Alternative Design Podcast

Send us a textWe all know what joy feels like, but what does it mean to design for it? In Episode 34 of the Alternative Design Podcast, we sit down with Ron Swidler, CEO of The Gettys Group, to uncover how joy can transform from a simple emotion into a powerful design objective in hospitality spaces. We explore the elements that create sensory delight and surprise, such as color, play, and technology, and discuss how even the most sophisticated environments can invite smiles, spark wonder, and elevate everyday experiences.Inspired by Ingrid Fetell Lee's book "Joyful" and the immersive HD Expo booth it brought to life, Ron shares his insights on balancing elegance with whimsy, personalization with spontaneity, and strategy with pure human delight. Whether you're designing a five-star resort or a budget-friendly boutique, this episode will remind you that joy isn't just a vibe—it's a tool.

Send us a textIn a world that's increasingly anxious, overstimulated, and surprisingly less colorful, the need for calming and supportive space design has never been greater. Episode 33 of the Alternative Design Podcast examines the essential role of trauma-informed design in public spaces. Host Kaelynn Reid sits down with Rebecca Fairman, Chief Design Officer at Flip4Good, to explore how small, intentional design choices—such as texture, layout, and color—can help regulate the nervous system and minimize trauma triggers. Flip4Good's work in transitional housing offers a powerful case study: by bringing warmth, safety, and personalization into spaces where people are rebuilding their lives, they're proving that good design is a public health intervention, not a luxury. When the design of a space has the power to calm, support, and restore us, it shouldn't be the exception—it should be the standard.

Send us a textWhat if the key to unlocking employee engagement wasn't stricter policies or trendier perks—but better storytelling? In this episode of Alternative Design, we're joined by Alvin Oei, Senior Manager of Retail Creative at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, to explore how the magic of retail design can be a blueprint for reimagining the workplace. From immersive store environments to experience-driven brand spaces, Alvin shares how treating employees like valued guests—rather than just workers—can lead to more meaningful connections, inspired creativity, and better business outcomes.

Send us a textHealthcare isn't just something that happens in hospitals—it's happening in our homes, whether we realize it or not. But what if home wasn't just a backdrop for health, but an active partner in healing?In this episode, Dr. Andrew Boozary—Founding Executive Director of University Health Network's Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine—discusses the Dunn House project, a first-of-its-kind initiative where a hospital campus is prescribing permanent housing as part of patient care. Because without a stable home, how can someone truly get better? Meanwhile, Dr. Upali Nanda, EVP and Global Sector Director of Innovation at HKS, shares how her team is using VR to immerse designers in the lived experiences of real patients, revealing the unseen barriers to health inside the home.Together, we'll explore how housing, healthcare, and design are colliding in ways that could reshape the built environment—and why it's time for designers across all disciplines to start thinking about home in a whole new way.HKS Home as Health Hub Idea LabDunn House Social Medicine Project  

Send us a textIn Episode 30 of the Alternative Design podcast, we discuss the evolving role of amenity spaces in workplace, education, and healthcare. Recorded live from Fulton Market Design Days in Chicago and the Healthcare Design Conference in Indianapolis, the episode features voices from diverse backgrounds, including designers, architects, and end users. The episode highlights the importance of creating functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing environments that support collaboration, wellness, and community engagement. Guests emphasize the holistic needs of people, whether through hospitality-inspired offices, respite spaces in schools, or personalized spaces in hospitals, underlining how thoughtful design can transform lives.

Send us a textIn this episode, we explore the critical role of amenity spaces in shaping modern workplace environments, especially in the post-pandemic era. Join our expert panelists—Nick from Stanford, Lily Diego from Gensler, and Brian Berthold from Cushman Wakefield—as they delve into how thoughtfully designed amenities foster human connection, engagement, and wellbeing. Discover the evolving dynamics of hybrid work models, the significance of flexible and modular designs, and the integration of hospitality elements and advanced technologies like AI. Learn about creating vibrant, experiential zones that support diverse working styles and employee satisfaction, highlighted by case studies from Michigan Central District and other innovative workplaces. Whether focusing on collaboration or personal comfort, this episode reveals strategic insights for crafting purpose-driven environments that balance professional and lifestyle needs.

