
Design Better
Design Better co-hosts Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter explore the intersection of design, technology, and the creative process through conversations with inspiring guests across many creative fields, to help you hone your craft, unlock your creativity, and learn the art of collaboration.Whether you’re design curious or a design pro, Design Better is guaranteed to inspire and inform. Vanity Fair calls Design Better, “sharp, to the point, and full of incredibly valuable information for anyone looking to better understand how to build a more innovative world.”
Latest episodes

9 snips
Apr 2, 2024 • 49min
Bonus: Eric Snowden, Head of Adobe Design, on AI + Design
Eric Snowden, Head of Adobe Design, discusses the integration of generative AI in design tools, his journey in the digital design landscape, AI's impact on audio capabilities, leading large creative teams, and his current interests including murder mystery shows and music recording.

6 snips
Mar 26, 2024 • 52min
Kate Aronowitz: Shaping the story of design in business
Kate Aronowitz, experienced designer at LinkedIn, Facebook, eBay, and GV, discusses leveraging design for business success. She shares anecdotes from her time at Facebook and insights on building design teams. Kate explores her journey at GV, the unique world of venture capital, and offers advice for aspiring designers. Additionally, guidance on crafting effective design portfolios and exploring business beginnings is discussed.

9 snips
Mar 13, 2024 • 44min
Ellen Lupton: Thinking With Type
Ellen Lupton discusses what's new in the latest edition of 'Thinking With Type' and how non-designers can benefit from it. The conversation covers typography fundamentals, origins of terms like points and kerning, and the importance of hierarchy in design. The evolution of typography in the digital age is explored, highlighting challenges and changes since 2010.

6 snips
Feb 27, 2024 • 1h 3min
Jonathan Hoefler: Typography legend on type history, philosophy, and entrepreneurship
Typography legend Jonathan Hoefler discusses his iconic typefaces, design philosophy, entrepreneurship, and themes like 'Unfinished Business' and 'Conservation and Preservation'. He shares insights on typography evolution, tools for small businesses, conservation efforts in typography, crafting type specimens, and inspirations. Plus, a chance to win a MacBook Air by participating in a listener survey.

Feb 25, 2024 • 43min
Bonus: Hamish Smyth of Standards
Explore the significance of design standards with insights from co-founder of Standards, Hamish Smyth. Learn about iconic examples like the NYC Subway map and NASA standards, and get tips on securing corporate buy-in. Discover the evolution of design manuals, flexible brand standards, data backup solutions, ergonomic workspaces, mastering client meetings, and creating inspiring design standards.

32 snips
Feb 6, 2024 • 52min
Bonus: Hiroki Asai, Global Head of Marketing at Airbnb
In this podcast, Hiroki Asai, Global Head of Marketing at Airbnb, talks about his time at Apple and how he applied their marketing playbook to Airbnb. He also discusses the importance of dogfooding products, Airbnb's departure from traditional product managers, and the unique relationship between marketing, advertising, and product development at Airbnb.

8 snips
Jan 30, 2024 • 53min
Vanessa Gennarelli: Surviving Change at Work
Find the transcript and full show notes on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/vanessa-gennarelliChange at work is tough, and it’s seemingly constant. New leadership, new boss, new role, new responsibilities, new strategies. Suddenly, everything you thought was certain has been upended and you’re left fretting about what’s next. Though change at work is a constant, the stress and confusion it often induces doesn’t have to be. Our guest today is Vanessa Gennarelli, author of Surviving Change at Work, has navigated difficult work situations herself and has practical guidance that can help you get your bearings. We speak with Vanessa about dealing with uncertainty, and how to decrease the odds that you’ll be laid off. We also discuss what happens when the mission of your organization has changed, and how to know when it’s time to go.You can get 10% off Vanessa’s book Surviving Change at Work by entering the code BETTER10 at checkoutBioVanessa Gennarelli is the principal of Fortuna, a change management firm, and the chief operating officer for Raise.dev. She has led cross-functional teams at rapidly growing organizations, including GitHub Education through its acquisition by Microsoft. While at one of the largest tech companies on the planet, she learned how to navigate cultural differences, integrate new processes, and help direct reports thrive through change.***Visiting the links below is one of the best ways to support our show:American Giant: Makers of the best hoodie on the planet, their clothing is American-made, ethically produced, and built to last. What more could you ask for? Save 20% off your first order with American Giant using our promo code DESIGNBETTER at checkout. dbtr.co/americangiantUplift Desks: For people like us who spend countless hours at our desk, ergonomics are an essential consideration. A standing desk from Uplift Desk can help you avoid the negative effects of sitting all day by improving circulation and reducing strain. Design Better can get a special deal by visiting UPLIFTDesk.com. Use the code DESIGNBETTER at checkout for 5% off your order. Free shipping, free returns, and an industry-leading 15-year warranty. They’re a great company.Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Delivery Service, can help you fuel up fast for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with chef-prepared, dietitian-approved ready-to-eat meals delivered straight to your door. You’ll save time, eat well, and stay on track with your healthy lifestyle while tackling all your holiday to-dos. https://factormeals.com/designbetter50 (use code "designbetter50" for 50% off ).Methodical Coffee: Roasted, blended, brewed, served and perfected by verified coffee nerds 🤓 : https://methodicalcoffee.com (use code "designbetter" for 10% off of your order).Brain.fm: Music scientifically proven to increase focus. We use it to focus on important work, tap into our creativity, and wind down at night when we need to rest. As a Design Better subscriber, you can take 30% off of your subscription: https://www.brain.fm/designbetter

Jan 16, 2024 • 49min
Scott Rice: Creative lessons learned teaching film with Matthew McConaughey
Scott Rice, an Emmy-award winning film and television director, discusses creative process, finding collaborators, and essential storytelling elements. The podcast also explores the influence of technology in the film industry, the benefits of streaming platforms, and opportunities for students. Additionally, the chapter touches on crypto as an extension of open source and the power of values in a company.

Jan 2, 2024 • 57min
Autumn Durald Arkapaw: Cinematographer for Wakanda Forever and Loki on the overlap between design and photography
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, cinematographer for Wakanda Forever and Loki, discusses the overlap between design and photography. Topics include her creative process, breaking rules, technology's impact on filmmaking, gaining experience in the film industry, the importance of collaboration, crafting a natural yet stylized look, shooting challenges in 'Wakanda Forever', and the collaborative approach to open-source development and cross-cultural work.

Dec 26, 2023 • 41min
Rewind: Midcentury modern design principles and Heath Ceramics
Learn about the mid-century modern design influence on Heath Ceramics, the challenges of remote work during the pandemic, and their expansion into new product lines and commitment to sustainability.
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