Nodes of Design

In this enlightening episode of Nodes of Design, we sit down with Prof. Amaresh Chakrabarti to explore his journey into design. We discuss how designers can create meaningful societal impact, the evolving role of artists in the AI era, and key takeaways from the DRM method. Prof. Chakrabarti also shares valuable recommendations for designers looking to innovate and push boundaries. Tune in for a masterclass in design thinking, research, and real-world application!Amaresh Chakrabarti is a Senior Professor and current Chair, Department of Design & Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. He did BE from IIEST Shibpur, ME from IISc Bangalore, and PhD from the University of Cambridge UK, where he led the Design Synthesis group of its Engineering Design Centre (EDC) for 10 years before joining IISc as an Associate Professor. He published 35 books, over 300 peer-reviewed articles, and has 13 patents granted/pending. He co-authored DRM, a methodology used widely as a framework for design research. He founded IDeAS Lab – India's first Design Observatory, and India's first indigenous Smart Factory. He is the founding chair for the Intl Conf Series on Research into Design (ICoRD) and Intl Conf Series on Industry 4.0 & Adv Manufacturing (I4AM). He received the Careers360 Faculty Research Award 2018 for being the 'Most Outstanding Researcher' in Decision Sciences, and among the global top 2% of researchers in 'Design Practice & Management'. He received IISc's Alumni Award for Excellence in Research in Engineering (2022). He is a Fellow of the Design Society, an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Designers, UK, and the current Editor-in-Chief of Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing Journal (AI EDAM) published by CUP.Springer Book Series Design Sc. & Innov: http://www.springer.com/series/15399Webpage: http://cpdm.iisc.ac.in/people/ac/ac.htmCitations: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=VvD5STUAAAAJ&hl=enThank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge.This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the ‘Nodes of Design' podcast! I'm Tejj, and today we have a very special guest joining us. Our show is all about exploring the intersections of design, technology, and human connection, and today we're in for a treat.It's my pleasure to introduce James Song– a seasoned design executive with over 20 years of experience building teams, products, and brands that sit at the nexus of digital innovation and tangible human experiences. James is currently the VP of Design at Tinder, where he leads the charge on brand, product, and content design as well as user research. His impressive career also includes being the Head of Design for Meta AI Research, where he helped develop next-generation experiences driven by breakthrough AI research. Prior to that, he was Director of Product Design at Uber, responsible for platform services, micromobility, design systems, and user research – all aimed at building smarter cities and enhancing how we move. And before all of that, as a Creative Director at frog design, he led teams to drive human-centered innovation at the intersection of design, technology, and brand for both enterprises and early-stage startups.Today, we're excited to dive into a topic that's resonating deeply with our community – ‘Designing for Collision.' This theme encapsulates how unexpected, sometimes even serendipitous, interactions in our hyper-connected world can spark creativity and lead to truly innovative solutions.So, whether you're a seasoned design professional, a beginner, or simply curious about how technology is reshaping human connections, stay tuned – this conversation is bound to offer insights, practical advice, and a lot of inspiration.Nodes of Wisdom Book : https://amzn.in/d/4X22xU9Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge.This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

In this enlightening episode of Nodes of Design, we sit down with Prof. Amaresh Chakrabarti to explore his journey into design, the gap between industry and academia, and how to bridge it. We discuss how designers can create meaningful societal impact, the evolving role of artists in the AI era, and key takeaways from the DRM method. Prof. Chakrabarti also shares valuable recommendations for designers looking to innovate and push boundaries. Tune in for a masterclass in design thinking, research, and real-world application! Amaresh Chakrabarti is a Senior Professor and current Chair, Department of Design & Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. He did BE from IIEST Shibpur, ME from IISc Bangalore, and PhD from the University of Cambridge UK, where he led the Design Synthesis group of its Engineering Design Centre (EDC) for 10 years before joining IISc as an Associate Professor. He published 35 books, over 300 peer-reviewed articles, and has 13 patents granted/pending. He co-authored DRM, a methodology used widely as a framework for design research. He founded IDeAS Lab – India's first Design Observatory, and India's first indigenous Smart Factory. He is the founding chair for the Intl Conf Series on Research into Design (ICoRD) and Intl Conf Series on Industry 4.0 & Adv Manufacturing (I4AM). He received the Careers360 Faculty Research Award 2018 for being the 'Most Outstanding Researcher' in Decision Sciences, and among the global top 2% of researchers in 'Design Practice & Management'. He received IISc's Alumni Award for Excellence in Research in Engineering (2022). He is a Fellow of the Design Society, an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Designers, UK, and the current Editor-in-Chief of Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing Journal (AI EDAM) published by CUP. Springer Book Series Design Sc. & Innov: http://www.springer.com/series/15399 Webpage: http://cpdm.iisc.ac.in/people/ac/ac.htm Citations: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=VvD5STUAAAAJ&hl=en Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

