Show Notes

Discover how empathy, leadership, and design intersect in this inspiring conversation with industrial designer Mike Laut, founder and CEO of Laut Design. In this episode of E3: Engage and Empower with Empathy, host Rebecca Dhrimaj explores how empathy drives creativity, strengthens team dynamics, and fuels innovation in user experience and industrial design. Mike shares his journey from freelancer to leader, revealing how core values, authentic communication, and a deep understanding of users help teams tackle complex business challenges with clarity and purpose.

Sound bites

"The client is always surprised."

"We never shrunk, only ever grew."

"Boredom is cancerous around here."

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Lout Design

04:17 Mike's Journey into Industrial Design

06:44 From Freelancing to Building a Team

09:49 The Role of Empathy in Design

12:16 Understanding Customer Needs through Empathy

14:59 Case Study: Designing a Tech-Enabled Sprayer

17:38 Client Surprises and the Importance of Research

20:14 Navigating Business Challenges and Team Morale

22:50 Core Values and Company Culture

28:25 Lessons Learned and Future Directions

40:03 Introduction to Empathy in the Workplace

40:12 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

Learn more about Laut Design: https://lautdesign.com/

Learn more about The Empathy Collective: https://www.theempathycollective.com/