Serious Play: Gaming for Global Good goes into the future of game-based learning and education, exploring the potential of games to drive community engagement and global change. Manuela Colombo, Executive Director at Livelab, discusses using games to empower communities to discover their collective power and find solutions for real-world challenges. The episode highlights the impact of game-based learning and the unique approach of the X Journey game. It explores the intersection of gamification, education, student activism, and community engagement, providing a perspective on the future of learning environments and the importance of collaborative gaming in solving regional challenges and fostering intergenerational learning communities. The episode also addresses the challenges in implementing innovative approaches in education, emphasizing how games can be a powerful tool for driving positive change on a global scale.Livelab websiteFor donationsMore about the NGOMore about Live Lab games> https://www.instagram.com/jornadax/

Kimball International proudly hosted Alternative Conversations: Attracting the New Higher Ed Learner, drawing together a panel of designers and industry leaders to discuss the future of academia. Against the backdrop of an ever-evolving educational landscape, the discussion illuminated key insights shaping the direction of higher education. Listen to this episode for the highlights of the conversation that promise to inform and inspire designers and educational leaders alike. Panel Recording

Get ready for the launch of Alternative Design, a groundbreaking multimedia platform that empowers designers to become catalysts for positive change. Through thought-provoking podcasts, blog articles, immersive videos, and conversations, Alternative Design showcases the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in design, sustainability, technology, and social responsibility. We feature interviews with industry leaders, visionaries, and change-makers who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible and shaping the future of design. Alternative Design is your go-to destination for staying ahead of the curve and making a positive difference. Join us as we launch Alternative Design, your gateway to a world of possibilities in design and beyond.

Join us as we explore the landscape of lifelong learning and the evolution of educational spaces. Heather McGowan, future-of-work strategist, keynote speaker, thought leader, researcher, and author, leads us through a paradigm shift away from a linear model of learning and career paths toward a lifestyle characterized by perpetual growth and adaptability. This “Live. Work. Learn.” lifestyle will feature learning that is lifelong and personalized to the student and will change the way both classrooms and public spaces are designed. Heather's Website:  https://heathermcgowan.com/ Heather's YouTube Channel of Talk Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@heatheremcgowan/videos

Welcome to Season 4 of the Alternative Design podcast! Join us as we envision a future where education seamlessly integrates into daily life. Explore the changes that will reshape how we live, work, and learn, from AI mentors guiding task prioritization to children testing different aspects of the corporate experience while still in school. In the year 2030, colleges and businesses come together to connect students to potential employers and mentors within their field of interest and ensure educational programs create job-ready graduates. Discover how popular campus spaces may be reimagined as libraries are transformed into immersive technology upskilling centers and outdated dormitories are reconfigured into hotels aimed at guests participating in “micro-sabbaticals”. Education will extend beyond classrooms and learning will take place in unlikely places. Listen in to witness the emergence of a new era of lifelong learning, where education is everywhere, all at once. 

A brand new season of Alternative Design is dropping March 6th on the Future of Education. We're discussing what the latest global trends mean for the future of education and why it matters to creatives who will be designing learning environments! The season will, of course, include a forecast of what we think the education industry could look like by 2028 and include topics like lifelong learning, climate change, corporate upskilling, gamified curriculum, and everyday activism. We'll have innovators, thought leaders, educators, and fellow futurists help us focus on what's next and how your education projects can be more "future-ready". Come shape the future with us!

Join us for our Season Finale, where uncover our Future of Work Forecast, exploring how the role of designers has transformed in the landscape of 2030. Join us as we uncover how designers have become pivotal "placemakers," shaping environments that extend beyond physical spaces. We discuss ethical advocacy, data-driven innovation, and the fluid transformation of spaces, showcasing the evolution of design into a force that not only accommodates human needs but enriches and elevates the human experience. Tune in for insightful conversations that redefine the intersection of design, ethics, and progress in the quest to craft tomorrow's spaces.