In this enlightening episode of Nodes of Design, we dive deep into the concept of Ikigai with Alice Au Quan, exploring how this Japanese philosophy can help design a purposeful and fulfilling career. Alice shares her expertise on applying Ikigai to discover the sweet spot between passion, talent, societal needs, and financial sustainability. We tackle common misconceptions about finding career purpose and discuss how design thinking can bridge these gaps. Alice opens up about her personal journey, revealing how she has applied Ikigai principles to navigate challenges and create a meaningful work life. We also explore actionable strategies for uncovering your passions and talents, using them as a foundation to transition into a dream career. Listeners will gain insights on incorporating Ikigai into design practices to craft products and experiences that inspire purpose. Alice also shares her perspective on how the philosophy of Ikigai evolves in a world shaped by automation and AI. Tune in for practical wisdom and inspiration to design a career aligned with your true self! Alice Au Quan, a design executive, futurist, and quantum thinker with an outstanding track record of driving innovation. Alice champions a human-centered, design-first approach to business, believing it can shape a better future for everyone. Over the past two decades, this belief has fueled her leadership journey, helping companies leverage cutting-edge technologies—such as Generative AI, LLMs, AR and blockchain—to identify untapped opportunities, solve user needs, and accelerate growth. She has since held design leadership roles at global companies like Google, Walmart eCommerce, and Procter & Gamble, as well as at high-growth startups in Fintech, like Ripple where she has crafted transformative user experiences. Fun fact, she even worked on MOSAIC, the first internet browser! A creative and business leader, Alice's career spans UX, product, and brand design, consistently delivering user value and business impact, earning her multiple patents. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in inclusivity and compassion, with Ikigai and purpose-driven leadership central to her mission. Ways to connect with Alice: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aliceauquan/ Website: aliceauquan.com Instagram: aliceauquan X: @aliceQdesign Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. #design #creativity #life #purpose #career

Benedikt is a seasoned design executive with the heart of a maker and 20+ years of deep expertise in creating impactful products people love and leading the world-class teams that make them. His leadership has shaped how hundreds of millions of people interact with technology. Benedikt is the founder of 74West, a hands-on advisory practice where he partners closely 1:1 with CEOs and boards who are at pivotal moments with their business. Combining his proven, practical frameworks for transformational leadership with cutting-edge research, Benedikt helps company leaders forge exceptional teams, strategies, and tactics to deliver products that inspire customer love and thus create lasting business value. Benedikt also serves as an Entrepreneurship & Design Fellow at Princeton University, where he teaches aspiring entrepreneurs both during the academic year (“Creating value in the real world”) and the eLab summer program at the Keller Center. His research explores the convergence of entrepreneurship, humanistic design, and business leadership with a focus on AI and co-creativity, neuroaesthetics, and the socio-economic responsibility of design. As a board member of the Design Executive Council (DXC) Benedikt helps shape the standards of humanistic design and strategic leadership as AI transforms experience design and business strategy. Until January 2025, Benedikt was the Chief Design Officer at Stark tackling Digital Accessibility which he sees as “one of this century's biggest design problems that's affecting 2B+ people on the planet.” As Chief Design Officer of SAP, he led 1000+ designers, researchers, and engineers, reporting directly to SAP's Executive Board to transform the customer experience across the company's portfolio.  As a design executive at Microsoft, he directed key UX teams including Office and M365 Experiences while leading the evolution of the Fluent design system and aligning Microsoft's mobile apps across platforms. Benedikt joined Microsoft through the $150M+ acquisition of Wunderlist, where he was Chief Design Officer. He scaled the product team to 70 people and helped secure funding from Atomico and Sequoia Capital. Benedikt is also the author of Typoguide, an international keynote speaker and angel investor in design-driven startups. His award-winning work has been featured in publications worldwide. Born in Saarland, Germany to a family of craftspeople, Benedikt's appreciation for purposeful, well-crafted work runs deep. He divides his time between Princeton, NJ and Kingston, NY. You can follow Benedikt here: Web: www.benediktlehnert.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/benediktlehnert Newsletter: benediktlehnert.substack.com DXC Profile: https://www.designexecutivecouncil.com/articles/introducing-benedikt-lehnert-and-his-ideas-on-radical-self-inquiry-and-creative-leadership Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

