Design Your Life with Vince Frost

What role does design have to play in creating a successful and liveable world for future generations? And how does life-centred design come into this equation?    Bruce Mau is a globally recognised and awarded designer and innovator. He’s spent the past three decades funnelling his energy into projects that contribute to a better world including designing; a sustainability platform for Coca Cola, a social movement platform for Guatemala, and an institute for entrepreneurial designers.    Mau is also the Co-founder alongside his life partner Bisi Williams and CEO of Massive Change Network, an organisation dedicated to working with leaders to envision an abundant future and accelerate massive, sustainable change and positive impact for organisations and the planet.    His life-centred design approach is grounded in the belief that people are just one part of our larger ecosystem and environment, and everything we do as humans has implications for the health of our planet. Economic, ecological, environmental and social consequences are given the same weight and consideration in the design process.    Listen in as Vince and Bruce discuss growing up in Canada, starting their careers at Pentagram London, and the social responsibility of using design as a force for good. Watch the video of their chat here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lct6W9okxts  https://www.massivechangenetwork.com/  https://www.unsw.edu.au/arts-design-architecture/engage-with-us/innovation-hub/massive-action-sydney  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us grow up with a basic understanding of Greenpeace and the work they do. But being aware of the organisation's first ‘creative confrontation’ happening close to home as a child is a fairly unique experience. And watching a life path unfold into a position of power in how the ‘peace’ in Greenpeace plays out in today’s fragile world? That could be considered a calling.    David Ritter is the CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific where he works to achieve the company’s mission of securing an Earth capable of nurturing life in all of its magnificent diversity.    It wasn’t a straight trajectory for Ritter. He describes his childhood as informed by, “a narrative of depletion”, and his career path via a law degree as, “a lack of imagination”. But now, he’s certain he’s in the right place.    Listen in as Vince and David discuss the impacts of growing up a child of a refugee, how the historic Mabo decision has impacted his life, and why we all have a world-changing superpower. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainability, equality, and connection to country in contemporary Australian architecture are often spoken about. Commonly they’re thought of as nice add-ons. But shouldn’t they be integral to the design process, right from the start?  Adam Haddow is a globally recognised architect, and Director at SJB, one of the most highly regarded architecture practices in Australia. He has and continues to play a major role in designing the future of Sydney, and particularly loves taking on projects he can walk to from his studio in Surry Hills. Adam describes himself a context-based architect and is interested in designing buildings to fit in with the fabric of their environment. Recognised as a thought-leader in mixed-use design, his buildings embody ambitions of beauty, delight, joy and surprise.  Listen in as Vince and Adam discuss sustainability and connection to country in architecture, thinking in three dimensions, and knowing he wanted to be an architect at age six.  This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Paramount House in Sydney to celebrate the launch the new brand the team at Frost*collective designed for Eco Outdoor.  https://www.ecooutdoor.com.au/  https://sjb.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All creatives suffer from some level of self-doubt, imposter syndrome or lack of inspiration. It’s unavoidable. The good news is, it’s possible to harness our feelings of inadequacy and turn them into something useful.  Richard Holman is a creative, author and speaker who believes creativity is one of the most valuable qualities humans have. He’s dedicated the past few decades to helping people feel more confident creatively, so they can come up with better ideas.  After 20 years working on brands such as the BBC, Discovery and National Geographic, he now spends his time coaching, hosting masterclasses, speaking, writing and podcasting to inspire creativity. In his recently published book, ‘Creative Demons and How to Slay Them’, he does just this.  In this second episode in our Fit-ish series Vince and Maria Briganti, Creative Director of Frost*collective’s Environments team, chat with Richard about all things creative. Tune in as they discuss why it’s best to delay evaluation and continue with creation, how bad ideas can lead to places of originality and hacks for the most common creative demons. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know making lifestyle changes can impact the quality and length of our lives, but which are the changes that work? Is vitamin C ageing? How important is portion control? And does muscle tone impact mood?  Dr. Norman Swan is a medically trained journalist, best-selling author and award-winning broadcaster. He hosts ABC Radio National’s The Health Report, reports on 7.30, and is a guest reporter on Four Corners. Like most of us, he wants to live better longer.  Most recently he’s been known in Australia as the straight-talking doctor who led us through the Coronavirus pandemic with his evidence-based reporting on the Coronacast podcast.  