Best AIGA Podcasts (2025)

1
Catalyzing Change: Maria Fernanda La Rotta on Strategic Design for an Inclusive Future 47:13

3d ago47:13

47:13

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello speak with Maria Fernanda La Rotta, co-founder and head of strategy at ⁠Switch Strategy⁠, about her dynamic career journey and the mission of her company to champion inclusion and drive innovation. Maria reflects on the strategic value of a design MBA, her commitment to…

1
015: Kristine Johnson of AIGA Seattle 36:05

6d ago36:05

36:05

Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar chat with Kristine Johnson, a prominent figure in design leadership in Seattle. We explore her journey with AIGA, her impactful role in sponsorship, and the significance of community connections through leadership retreats. Christine shares insights on the unique ‘Into the Woods’ program and the AIGA LINK initiative, w…

1
014: Bernardo Marguils of AIGA Philadelphia 43:26

13d ago43:26

43:26

In this episode, we welcome Bernardo Margulis, a creative leader with a rich background in design and technology. We discuss Bernardo’s journey with AIGA Philadelphia, the challenges and successes he faced in sponsorship roles, the importance of taking risks in professional growth, and memorable experiences from the Miami retreat. The conversation …

1
013: Gage Mitchell of AIGA Seattle and more 56:12

20d ago56:12

56:12

In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, we engage with Gage Mitchell, a design leader and advocate for sustainable practices. Gage shares his journey through various AIGA chapters, emphasizing the importance of community building and leadership in design. This conversation explores the leadership journey of a prominent figure in AIGA, focusing on their …

1
012: Victor Davila of AIGA Orlando 46:03

1M ago46:03

46:03

In this conversation, Victor Davila shares his extensive journey in design leadership, particularly within AIGA. He discusses his roles, experiences at leadership retreats, and the importance of community in fostering growth and collaboration. Victor emphasizes the balance of multiple commitments and the impact of mentorship and relationships in th…

1
Design at Scale: Richard Moross and the Story of MOO 38:41

1M ago38:41

38:41

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello speak with Richard Moross, founder and CEO of MOO, about his journey from early entrepreneurial experiments to building a globally recognized print and design company. Richard reflects on the evolution of MOO, the balance between quality and scale, the value of thoughtf…

1
011: Wendy Quesinberry of AIGA Seattle 41:12

1M ago41:12

41:12

In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar interview Wendy Quesinberry, a seasoned designer and AIGA leader. We discuss Wendy's journey in design leadership, her experiences with AIGA Seattle, and the importance of community in the design world. Wendy shares memorable events from her time as president of AIGA Seattle, he…

1
010: Frances Yllana of AIGA Dallas/Fort Worth 39:03

2M ago39:03

39:03

Rachel Elnar and Erik Cargill welcome Frances Yllana, a branding experience and community strategist, to this episode of Cheers & Tiers. Frances shares her journey with AIGA from the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter to her National involvement, discussing her leadership roles and the impact of community on her career. She reflects on her experiences at le…

1
Designing Change in Bureaucracy with Ivan Boscariol 54:08

2M ago54:08

54:08

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello speak with Ivan Boscariol, Senior Innovation Specialist and public service designer at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Ivan shares his journey from a background in international relations to working at the intersection of design, innovation, and public servic…

1
009: Brian Singer of AIGA San Francisco 34:17

2M ago34:17

34:17

In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar welcome Brian Singer, a San Francisco-based artist and designer known for his impactful projects that foster human connection and social change. The conversation delves into Brian’s journey in design leadership, his experiences with AIGA, and the memorable moments from leadershi…

1
008: Ashleigh Axios of AIGA DC 38:33

2M ago38:33

38:33

In this Cheers & Tiers episode, Ashleigh Axios shares her journey in design leadership, highlighting her extensive involvement with AIGA and the impact of community engagement on her career. She reflects on memorable experiences at leadership retreats, the importance of building trust within design communities, and the lessons learned from her lead…