In this episode of Nodes of Design, we sit down with Andy Buddy to explore his fascinating journey from being a designer to thriving as a venture capitalist. Andy shares how his design and product expertise shape his investment strategies and help founders build impactful startups. We dive into the seven key factors that drive growth, the common mistakes founders make with their early products, and the challenges of being the first design or product hire in a startup. Andy also unpacks where growth design fits in today's landscape and sheds light on why most early-stage growth advice misses the mark. Plus, he tackles one of the most misunderstood strategies in the startup world product-led growth (PLG) and reveals the mistakes he sees founders making time and time again. Whether you're a designer, product enthusiast, or aspiring founder, this episode is packed with insights to level up your understanding of design, growth, and venture capital. About Andy Budd Andy is a Design Leader turned investor, advisor and coach. He's a Venture Partner at Seedcamp, one of the top ranked seed funds in Europe. His new book "The Growth Equation" aims to help startups land their first million in revenue and reach Product Market Fit. A product person at heart, Andy previously founded Clearleft (the first UX agency in the UK), Leading Design and UX London. He's a founding member of the Adobe Design Circle and has appeared on both the Wired 100 and BIMA 100 lists. Andy once worked as a shark diver and recently qualified as a pilot. Andy Budd Book: The Growth Equation: How Early Stage Startups Can Build a Powerful Engine for Growth The Growth Equation is the new book by design founder turned startup investor, advisor, and coach, Andy Budd. In it he explores the challenges most early-stage founders face; from launching your product, finding your first customers, and figuring out what to charge; to improving acquisition, onboarding, and retention; in order to land your first million in revenue and beyond. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. #design #creativity #ux #vc #business

Stan Rapp is a Ukrainian product designer who currently resides in the US. With 15 years of experience in design, including a decade in design leadership roles, Stan is currently leading a mission-critical design team at Asana. Before Asana, Stan scaled design teams at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Ford. Stan has won multiple design awards, including SF Design Week, TechCrunch Disrupt, Red Dot, and Innovation by Design from FastCompany. In this eye-opening episode of Nodes of Design, we dive deep into the world of workplace dynamics with Stan Rapp, a Ukrainian product designer leading mission-critical teams at Asana. With 15 years of experience and a track record of scaling design teams at major organizations, Stan offers invaluable insights on navigating power and politics at work. Discover: Strategies for effective conflict resolution Tips for navigating office politics while maintaining integrity Real-life stories of power dynamics in action The impact of company structure on team dynamics Future trends in workplace power structures with the rise of hybrid work and AI Whether you're a design professional, team leader, or anyone looking to advance their career, Stan's practical advice and personal experiences will equip you with the tools to thrive in today's complex work environments. Don't miss this candid discussion on the often unspoken realities of professional life. Get a Copy of the Nodes of Wisdom: Lesson from 100 Creative Visionaries on Amazon - https://amzn.in/d/02yZPlUj Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