Imagine earning college credits by watching Youtube videos on your phone – that's the reality Study Hall is crafting! Born out of a partnership between Youtube, Arizona State University, and Crash Course, Study Hall is breaking down barriers to education and signals a coming shift in the modern workplace. That's right, in the not-so-distant future, your office won't just be where you work, it'll be where you learn and your boss may become your professor. In this role twist, designers will need to understand how to design personalized learning journeys in both digital and physical spaces that support upskilling of employees to adapt to new technologies. Join us as we give you the tools you need to design workplaces of the future to support lifelong learning.

Imagine walking into your office, but only 20% is dedicated to traditional workspaces. The rest is a community hub with places for workshops, a pay-what-you-want café, a library, an art gallery, and a children's center. Welcome to the future of office spaces, as seen through the eyes of Stanley Sun from Mason Studio. Stanley's innovative approach brings a new perspective on how offices can be co-owned by employees and the community. Stanley's vision goes beyond redefining physical spaces. It's about discovering new revenue streams for businesses that also create meaningful connections and foster community building. We talk about their experience in transforming their office into a cultural hub during the Toronto Design Festival, a space that truly reflected their company's values. Get ready for an exciting conversation that challenges the conventional workspace and brings the future of shared office spaces to life.

In this second segment of Crafting Culture and Belonging, we revisit the microbrewery, Ferndale Project, with Dayne Bartscht to learn more about how their unexpected challenges set them up to discover their culture. At Kimball International, we know culture can make or break our sense of belonging. It's no wonder Ferndale's taproom redesign translated their values and 100% of employees reported they felt they could be themselves at work. But how do we translate the welcoming atmosphere of craft breweries to the workplace? We share the findings of our latest behavioral study conducted with Arigami  as guest Ari Peralta ties belonging, culture, and furniture together through the lens of neuroscience. Turns out furniture has a lot to do with belonging!

In this special two-part episode of the Alternative Design podcast, we're taking a tour of the craft beer world, starting with my local brewery, Ferndale Project. Dayne Bartsch joins us as the Founder and Managing Partner of Ferndale Project to share how they intentionally built a symbiotic relationship with the local community, a concept that Colleen Myles, a political ecologist and beer geography expert, refers to as "fermented landscapes". We'll make some interesting connections between microbreweries and the workplace by exploring how the shared ideas of craft, community, and culture can elevate our sense of belonging. As we see an emerging trend of companies relocating to smaller mixed use environments, including the move to Fulton Market in our own industry, it begs an important question for the future of work. Could inviting the local community into the office experience amplify our sense of belonging? This is Episode 18: Crafting Culture and Belonging Part 1.Check out Colleen's author pages on The Conversation and Forbes.comHer WebsiteTo check out her book "Fermented Landscapes" click here. 

Welcome to the Season 3 premiere of the Alternative Design podcast. Mark Bryan, Senior Foresight Consultant at the Future Today Institute, unveils his scenario of the future set in 2026. He envisions a world where decentralized organizations, gratitude silos, and AI clients shape the design profession. He also helps us discover how foresight is the key to designing spaces that not only stand the test of time, but responsibly shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.BlogTranscript

Sound is more than what we hear in our ears, it's what we feel with our entire body. In Episode 16, Listen with Your Skin, we rethink acoustic design as we explore everything from vibro-acoustic nightclubs and generative music to ancient Egyptian sound chambers. Instead of something to absorb with dense panels and soft furnishings, what if we embraced sound as a design tool that could create better human experiences for everyone? We talk to Gen Cleary, a Wellness Entertainment Sound Producer for some of the world's most notable nightclubs and Founder of the HUM, an exhibition launched at this year's SXSW that joined music and vibro-acoustic therapy for an immersive healing experience. We also talk to Jon Otis, Founder of the Object Agency and Professor at Pratt, who's research and personal passion on the relationship between space and sound offers new ways of experimenting and implementing alternative sound ideas in the built environment.The Sound of Space and the Space of SoundLet's Make Some Noise