1
Designing Memory: Exploring Syria’s Creative Legacy with Kinda Ghannoum 29:54

2M ago29:54

29:54

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, Kinda Ghannoum shares her captivating journey from architecture into the vibrant world of graphic design, emphasizing her passion for preserving cultural heritage through the Syrian Design Archive. Hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello discuss with Kinda the vital role design plays in documenting hist…

1
007: Elysia Syriac of AIGA Colorado 44:45

2M ago44:45

44:45

In this engaging conversation, Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar explore the journey of Elysia Syriac, an experienced designer passionate about design operations and community engagement. They discuss her involvement with AIGA, the impact of mentorship, and the creative skateboard art project that raised funds for students with disabilities. The conver…

1
006: Mike Joosse, AIGA Director of Chapter Development 40:04

3M ago40:04

40:04

In this Cheers & Tiers conversation, Mike Joosse shares his extensive journey with AIGA, highlighting the pivotal role it played in his career and personal growth. He discusses with hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar his experiences at AIGA leadership retreats, the importance of community building in design, and how he applies the lessons learned …

1
005: David Jon Walker of AIGA Nashville 33:43

3M ago33:43

33:43

In this Cheers & Tiers conversation, David John Walker, a prominent art director and type designer, shares his journey through the design world, his involvement with AIGA and the Nashville chapter, and the evolution of design education. He discusses the importance of networking, community building, and the role of design in social change, particula…

1
Humanizing Creativity Through Physical Design with Michael Kaye of Sylvain 54:17

3M ago54:17

54:17

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 cre…

1
004: Paul Mendoza of AIGA Los Angeles 34:14

3M ago34:14

34:14

In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar talk with Paul Mendoza around his journey with AIGA Los Angeles, his experiences at AIGA leadership retreats, and how those experiences shaped his career path leading to his current role producing Amazon’s in-house design conference, Conflux. Paul shares stories about karaoke ni…

1
003: Christine Sheller of AIGA Philadelphia 39:50

3M ago39:50

39:50

In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar catch up with design powerhouse Christine Sheller. From leading UX teams to shaping AIGA Philly, Christine has done it all—and she’s got the wild leadership retreat stories to prove it! We chat about her journey in design, the magic of community, and how a chance encounter at a …

1
002: Josh Silverman of AIGA Rhode Island 39:27

3M ago39:27

39:27

In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar sit down with design veteran Josh Silverman to discuss his 30-year career spanning entrepreneurship, education, and community leadership. Josh reflects on how volunteering with AIGA Boston early in his career transformed his professional journey. What started as a simple act of …

1
Making Work Suck Less with Erin Shems, Ezippy Co., Creative Operations Agency 51:02

4M ago51:02

51:02

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 vide…

1
001: Amanda Hovest of AIGA Los Angeles 29:42

4M ago29:42

29:42

In this episode of Cheers and Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar welcome Amanda Hovest, a seasoned graphic designer with over 18 years of experience. The conversation explores Amanda's journey in design leadership, her impactful role at AIGA Los Angeles, and the importance of networking and mentorship in the design community. They discuss t…

1
000: Grab Your Name Tag and Join Us For Cheers & Tiers 2:59

4M ago2:59

2:59

Meet Erik and Rachel as they introduce the Cheers & Tiers podcast, where AIGA chapter leadership stories come alive. Discover how design community bonds formed at leadership retreats shaped careers and created lasting friendships. Pour yourself something nice and join us for these tales of triumph, growth, and occasional shenanigans. What’s in this…

1
How to Work Less, Earn More with Karl Sakas 51:21

4M ago51:21

51:21

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…

1
Scott Berkun on Why Design is Hard 41:09

5M ago41:09

41:09

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello and guest Scott Berkun, author of Why Design is Hard, discuss the complexities of design, touching on themes such as the challenges designers face, the importance of understanding business contexts, and the role of curiosity as a superpower. We explore the concept…

