We live in an age of unprecedented creative tools, from generative AI and design platforms to open access to code, capital, and talent. Joining this episode is John Roescher, Founder and CEO of Raw Materials, the design firm behind the public-facing strategies of Anduril, Saronic, and Meta, to explore why design should not be treated as decoration, but as a cultural and strategic function. Because in the end, with all this power, the outcome still comes down to a choice: Will we design with intention or default to slop?

Chapters

• 01:13 Design as Product
• 04:51 Outsourcing vs Partnering
• 08:04 The Creative Process and Why “I Like That” Isn’t Enough
• 11:30 AI, Craft, and Care: Tools vs Slop
• 16:52 Efficiency or Excellence
• 23:19 Unlocking Core Creativity Inside Companies
• 28:01 Design as Strategy
• 32:39 From Founders to Cities: Owning the Narrative
• 40:28 Intentionality vs Accident
• 45:04 What You Ship Says Everything
• 46:45 What’s Next Austin?

  John Roescher: X/Twitter, LinkedIn
  Raw Materials: Website, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
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