Belonging is one the most desired outcomes in the workplace today, even more than productivity! But instead of debating whether commute reimbursements or paid lunches will get people back into the offices, we decided to explore a more alternative solution. We believe the power to motivate employees and support wellbeing could lie in the 5 senses and how they could be leveraged to create places to belong. Our Ignite Your Senses event we recently held in Atlanta featured a Panel Discussion with Chef Freddy Money of Atlas and the Garden Room, Clint Zeagler, Wearable Tech Researcher at Georgia Tech, Ari Peralta, Sensory Designer and Neuroscientist, and Tara Headley, Interior Designer at IA and IIDA Georgia Chapter President. Tune in to hear their ideas on how to design for the "sense" of belonging. 

In this episode of the alternative design podcast, we're talking about the world's forgotten victims, also known as climate refugees. There will be massive amounts of people who will be forced to move their home, their family, and their community to a safer location due to climate change. Some of them will have the choice. Others won't. But what we need are alternative design solutions like floating cities and paper partition shelters that will offer them a place to belong. We're chatting with Pritzker Prize winning architect, Shigeru Ban, Chief Engineer at Oceanix, Matteo Pietrobelli, and Senior Fellow at the Sustainability Innovation Lab at Colorado Boulder, Gunars Platais. The story of Ioane Teiotia was told based on the facts presented by these news sources.Foreign PolicyBBC World NewsBBC World NewsBBC World NewsFor more information on Oceanix, check out this linkTo Donate to Shigeru Ban, check out this link at the bottom of the page.

We know that 80's throwbacks are having a moment right now, and so in the spirit of the retro trend we decided to make you a mix tape. It's essentially our greatest hits album of our most alternative, boundary breaking design ideas that we explored in Season 1. But what about the awesome jams? I mean, it is a mixtape after all! Don't worry, the highlight reel is set to our brand new Alternative Design music album. So you'll get the very best of all things podcast and all things music! We hope you love it.Check out the Alternative Design Music Album

What if we are missing a transformational opportunity to rethink the experience of space by only “checking the boxes” on accessibility standards? In Episode 12, we take a deep dive into the etymology of “normal” and discuss how this term has propped up power structures that have continued to limit how marginalized bodies experience space.  We feature Adobe's Head of Inclusive Design, Matt May, along with Design Teacher and Activist, Joshua Halstead, and EVP/Design Futurist at Sandow, AJ Paron. Tune in as we discuss how the built environment can go “beyond access” to embrace equity and support differences.Joshua's Book - Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designers

What if the answer to reclaiming our atmosphere lies in using more concrete? Specifically, the kind of concrete that can mineralize billions of tons of carbon and store it permanently in the built environment? In this episode we're featuring the COO of the Foundation for Climate Restoration and eco-anxiety expert, Dr. Erica Dodds. We also speak to the CEO of Blue Planet Systems, Dr. Brent Constantz, and dDirector of Mineralized CO2 Commercialization, Dougal Heap. https://foundationforclimaterestoration.org/https://www.blueplanetsystems.com/https://www.carbonstar.org/

As designers, we prescribe colors in the built environment to promote positive human outcomes. We know humans are deeply sensitive to the energy of color, but what you may not know is that your unique perception of color is dictated by much more than your eyes. What if personalized color therapy experiences could influence our body, mind, and emotions in a profound way? A promising solution to creating personal experiences in a shared space is the Metaverse, and we are going to explore what lies at the intersection of color, humans, and technology.  Our guest is Ari Peralta, Founding Partner at Arigami, an internationally recognized playground dedicated to sensory transformation, and Partner at Mycoocoon, a leading color therapy software company. Together, we underscore the need for emotional balance tools in every space, both digital and physical, and how color could be used as a catalyst for personal transformation. https://www.mycoocoon.com/colormoodreporthttps://www.mycoocoon.com/

