In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello interview Michael Kaye, Chief Design Officer at Sylvain, to explore the intersection of design, branding, and the evolving creative landscape. Michael’s journey, driven by a compelling shift from fine arts to practical design, highlights his unique approach to creativity—balancing aesthetic expression with real-world functionality.Michael delves into the nuances of book cover design, illustrating how typography becomes a storyteller's essential tool and how book jackets can function as powerful mini-brands for authors. He emphasizes the importance of context, encouraging designers to deeply understand cultural references and trends to create work that resonates authentically.With the rise of AI tools reshaping the design industry, Michael reflects thoughtfully on their potential, advocating for their role as enhancers rather than replacements of human creativity. He underscores the importance of maintaining physicality and sensory experiences in design, ensuring emotional depth and layered meaning remain intact amidst digital advancements.This conversation also touches on the challenges designers face with algorithms influencing digital experiences, highlighting the ethical considerations required to preserve authenticity and integrity. Michael’s approach champions creativity rooted in genuine human connection, meaningful engagement, and intentional performance.How do you balance innovation with authenticity in your design practice?Michael Kaye on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayemichael/Sylvain’s website: https://sylvain.co/Join us for the 2025 AIGA Design Conference, October 9-11 in Los Angeles, California – https://www.aiga.org/design/aiga-design-conference

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello interview Erin Shems, a creative operations leader and entrepreneur who has built a career on getting things done. Erin’s unconventional journey started early—first going to work, then going to school—and led her to industries she’s always been drawn to, from video games to toys.Erin is passionate about mental health and human-centered processes, advocating for workplaces where people can be their authentic selves—starting with how they dress and speak. She challenges the idea that authenticity and performance are opposites, instead proposing that authenticity itself is a type of performance. We shift and adapt depending on who we’re with, how we feel, and the dynamics of our work environment.She shares insights from her years leading operations in creative industries, bridging the gap between design, marketing, and business teams. Erin reflects on how technological progress shaped her entry into the industry and speculates on the next generation’s behaviors, especially in the age of social media and AI. She also discusses workplace trends, pointing out how large companies often replicate each other’s initiatives in a “follow-the-leader” mode.Now an entrepreneur, Erin is on a mission to help people make work suck less. She offers practical advice on improving daily routines and embracing more fulfilling professional lives. Her motto? Make work fun again.How do you bring authenticity to your work?Erin’s company: ezippyco.comErin’s linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinshems/Substack: https://lostwallettheory.substack.com/?utm_source=global-searchJoin us for the 2025 AIGA Design Conference, October 9-11 in Los Angeles, California - https://www.aiga.org/design/aiga-design-conferenceListen/Subscribe to the audio version of this podcast on your preferred platform - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/aigadesign References mentioned in this episode:The Cerulean Sweater Scene from The Devil Wears Prada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDTRuCOs9gThe Straat Museum (Amsterdam): https://straatmuseum.com/enPowerhouse Museum Ultimo (Australia): https://powerhouseultimo.insw.com/

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, host Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello interview author and consultant Karl Sakas ("Say Kiss”). Karl’s clients often call him their “agency therapist.” They discuss the challenges agency owners face, including misconceptions about agency ownership, pricing strategies, and the importance of understanding market rates. Karl shares insights on productizing services, revenue growth, and how to escape the daily grind of agency ownership. The conversation emphasizes the need for agency owners to work smarter, not harder, and to focus on their strengths while delegating tasks effectively. They also delve into various aspects of running an agency, including the challenges of client strategy and sales, the importance of visualizing the future of the agency, understanding cultural differences in business practices, and the multifaceted nature of performance in leadership.  Karl's latest book, Work Less, Earn More - https://amzn.to/41n4jvn  Sakas and Company - https://sakasandcompany.com/  Karl’s upcoming book, Calm the Chos: 10 Ways to Run a Better Agency - https://calmthechaos.xyz/  Recommended book - Overcoming Underearning: A Five-Step Plan to a Richer Life by Barbara Stanny - https://amzn.to/4i5bptK  Recommended book - Meltdown: Why Our Systems Fail and What We Can Do About It Hardcover by by Chris Clearfield and András Tilcsik - https://amzn.to/3X2WdoY Join us for the 2025 AIGA Design Conference, October 9-11 in Los Angeles, California - https://www.aiga.org/design/aiga-design-conference Listen/Subscribe to the audio version of this podcast on your preferred platform -  https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/aigadesign 