1
Data Visualization & Migration with Marta Foresti & Federica Fragapane from the LAGO Collective 57:08

6M ago57:08

57:08

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…

1
Assembling Tomorrow with Scott Doorley & Carissa Carter from the Stanford d.school 44:08

6M ago44:08

44:08

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 …

1
Design + Performance (New Season/Theme) with Gary Jaffe, Independent Filmmaker 23:04

7M ago23:04

23:04

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 fi…

1
2.02.2 // Story Nerds 50:11

8M ago50:11

50:11

When you start a convo with Avatar the Last Airbender, you know it's gonna be a good one. We're all nerds for not only amazing stories but what makes them stand out and resonate with audiences. In Part 2 of our interview, we chat with Dustin about all the things we love to discuss when the mics are off—but this time, we hit record, and the results …

1
2.03 // STyLe Talk 1:07:47

8M ago1:07:47

1:07:47

Jeff and Randy Vines have traveled all over the country, searching for the magic they feel in St. Louis. Spoiler alert: there's no place like home 😎 Founders of STL Stylehouse, these two brothers have been incredible advocates for the community. We can't imagine Cherokee Street (or St. Louis) without them. Tune into this episode, which is low-key a…

1
2.02.1 // Great Ghosts 1:09:47

8M ago1:09:47

1:09:47

New season, new music, new convos. We're here with one of our very own—Dustin Schaefer. He not only makes shoegaze music at night after his day job but has also helped us with equipment, tech support, moral support...you name it. Dustin Schaefer is a solo artist who goes by the name Great Ghosts and has published numerous albums and EPs over the pa…

1
2.01 // The Art Of Placemaking 1:29:44

8M ago1:29:44

1:29:44

Welcome to Season 2! We're joined by Rosanna Vitiello, Bureau Chief of The Place Bureau, to discuss placemaking and the elements that might inform it, such as SXSW, STL vs. London, Hostage negotiations, etc. You know, the norm. Send us a text Follow us at @designedbypod on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Have an idea for a gues…

1
Robert Brunner on Designing Products for Scale 43:50

9M ago43:50

43:50

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 …

1
Clip: Robert Brunner on changing his major to design 1:09

10M ago1:09

1:09

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…

1
Community Engagement & Cultural Change with Jenn Stucker 48:23

11M ago48:23

48:23

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 …

1
SPECIAL EP 001.2 // FREE THE CITY 32:12

11M ago32:12

32:12

Mildly influenced by the ULI ASP report discussed in the previous episode, co-host Jayvn created Loutopia's very first workshop that the pod was also part of: The Free City Collab. In this episode, we talk about our fun and mildly-hectic experiences of the day, Hogwarts houses are discussed, maturing our societal culture, and poorly-placed pairs of…

1
Clip: Community Engagement & Cultural Change with Jenn Stucker 0:53

11M ago0:53

0:53

Full episode coming August 12, 2024 Jenn Stucker, Associate Professor and Chair of Graphic Design at Bowling Green State University: "As a person that chairs my program, I often have to meet with prospective students and their parents. And I talk about those common notions, right? It's like, 'okay, so where did your interest come from?' And I'm sur…

1
SPECIAL EP 001 // Know The City 18:54

11M ago18:54

18:54

Season 1 of DesignedBy: may be done, but the work sure aint! Recently, a report was released by a panel of international real estate, placemaking, and urban planning experts that recommends how St. Louis can improve the heart of our downtown district. Here are 10 general takeaways that this report emphasizes: Transformation into a Central Social Di…

1
1.11 // To Plan Your City 45:59

11M ago45:59

45:59

Ever wonder how you can get your neighborhood trash can painted? Have you ever thought about who's planning out your neighborhood or city? This time around, we're talking about these things and more with Catherine Hamacher of PGAV Planners. We all love St. Louis on this show so, while we talk about the specifics of her career path, we spend a lot o…

1
1.10 // FREE THE GAME 32:18

12M ago32:18

32:18

-- Part 2 of Episode 9-- The US is great at a lot of sports but somehow we just don't seem to consistently do well in Soccer (football). Why is that? This is a question we explore with our friends Travis Winn & Daniel Flynn, creators of an initiative called "Free the Game". Their mission is to liberate the game of soccer from a system in which it c…

