In this episode, Alex Stonehouse sits down with David Somerville, Principal at Smrvl, to explore the philosophy behind great design and why the best work doesn’t just look good, it tells a story.

David shares lessons from his time leading creative direction at The Atlantic, Defense One, and beyond, before building his own design studio rooted in curiosity, play, and lateral thinking.

Together, they unpack how emotion, imperfection, and intuition bring design to life, and why every brand needs to make people feel something before asking them to do something.

You’ll hear:

- How design and storytelling work together

- Why flaws can make brands more human

- The tension between structure and spontaneity

- What brands can learn from the way we play games

This is a conversation about creativity, connection, and the messy, magical process of making design that feels alive.