In Episode 9, we explore an architectural experiment in the middle of the Nevada desert known as the Burning Man Project. Every summer, the event is hosted in a temporary city that draws thousands of people to celebrate the ceremonial burning of a human effigy known as “the Man”. Attendees are invited to test their limits, embrace a spirit of gifting, and radically express themselves in Black Rock City for nine days. Many designers and urban planners see the city as a potential blueprint for local communities as it boasts an iterative design process that could address some of the greatest challenges of our time. We talk to Burning Man's Associate Director of Community Events, Steven Raspa, and City Planning and Placement Manager, Bryant Tan to explore what Burning Man has to offer the design community concerning innovation, radical participation, and risk taking. To check out the 10 Principles of Burning Man look at https://burningman.org/about/10-principles/To explore the design entries for Fly Ranch check outhttp://landartgenerator.org/competition2020.html 

In the workplace strategy world, we often design for the “power of choice”. Employees can choose how, when, and where they work in order to support productivity and wellness. But, is it only employees who deserve the “power of choice”? Who should have the right to choose? The answer may surprise you!  In this Season Finale Episode of the podcast, we explore a preventative, a restorative, and a deconstructive alternative in the current design and construction of carceral facilities. We discuss if providing choices to inmates could positively impact behavior and usher in a more restorative justice model. Our guests include a Sherriff, professor, student, and a former inmate – each of which bring a very unique perspective on the subject. Tune in as we roll up our sleeves to discuss the power of design to bring justice and equity for all.Interview with Sheriff HallVox video on Halden Prison

As our U.S. Olympian, Simone Biles, reminded us during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, we must prioritize the fitness of our minds and our emotions. Much like the "spikes" in viral cases during the pandemic, we are now encountering a "spike" of those who are struggling with mental illness and require treatment. The numbers are staggering, and some predict a wave of patients that our already taxed healthcare system will struggle to accommodate. What we need is an alternative solution that rethinks what short-term and long-term treatment could look like. We also need a solution that breaks down stigmas traditionally associated with this type of care. In this episode we chat with University of Toronto students Bronte Morris-Poolman and Damian Kercz about how their Senior thesis project Art x Pop-Up could be the exact solution we need. Their idea is to design "crisis stabilization units" that are strategically placed in communities to provide critical mental health services. We also speak to Stacey Root and Stephanie Vito from Cannon Design on how to design for mental health spaces, the history of mental health stigma, and the future of "Wellness Campuses" that combine care and amenities for a more equitable experience for all.https://ankura.com/insights/whats-driving-the-trend-toward-healthcare-villages/https://www.fastcompany.com/90638988/why-mental-health-awareness-is-here-to-stayhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/business/mental-health-facilities-design.htmlhttps://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/healthcare-architecture/behavioral-healthcare-cannon-design/https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/unveiling-new-hybrid-model-healthcare-architecturehttp://www.koozarch.com/interviews/art-covid-19-test-centre/

What if the technologies and innovations that we have deemed as low-tech, primitive, and unsophisticated could actually hold the keys to solving climate change? In Episode 6, we look at Radical Indigenism as a movement that seeks to explore indigenous philosophies in relation to design and harness that wisdom to build a more resilient world. We talk with Designer, activist, academic, and author Julia Watson who just released her bestselling book, Lo-Tek: Design by Radical Indigenism.  We also speak with Sam Olbekson, Principal and Director of Native American Design and Planning at Cunningham. Culture is tied to place and Sam brings insight on how to support culture with community building and design practices that are rooted in authentically listening.Further Reading:https://commonedge.org/the-power-of-lo-tek-a-design-movement-to-rebuild-understanding-of-indigeous-philosophy-and-vernacular-architecture/https://www.fastcompany.com/90651986/extreme-heat-is-becoming-more-frequent-and-our-infrastructure-is-going-to-need-to-adapt?cid=eem524:524:s00:07/02/2021_fc&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=Compass&utm_campaign=eem524:524:s00:07/02/2021_fchttps://sustainablebrands.com/read/product-service-design-innovation/the-shift-from-sustainable-to-regenerative-designKimball International's ESG ReportAl Tahla Islands Video Julia's Book Lo-Tek: Design by Radical Indigenism