1
Designing Airline Brands with Edmond Huot 43:55

12M ago43:55

43:55

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, host Lee-Sean Huang explores the process of aviation branding with guest Edmond Huot. Their conversation also focuses on how to build and maintain relationships with various client and community stakeholders, including local and Indigenous peoples served by airlines and airports. Edmond Huot is the Chief …

1
1.09 // The Art of Street Soccer 48:03

12M ago48:03

48:03

The US is great at a lot of sports but somehow we just don't seem to consistently do well in Soccer (football). Why is that? This is a question we explore with our friends Travis Winn & Daniel Flynn, creators of an initiative called "Free the Game". Their mission is to liberate the game of soccer from a system in which it costs way too much money t…

1
Designing a Design Conference with Lee-Sean Huang (Special Episode) 18:42

12M ago18:42

18:42

In this special episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, Lee-Sean Huang, Senior Director of Learning & Programs, takes listeners behind the scenes of the planning process for the 2024 Design Conference (Online, October 10-12). How do we select speakers for the conference? Why are we doing an online conference this year, and what are the challenges and o…

1
1.08 // Doing It Yourself 34:23

12M ago34:23

34:23

Whether it's the gatekeepers, lack of support, or otherwise, STL can be tough nut to crack if you wanna bring something new to life. So Brock Seals said f**** it, let's just do it ourselves. As a multi-faceted artist, Brock blurs the line between music, painter, and designer. From large collaborations to community building (Art Mimosas and Pancakes…

1
Clip: Designing Airline Brands with Edmond Huot 0:42

12M ago0:42

0:42

Full episode coming July 15, 2024 Edmond Huot: "What's the dream? what are people aspiring to? As a creative and someone whose job it is to provide that path for our clients to understand and celebrate what that means to be human when you travel, whether it's this perception of glamour, whether it's an appreciation of traveling great distances to s…

1
1.07 // A.I + Creatives @ Sasha's 40:04

1y ago40:04

40:04

Hot take: AI can be your best friend and your best tool. From having it fully integrated into your daily routine to only using it for specific tasks/occasions, we can't deny that AI is here to stay. The question is, how use it without letting it take over our jobs? We end our series of Sasha's Sessions with a chat about how fast AI has grown and wh…

1
From the Margins to the Mainstream with Vault49 49:38

1y ago49:38

49:38

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 cur…

1
1.06 // The Work-Life-Passion Balance @ Sasha's 35:45

1y ago35:45

35:45

Sam Smugala is a powerhouse leader in St. Louis who's always busy and always kicking ass. Sometimes she balances her work, her life, and her side hustles/passions perfectly and sometimes she's still trying to figure it out like the rest of us. TLDR: We're all (not so) secretly still working on it, but we still get shit done. Send us a text Follow u…

1
1.05 // Everything, Everywhere, All at Sasha's 37:54

1y ago37:54

37:54

If you're an OG fan, you'll remember one of our first interviews was with Samantha Smugala, talking about Creative Mornings. Since that release, we've stayed friends with Sam and have worked with her professionally so many times -- from Loutopia to Design Week, she's been involved in everything. Fast forward 4 years and she's now the Executive Dire…

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1.04 // SXSTLDW 28:34

1y ago28:34

28:34

It only took Jayvn going to SXSW to realize that St. Louis isn't just an arts town to us locals -- lots of other folks agree! From SXSW in Austin, TX to St. Louis Design Week, we're here to remind y'all what we're capable of 😎 Send us a text Follow us at @designedbypod on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Have an idea for a guest…

1
1.03 // The Spirit of STL 20:08

1y ago20:08

20:08

In this new episode, Jayvn and Anna have "the talk"…about STL 👀 Send us a text Follow us at @designedbypod on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Have an idea for a guest? Shoot us a DM!By DesignedBy:

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