Scott Berkun, author of "Why Design is Hard," dives into the intricate challenges designers face in a business context. He discusses 'gravity problems'—unsolvable issues that require savvy navigation through organizational hurdles. Berkun emphasizes the importance of curiosity as a superpower for building relationships and enhancing influence. He debunks the myth of the 'eureka moment,' highlighting the complex execution behind impactful designs. With AI's rise, he urges designers to advocate for their value and maintain a human-centered approach to innovation.

In the third episode of the season of the AIGA Design Podcast, hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello interview Marta Foresti and Federica Fragapane. Marta is the founder and CEO of LAGO Collective, as well as a visiting senior fellow at ODI Global and the Moleskine Foundation. Federica is an independent information designer who has collaborated with organizations like Google, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the European Union, BBC Science Focus, Columbia University, and La Lettura. Marta and Federica discovered each other’s work through social media and realized they shared a common motivation: using design to create impactful projects. Their mutual interest in the movement of people as a global phenomenon led them to collaborate at LAGO Collective. Through their work, they’ve come to understand that design’s power goes beyond representing data or creating beautiful visuals; it can actively perform and generate knowledge. Marta explains that at LAGO Collective, projects often begin with a desire to tell a story, followed by research, rather than starting with a research question to guide the story. Federica challenges traditional imagery used in data visualization by introducing new symbols that offer an alternative narrative. She emphasizes the importance of intentionality in the design process, ensuring that the visuals align with the intended message and impact. They also discuss how to work with both qualitative and quantitative data to craft compelling storytelling through data visualization. For Marta and Federica, their projects are not just about presenting information but about performing for the audience—engaging them in a meaningful way. Both Marta and Federica are committed to introducing new stories that influence public discourse, challenge dominant narratives, and combat misinformation. They envision LAGO Collective as a space where people can have open conversations that inspire change. What topic would you bring to LAGO Collective for a new conversation?

In the second episode of this season of the AIGA Design Podcast, hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello interview Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter, professors at the Stanford d.school, discussing their career and their new book Assembling Tomorrow.  Their motivation to write the book came from the feeling of how unsettling they believe the world is right now and the belief we can craft a better tomorrow. Carissa believes Design is not just about the products we create but the experiences that create and the system that we live in.  In the book, they introduce the concept of Runaway Design and the unpredictability of technology's evolution. They delve into our interactions with materials, physical and digital, and explore the implications that might arise from it. Their book navigates in a fiction and non-fiction space and tackles speculative design methods. Scott and Carissa argue that design begins as fiction since everything is imagined before it’s created. Scott reflects on the fact that society is changing things but challenges listeners by asking: What do we actually want to change? The conversation also touches on their evolving relationships with AI tools and how this is part of their creative process in an exploratory way.  They share how some of their students are exploring AI’s limitations in the physical world and reflecting on how this highlights the depth of human knowledge. They believe their work is bringing visibility to the invisibility brought by technology. What about you? How are you shaping the future you believe in? Assembling Tomorrow: https://amzn.to/3P3QzP7 Watch the video version of the AIGA Design Podcast on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBsiKvJPy6IEKSanoWtz2-xFggU0ncuBM

This is the kick-off episode introducing the new season of the AIGA Design Podcast with our new theme, DESIGN + PERFORMANCE. The theme is open for designers to interpret it in their own unique ways, bringing individual perspectives to the table. In this episode, we explore how we approach design considering the nuances of performance in creative fields. Host Lee-Sean Huang interviews independent filmmaker Gary Jaffe about his professional journey and creative process. They delve into multiple interpretations of "performance" and its tangible and intangible roles in filmmaking. They discuss the decisions a film director makes (and doesn’t make), emphasizing the importance of trusting the team you work with. They highlight the need to create space for individuals to fully perform their roles, allowing the team’s collective skills to shine. For Gary, much like in business, a film carries its own vision. Setting clear goals for how the movie should look is essential, but embracing the unexpected reality is also a vital part of the creative process. As designers, everything we experience serves as inspiration for our work. Ensuring a clear reference point from the beginning helps keep the project on track and aligned with everyone involved. Gary believes that the way he presents himself reflects his creative identity and aligns with the style of work he produces. What about you? How do you perform design? Watch/subscribe to the video version of the AIGA Design Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxpZCam3dhI&list=PLBsiKvJPy6IEKSanoWtz2-xFggU0ncuBM

