AIGA Design Podcast

This episode features John Glasgow and Jonathan Kenyon, co-founders of Vault49, which has partnered with the best of the best, from the most recognizable global brands to celebrities and start-ups. Named Global Design Agency of Record for two of Diageo’s biggest brands, Baileys and Guinness, Vault49 also counts Netflix, Gatorade, and Doritos as current clients.  Cannes Lions, Clio, D&AD, DBA Design Effectiveness, Pentawards, Design Week, and Dieline have all honored Vault49 with the highest awards. With an ongoing commitment to racial justice in and beyond the creative industry, Vault49 is also a proud founding partner of THE SWAP. This unique creative and cultural exchange program inspires and empowers young people from underrepresented communities. https://vault49.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/vault49/ https://www.instagram.com/vault49/ https://twitter.com/Vault49

What does an evolving design studio look like and how do you make money while maintaining your passion? In this episode, AIGA Member Matthew McIver, a creative entrepreneur and owner of Commence Studio, and Lee-Sean Huang, senior director of learning and programs at AIGA, unravel the intricacies of pivoting business models and pricing strategies. Join us as we we explore Matthew's entrepreneurial journey over the past 15 years, uncovering valuable lessons learned and the evolution of Commence Studio's approach to business and client relationships. Topics include: 1️⃣ Entrepreneurial journey: Explore the lessons learned and key milestones that shaped Commence Studio's evolution. 2️⃣ Navigating margins and profitability: Dive into the strategies for managing both creative and financial margins to foster maximum creativity and business success. 3️⃣ Business model pivots: Learn how Commence Studio adapted its pricing strategies to meet the changing demands of the market. 💼 Matthew McIver is a creative entrepreneur and owner of Commence Studio based in Reno, Nevada. Commence Studio is a B2B Brand and E-commerce Agency that helps purpose-driven companies be seen & heard. 🎧 Learn more about Matthew's agency journey here. 📫 Subscribe to AIGA newsletters for the latest podcast and content news.

In this preview clip, Matthew McIver and Lee-Sean Huang, AIGA's senior director of learning and programs, discuss the important role of financial margins and padding in business. The AIGA Design Podcast will be going on a brief mid-season spring hiatus and return with our full episode with Matthew on May 20, 2024. 💼 Matthew McIver is a creative entrepreneur and owner of Commence Studio based in Reno, Nevada. Commence Studio is a B2B Brand and E-commerce Agency that helps purpose-driven companies be seen & heard. 📫 Subscribe to AIGA newsletters for the latest podcast and content news.

In this engaging discussion, Sarah Doody, Founder of Career Strategy Lab™, shares her insights on navigating job searches for UX and product professionals. She emphasizes the importance of crafting a career roadmap with clear goals. Sarah explains how to create a compelling compass statement to filter opportunities aligned with individual aspirations. The concept of 'anti-networking' is introduced, focusing on building meaningful relationships rather than traditional networking. Listeners also learn strategies for revitalizing their cover letters to stand out in the job market.

On the next episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, guest Sarah Doody discusses applying product design principles to your career, crafting a career roadmap, and more. Full episode release: March 18, 2024. 🤝 Sarah Doody is the founder of Career Strategy Lab, a program that helps UX and product professionals at all career stages navigate their job search and articulate their skills and experience through individualized and group coaching. She is also the host of the Career Strategy Lab podcast. Topics include: 1️⃣ Crafting a career roadmap: Discover the value of setting short and long-term goals to guide your professional journey. 2️⃣ Building your compass statement: Learn how to articulate your vision and filter opportunities that align with your career aspirations. 3️⃣ The power of anti-networking: Explore strategies for building meaningful relationships and standing out in a crowded job market.

Has design research hit a plateau? In this episode, Danny Spitzberg and Humphrey Obuobi, two design researchers in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Lee-Sean Huang, senior director of learning and programs at AIGA delve into the challenges and explore the gap between personal and professional learning in design research. Topics include: the value of co-design catchphrases and why they keep resurfacing the challenges and rewards of collaborating with marginalized communities on designing solutions that address their needs how design and policy can intersect more effectively to address social challenges and promote equity 🔍 Danny Spitzberg, a user research expert in the cooperative economy, co-founded the Workers’ Algorithm Observatory. He sheds light on auditing algorithms for workers and allies, advocating for concrete improvements in digital technology standards. 🔍 Humphrey Obuobi, founder of LETS Studio, focuses on building infrastructure for a healthier democracy. A student-researcher with UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab, Humphrey is dedicated to local, community-powered social innovation. 📖 Read Danny and Humphrey's Q&A article published on AIGA.org 🙋 LETS Studio, Humphrey's professional practice, invites collaborations and volunteers at letsstudio.org. 🔬 The Workers’ Algorithm Observatory advocates for algorithmic accountability; explore their studies at wao.cs.princeton.edu. 📫 Subscribe to AIGA newsletters for the latest podcast and content news.

Preview clip of our upcoming episode with Danny Spitzberg and Humphrey Obuobi on Why Design Research is Stuck. Full episode release on February 20, 2024.

Designing success outside the lines – AIGA's 2024 journey begins at the margins. Welcome to the first episode of the 2024 season of the AIGA Design Podcast! Join Lee-Sean Huang, senior director of learning and programs at AIGA, as he explores the theme "MARGINS" and sets the stage for an exciting year of AIGA Design programming. 🎟️ Register for the Yale BPCL Open House webinar. 📚 Learn more about the AIGA Professional Design Certification. 🏆 Learn more and enter AIGA Design Competitions. 📫 Subscribe to AIGA newsletters for the latest podcast and content news. Want to join us as a guest on a future show? Fill out this form here.

Listen to the full interview with Colton Schweitzer, co-founder of Kickass UX here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aigadesign/episodes/Colton-Schweitzer-on-Kickass-UX-e2ci2ke Use code AIGA75 for $75 off your first month of ⁠Kickass UX's UX/UI Expert course

In this episode Colton Schweitzer, co-founder of Kickass UX and Lee-Sean Huang, senior director of learning and programs at AIGA talk about: How Banksy inspired Colton to get into graphic design  How creating a board game introduced Colton to UX and landed him a job  The differences between a design bootcamp and a college degree program   How to identify and address common gaps in UX design education How recent design graduates can make their portfolios stand out and some hope for current UX job seekers What makes the Kickass UX program different and how graduates of the program have found success Why graphic designers should learn UX even if they aren’t planning a career pivot  How can designers overcome subjectivity when dealing with stakeholders  What are the  “Treasure Map” and “Kung Fu Master” metaphors for the UX process and how do they make you a more powerful designer with a “why skillset” How Colton applies UX principles to designing the pedagogy and business model for his venture, Kickass UX And more!  Use code AIGA75 for $75 off your first month of Kickass UX's UX/UI Expert course AIGA's Design Futures research referenced in the episode Colton's cartoon alter ego, ⁠Kitty AF⁠ recently released a holiday book How the Cat Ruined Christmas Irish Bouzouki clip by PhotoCapeBreton via Pixabay  This is the final episode of 2023. Happy holidays! See you next year.