Design is Everywhere

What makes video game storytelling unique? In this episode, Sam chats with Shawn Kittelsen, the VP of Creative Development of Games at Skybound Entertainment. Shawn chats about how his background in playwriting and screenwriting contributes to storytelling in video games and developing narratives that connect the player to the games. Later on in the show, they are joined by Mike Pondsmith, a role playing, board and video game designer who founded R.Talsorian Games and the creator of the acclaimed Cyberpunk series. Mike chats about the value of storybuiling in video games and how he came to develop the Cyberpunk Universe. Together, they chat about their favorite recently played video games.    For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:  The Emotional Design Behind Video Games

From the Design is Everywhere live show, Sam Aquillano learns more about how to design for empathy in the classroom. He is joined by Susie Wise, an equity design ally with a focus on culture change and building belonging in organizations and an Adjunct Professor at the d.school where she founded and led the K12 Lab. Susie chats about how to define empathy and what empathy looks like in the classroom. Later on in the show, they are joined by Matthew Kressy, the founding director of the MIT Integrated Design and Management program and the Innovation Advisor and Trustee at NEIA, the first middle and high school that prepares innovators to shape the world through human-centered design. Together, they discuss teaching empathy, empathy’s inherent quality, and the work at NEIA. Susie and Matt take questions from the live audience.    For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:  How do we teach empathy?

How can students learn how to problem-solve with design thinking? In this episode, Sam chats with Design Museum Everywhere’s very own Director of Learning and Interpretation, Diana Navarrete-Rackauckas, about launching the Neighborhood Design Project to teach youth design skills in an accessible, engaging, and meaningful way. Diana explains the reasons behind the program and why it is important for students to choose their own challenges. Later on in the show, they are joined by Manny Guardado, the Director of Innovation at Notre Dame Academy. Manny shares more details about designing and launching Notre Dame Academy’s Innovation Lab and the tools for learning. Together, they discuss teaching creativity to be a force of change and how design thinking can be used in the classroom.    For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:  Making Youth Design Education Real for Students

We’re all able to connect through our phones and social media, but humans crave coming together, and yet participation in the classic religious and civic communities has declined over decades. COVID-19 has certainly complicated our ability to gather in person. Community is so important to us at the Design Museum, and like anything, you can be intentional about designing creating, maintaining, and growing community. It’s more than simply bringing people together and watching the magic happen, even though that’s definitely part of it! In this episode we talk to two community experts. Sara Sigel is a product and community builder who advises and invests in profit-from purpose companies — she’s an Advisor and Investor at Rev Boston. And Sascha Mombartz is a multidisciplinary design director, and the Founder of The Office for Visual Affairs. Sascha and his 2 other community-loving friends created the Community Canvas, which is a framework that will help you build a community. Plus we have our weekly dose of good design.   For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: From the Archive: How Do You Design a Community? Start with the Why or the Who

How do design and music influence one another? In this episode, Sam learns more about music’s impact on design and the shared mindsets of the creative process. He chats with R. Michael Hendrix, Partner and Global Director of Design at IDEO, singer, musician, and co-author of Two Beats Ahead: What Musical Minds Teach Us about Innovation alongside his co-author Panos Panay. Michael talks about the influence of design thinking in music and how he uses music in his design process. Later on in the show, they are joined by Adam Larson, founder and Executive Creative Director of A&Co, a creative consultancy designed for the modern era. Adam chats about how he approaches his design process, collaborating with artists, and how he translates music to a visual medium.    For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:  The Shared Mindsets of Designers and Musicians 

How do you design for a healthier mindfulness routine? In this episode, Sam learns more about how to design a mindfulness and gratitude routine that is practical, helpful, and consistent. Sam chats with Tracy Swyst, a Design Operations Consultant, Producer, and a member of Design Museum Everywhere’s Board of Directors. Tracy shares her mindfulness and gratitude routine and how she began her own mindfulness practices. Later on in the show, they are joined by Rahul Kulkarni, the CEO and co-founder of Sukhi. Together, they chat about mindfulness, emotional pulse checks, and how companies can incorporate mindfulness practices.    For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: Designing for Mindfulness and Gratitude

How do designers craft the perfect book cover? In this episode, Sam learns more about how book covers are designed. He is joined by Scott Berkun, an author and popular speaker whose talks range in topics from creativity, leadership, public speaking, design and more. Scott chats about the collaboration process and the surprising reality behind book cover design. Later on in the show, they are joined by Jon Key, an artist, designer, writer and educator who co-founded the Brooklyn design studio Morcos Key with Wael Morcos. Together, Jon and Wael designed the long-awaited Black Futures book by New York Times journalist Jenna Wortham and art curator Kimberly Drew. Jon chats about how he uses writing during his design process and landing on the cover for the Black Futures book.    For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: The Story Behind Designing Book Covers

As part of our monthly Design is Everywhere live series, Sam Aquillano learns how designers use wayfinding as an indicator of space that guides people through a physical environment. He is joined by Kayte Muse, a designer and strategist who is passionate about creative problem solving, design strategy, storytelling, teaching, and mentoring. Kayte is a co-chair of the Boston Chapter of SEGD- the Society for Experiential Graphic Design. She discusses what experiential graphic design is and how wayfinding is used. Later on in the show, they are joined by Cliff Selbert, the founding partner of Selbert Perkins Design, a collaboration between him and Robin Perkins and their team. Together they discuss the importance of landmarks in the built environment and the process of designing notable landmarks. And they take questions from the live audience.    For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:  Wayfinding the Future: Logos to Landmarks, Live show

How do designers craft experiences that are immersive and impactful? In this episode, Sam is joined by David Schwarz, the Founding Partner of HUSH to learn how design choices are considered when crafting spatial experiences. David explains how he discovered design as a career option and the shift to founding his own company. Later on in the show, they are joined by Nikolai Cornell, the Creative Director and Senior Design Manager of Brand Experience at Uber, to learn how the teams at Uber create meaningful spatial experiences for their employees and customers. Together, they chat about their collaboration process for designing Uber’s Mission Bay HQ.   For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:  Designing Immersive Experiences

How do designers craft robots to make life easier and better for humans? In this episode, Sam is joined by Betsy Goodrich, the Vice President of Design and Co-founder at Manta to chat about the design of complex robots that help people. Betsy shares how she founded Manta, her product design process, and how designers test out scenarios for robot design. Later on in the show, they are joined by Rick Hoobler, the Senior Director of Design at iRobot. Rick shares his background and what led him to robot design. Together, they discuss their various robot design projects, the way robots can help make cleaning better and easier, and they each share their favorite robots portrayed in the media.       For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page: Making Your Home Smarter: Robot Design for Humans