Design is Everywhere

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.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: 

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.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

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. 

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.

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.  

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: 

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.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: 

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. 

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: 

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. 

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: 

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. 

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: 

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.

For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:

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