In Episode 5, we go beyond the current exploration of space to unveil the first potential settlement on Mars. We chat with Alfredo Munoz, architect and owner of ABIBOO studio, and Miquel Sureda, Master Coordinator of the Space and Aeronautical Engineering program at Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya.  Alfredo, Miquel, and their team of scientists have brought their creative dream into reality by proposing a vertical city that is innovative, inclusive, and will be stunning to look at. We discuss the newest technologies that will be implemented and the challenges that citizens will face to survive. You'll also hear their thoughts on why pioneering a new planet is both relevant and inspirational to our design initiatives on Earth. And, we are introducing our first ever "docu-drama-pod"! Get ready to be immersed into the future through the eyes of an aerospace architect travelling to Mars for the first time. Now, back to how this relates to us Earthlings…as designers, we encounter challenges and limitations on virtually every project. What if I told you that those constraints actually create opportunities to unlock some of the greatest solutions? And, that self-imposing those restrictions could leverage our imaginations in ways we never thought possible! Now, that's outta this world.   

In Episode 4, we look at a Meditation Chamber, a Museum of Ice Cream, and a Sensory Cocoon to understand the value of experiential design that immerses the user into the narrative of the built environment. The case studies will shed light on the intersection of technology and architecture, revealing how the right mix of both can engage the physical senses and create deeper emotional connections to spaces we inhabit on a daily basis. We chat with Lane Rick and Katie Stranix from the Office of Things, Arik Lubkin from the Museum of Ice Cream, and Adelia Schleusz from HKS on how to incorporate experiential design strategies into various markets and how to safely implement them post-pandemic.

In Episode 3, we're taking our listeners back to the days you could be "Dancing In the Streets" before you had to "Stop In the Name of Love". It's no secret that Motown had repeatable success in creating some of America's top hits. Join us as we reveal some key learnings from the hit making factory and compare their creative songwriting process to our industry's building design process! We speak with Allen Rawls, Board of Trustees member of Motown Museum and the legendary Funk Brother Dennis Coffey.https://www.brazen.com/blog/archive/job-search/6-tips-for-incorporating-multiple-interests-into-one-careerhttps://eyeondesign.aiga.org/when-did-design-stop-being-multidisciplinary/https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-be-happy-work-1000-different-interestshttps://www.sxswedu.com/news/2017/what-we-can-learn-from-motown/

In Episode 2, guests Maya Bird-Murphy from Chicago Mobile Makers and Jake Heffington and Edwin Harris from Diversify Architecture help bring light to the often-unseen challenges for people of color in the Architecture and Design industry. From the impact of limited exposure to architecture at a young age to not celebrating minority architects and designers more, we go beyond what you don't see to discuss a range of leaks that occur along our profession's pipeline and highlight those taking action to plug them. https://www.chicagomobilemakers.org/https://www.diversifyarchitecture.com/https://notesoncredibility.cargo.site/https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2015/01/beyond-eurocentrism/https://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/perkins-will-and-aia-release-a-how-to-guide-for-increasing-diversity-in-architecture_ohttps://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/increasing-diversity-in-architecture-barriers-to-entry_o

In this episode, we discuss a concept that perhaps isn't familiar in the design industry, but is thriving in the health and wellness community. A "microbiome" is simply the collection of micro-organisms in a particular environment, whether they be inside your gut, on your skin, or even the chair you're sitting on. I talk to Jack Gilbert, a microbiology professor from USCD on how the microbiome in the built environment can be manipulated and help to win the war for the "good bacteria". I also chat with Rosie Broadhead, a sportswear clothing designer in the U.K. who is pioneering the ability to weave probiotics into textiles. In addition, she's taking it a step further by incorporating vitamins and supplements into upholstery and studying how we could receive these nutrients just by sitting in a chair.