​​In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, host Lee-Sean Huang talks with Robert Brunner, Chief Designer at Beats by Dre and Founder and Partner at Ammunition. With over 40 years of experience, Brunner began his career at Apple when the company did not yet have a design team. He later became a partner at Pentagram before founding his own design studio. When asked about the early years of his career, he shared that growing up in a household where both parents were makers inspired him and continues to influence his work. While in university, he initially believed civil engineering was the right path for him. However, after reflecting more deeply on his passion, he realized that industrial design was his true calling. He founded Ammunition two decades ago, and the studio continues to thrive. Ammunition is a multidisciplinary studio that keeps the products they design at the center, making sure they create products that matter. He is also committed to focusing on the economics of product development, particularly when it comes to scaling. He shared the challenges faced in designing Beats by Dre over the past 19 years, as well as in developing Square, which democratized credit card transactions for small business owners. When it comes to generative AI, while he acknowledges its potential to support design automation and development refinement, he believes that the connection design creates with people cannot be outsourced. The advice Robert shared with us and tells his kids as well is that when you see yourself working on a project in the middle of the night and don’t care how late it is, you have found your passion and your purpose that will allow you to grow.

This clip is a preview of our upcoming AIGA Design Podcast with Robert Brunner, Chief Designer at Beats by Dre and Founder and ⁠Partner at Ammunition⁠. With over 40 years of experience, Brunner began his career at Apple when the company did not yet have a design team. He later became a partner at Pentagram before founding his own design studio. The full episode with Robert Brunner, which also happens to be our season finale, comes out on September 17, 2024.

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, host Lee-Sean Huang interviews Jenn Stucker, Associate Professor and Chair of Graphic Design at Bowling Green State University. They discuss the importance of community engagement in design, the expanding definition of design as a profession, the role of design communities like AIGA in career development and standard setting, and more. Key Topics and Themes: Community Engagement in Design: Stucker shares her experiences incorporating community engagement into her design practice, including co-founding the AIGA Toledo chapter and leading community-based projects like “You Are Here” and “Sit & Tell.” Expanding Definition of Design: The conversation explores how design is more than just creating visually appealing products. It’s about improving everyday lives through experiences and behaviors. Design Education: Stucker discusses her approach to teaching design, emphasizing the importance of developing mindful individuals who can engage with the social, cultural, and technological world. Design Leadership: As one of the first designers to complete the AIGA Professional Design Certification Program, Stucker shares insights on design leadership and the value of professional development. The Value of Design Communities: The episode highlights the importance of design communities like AIGA in fostering collaboration, providing resources, and advocating for the value of design. Design and Cultural Change: Stucker emphasizes the role of design in creating cultural shifts and making a positive impact on society, even through incremental changes. Design and Higher Education: The discussion touches on the lack of high-level administrators with design backgrounds in higher education and the potential for designers to contribute to solving challenges in this sector. Ethics in Design: The episode briefly addresses the ethical considerations in design, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like AI. Learning and Growth: Stucker shares her ongoing learning journey through her Ph.D. studies and her participation in the AIGA Professional Design Certification Program. Additional Notes: Reflecting her family's cultural heritage, Stucker named her design practice Sisu Design, a Finnish word meaning “guts,” “tenacity,” or “resilience.” The episode references the “In the Round” speaker series at Bowling Green State University, which focuses on Native American and Indigenous speakers across various creative disciplines. Stucker shares a quote from Gloria Steinem, “Power can be taken but not given. It is the process of taking that’s empowerment in itself.” The episode concludes with Stucker reflecting on her advice to designers: “Start small but think big.”