Listen in to the first episode in our Fit-ish series, exploring the idea of the least we need to do for good health, as Vince and Norman discuss slowing the clock on ageing, how control in life impacts our health, and why eighty is the new sixty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A turban that looks and functions like a regular turban, but is as tough as a motorcycle helmet? It exists, and the product is an open-source design available for anyone to download. The Tough Turban is the result of an ingenious idea Vic Bath and the team at Zula Alpha Kilo have brought to life for client Pfaff Harley Davison, who came to the Canadian creative agency with a brief to help them appeal to a more diverse audience. The product has won a raft of awards, including a Wood Pencil and two Graphite Pencils at the D&AD Impact awards this year.  Listen in to episode three of our Designing for Impact series in collaboration with D&AD wherever you get your podcasts as Vince and Vic discuss the power of design to create a better world, the importance of diversity and how this incredible new product works.  https://toughturban.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marijke Spain is part of the creative team at Leo Burnett who conceived the award-winning ‘One House to Save Many’ project for Suncorp Group. It’s a creative solution designed to address the destruction of Australian homes brought on by our changing climate and brings together a group of experts to prototype and test what could be Australia’s most resilient home. Collaborating over many months, Suncorp partnered with CSIRO, James Cook University (JCU) and Room11 Architects to create a truly impactful solution to a real problem for our modern world. The project is a beautiful demonstration of how simple thinking can solve complex problems and the power of creative talent in bringing big ideas to life. It’s no surprise the project won a Wood Pencil at the D&AD Impact awards this year.  Listen in to episode two of our Designing for Impact series in collaboration with D&AD as Vince and Marijke discuss how the project came to life, what to do if you morally object to a brief and how simple thinking can solve complex problems.  https://www.dandad.org/awards/professional/2022/235897/one-house-to-save-many/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered how D&AD came to be, what the organisation does outside of awards, and why it’s important for not just the design community, but the world? Tim Lindsay is the Chairman of D&AD, the esteemed advertising and design awards and creative education charity famed for its iconic Yellow Pencil, awarded only to outstanding work that achieves true creative excellence. Born in Lincolnshire and brought up in East Africa, Tim spent thirty-four years in advertising before becoming the head of the seminal creative institution that’s been inspiring and celebrating commercial creativity since its beginnings in 1962. This is the first in our Designing for Impact series in collaboration with D&AD where Vince speaks with some of the winners of the recent D&AD Impact Awards, which celebrate creative ideas that are making a real and positive difference in the world. Listen in as Vince and Tim discuss the part design has to play in building a more sustainable future, the formative experience of growing up in East Africa and gender equality in the design world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working on things you care about, close to the people you love, in a business with ethics and morals aligned with your own seems a straightforward ambition. Until the result is a leadership position in a global $1bn company that’s driving conscientious business around the world.    Dane O’Shanassy is Patagonia’s Country Director, Australia and New Zealand. The decisions he makes for the business today are led by Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard’s earliest choices. The conscientious objectives that drive both incredible revenue for the business and ongoing positive change for planet earth.    “It's very much a simple mission, but one that I've never seen as present and lived in anywhere else I've worked. The mission itself is, ‘We're in business to save our home planet’. I've never been in an organisation that really takes its accountability to the mission as seriously as it does here.”   DListen in as Vince and Dane discuss why Patagonia will repair a competitor’s product, growing up in Torquay in the 80s packing boxes for Rip Curl and how transparency and accountability are key to success today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being in the business of helping people live healthier and happier is quite a goal, but the Alessandri brothers have done it. By elevating the importance of positive workplace culture in building their brand and products, they’ve found global successful.  Pierluigi Alessandri is the Vice President and Co-founder of Technogym, one of the most successful wellness and innovation businesses in the world. Pierluigi emphasises, it’s the people on the team and their passion who make the business what it is today.  When he and his brother and business partner Nerio started the business in 1983, they never could have imagined they’d be the Official Supplier of the Olympic Games for eight consecutive games, since Sydney in 2000. Or that Wellness, a concept introduced to the world by Nerio ten years later, would dominate the zeitgeist for years to come.  Listen in as Vince and Pierluigi discuss designing exercise equipment that is seen as art, starting a brand and $3.2B global business out of their garage, and what it feels like to have more than 50 million people using your products every day.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.