afternoon nap, it’s time for a conversation about dads and design.

Show Links

• Nelson’s Portfolio
• Twitter Profile
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Dribbble Profile
• Daily Calm Video
• Chiat/Day Virtual Office Article
• Azores, Portugal
• Airbrushing for Beginners
• Massachusetts College of Art & Design
• Autism Society
• MotoGP
• Boston’s South End

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this first episode of season 3 we’re going to space. That’s right, I talk to NASA designer and 2016 Saint Rose graduate, Morgan Denman, about designing for space. She shares her story about how she got into the space industry and why she wouldn’t ever leave. She also talks about being a cancer survivor and how that experience put into perspective what she really wanted to focus on in her design career. And of course we talk about her time at Saint Rose — the healthy competition of her classmates, the support of the faculty, and the crying in the Drawing 1 course. Buckle up crew, it’s time to blast off into the unknown blackness of season 3.

Show Links

• Morgan’s Portfolio
• Twitter Profile
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• NASA
• Artemis 1
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
• Orbital Mechanics
• The College of Saint Rose
• Tang

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Hey future & current designers. If you’re hearing my voice you know what that means. That’s right. Season 3 of Design Futures is happening. Starting the first week of October you’ll hear all new stories from former students.

In this season we go to the extremes.

You’ll hear from a designer who’s work has literally been to space and back. And I don’t mean literally as in figuratively like the kids use that word. It’s literally on rockets and spacesuits. You also hear from a designer who creates beautiful 3D motion graphics depicting some of the smallest substances in medical research.

And of course you’ll hear stories about design at all scales in between including

Product Design

Publication Design

Branding

Food & Beverage

Fashion

and Experience Design

So start your pre-launch preparations now by subscribing to catch up on the first two season of Design Futures.

As always

Thanks for listening

See ya

In episode 10 of season 2 Larry Nguyen, Creative Director of Outfit Branding & Design and 2005 graduate of the University of Denver discusses his passion for branding, working with international clients, and getting projects published in design books. Larry shares his appreciation for the eMAD program at DU (listen for the faculty shoutouts) that taught him to take risks, think conceptually, and become a typographic monk. He also discusses the time he created a slide deck for his in-laws in order to convince them that it was a good idea to quit his job and start a design firm with their daughter. There’s plenty of stories about work and family and the Boston Red Sox. That’s right, for all you baseball fans you’ll want to listen to the end (no skipping) for an amazing story about the 2004 World Series.

Show Links

• Outfit Branding & Design
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Palette Perfect on Amazon
• Brand New Brand book
• Beanfolk on The Dieline
• Wework
• University of Denver
• International Cricket Council

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Lesia Gribbin, 2014 graduate of the College of Saint Rose and Group Art Supervisor at Neon joins me for a conversation about travel, working remotely, and creating advertising campaigns for pharmaceutical products. We talk about her time spent in the early morning hours at Picotte Hall, Saint Rose’s art building, where she would work two or three hours before class. And that one time when, because it was so early, nobody was around to help her when she sliced her finger with an X-acto knife. She also shares her story about being inspired by creative director Kelly McMurray, starting in a design course that Kelly taught at Saint Rose and ending with an internship at 2communiqué. Shout out to all our mentors.

Show Links

• Lesia’s portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• 2communiqué
• 5g
• Palm Pilot
• The College of Saint Rose
• Online Ceramics
• Museum of Brands

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)