We have a truly exceptional guest who has shaped the digital world as we know it. Please welcome Jae Park, a design visionary with over 25 years of experience crafting experiences that resonate with millions. He brings his design leadership to lead new business innovations and build design teams at scale. He seeks to bridge business and technology goals with humanity. Jae has been at the forefront of innovation, leading design teams at tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. His work has redefined how we interact with technology, from pioneering the Echo Show to revolutionizing the way we collaborate with Google Workspace. Currently, Jae is leading the charge at Ford Model e, where he's building the future of mobility. His focus on human-centered design and sustainability is inspiring a new generation of connected experiences. Join us as we delve into Jae's inspiring journey, his insights on the intersection of design, and our topic Synergy in Design: Unpacking Collaboration. We'll be diving deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of bringing together creative minds to build exceptional products. Today, we'll be discussing topics such as: The journey of a designer and advice for those starting out The role of collaboration in a designer's growth Building a collaborative environment with diverse teams The impact of remote work on design collaboration Balancing individual creativity with team dynamics Overcoming challenges in collaborative projects The future of design collaboration with AI Get a Copy of the Nodes of Wisdom: Lesson from 100 Creative Visionaries on Amazon - https://amzn.in/d/02yZPlUj Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Today, we're celebrating a milestone achievement. Thanks to you, our incredible listeners, Nodes of Design has been ranked as one of the Top 6 Design Podcasts in Brazil on Apple Podcasts charts! And what better way to celebrate this milestone than with a first in Nodes of Design history? Today, we're joined by not one, but three amazing guests from across Latin America to explore the vibrant and diverse design landscape of the region. We'll discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities that are shaping the future of design in LATAM. Joining us we have Rafael Brandão, a Product Experience professional passionate about Arts and Technology. For more than 15 years I've been working in several Advertising Agencies, Design Offices, Startups, and big companies such as Globo, Telecine, Warner Bros Discovery, and iFood. Raul Queiroz with over 25 years of multidisciplinary experience in design, art direction, and illustration,. As a seasoned creative leader and mentor known for delivering design excellence in healthcare digital products at Rede D'Or, Brazil's largest healthcare company, he leads a team of talented designers, managing quality and standards across the company's full digital product ecosystem. Karina Tronkos (a.k.a. Nina Talks) a design mentor and content creator (+128k on @ninatalks) with a background in computer science from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has won the Apple Swift Student Challenge from 2017 to 2021. And also a LinkedIn Top Voice Gen Z, TEDx speaker, and passionate about books, Star Wars, and a lifelong learner. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Wolfgang Bremer is a German-Canadian award-winning design veteran with 20+ years of experience and a rare combination of design & product knowledge. He currently serves as the Vice President of Design at Volkswagen Group Charging. As a design leader in multiple Fortune 500 companies and highly funded startups, Wolfgang has managed global design teams and worked on products used by tens of millions of users in 190+ countries. Equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset, creative problem-solving skills, and an excellent eye for detail, he drives product design & development and creates outstanding consumer & business products. In short, Wolfgang likes building products and simplifying people's lives. In this episode, we'll delve into the exciting world of EV charging experiences. Wolfgang will share his insights on how consumer attitudes towards EVs have shifted, and the key trends shaping the design of these experiences. We'll explore the challenges and opportunities in creating accessible and user-friendly charging stations that stand out in a growing market. Looking ahead, Wolfgang will share his vision for the future of EV charging – where convenience, innovation, and sustainability intersect. But this episode isn't just about design! We'll also get a glimpse into Wolfgang's creative process, how he balances business needs with creative freedom, and how he fosters a culture of innovation within his team. We'll even hear some personal stories and lessons learned from overcoming creative roadblocks. So, buckle up and get ready to be charged up about the future of EV charging! Socials of Wolfgang: https://bremer.co https://linkedin.com/in/WolfgangBremer https://threads.net/WolfgangBremer https://twitter.com/WolfgangBremer Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Gloria Osardu, Ph.D., is an industry-agnostic senior business executive with over 16 years of extensive experience driving business strategy with insights. She has successfully led UX/customer insights and analytics teams, providing the right research, data, insights, and opportunities to leaders. Gloria ensures that business decisions and product prioritizations are made with accurate information and customer insights. Throughout her career, Gloria has built, led, and scaled research and insights teams consisting of researchers, analysts, operations managers, and UX/CX insights experts. She has driven strategy at renowned global companies including Fortune 100 organizations, public sector entities, as well as startups. Currently serving as the head of global product experience research at Gusto, Gloria is responsible for setting and executing a compelling vision and strategy for customer and user insights. Her teams deliver insights and customer empathy programs which derisks and drive the design and build of best-in-class Payroll and HR solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Before this role, Gloria also held leadership positions in global research teams across various industries such as SaaS, Education, Finance/Fintech, and Public Sector. Gloria firmly believes that durable business and customer insights derived from thorough research are crucial in today's era of big data decision-making processes and AI-driven innovation. This approach helps de-risk business decisions as well as expand perspectives around the user experience. Gloria is passionate about promoting fair, ethical, and accessible practices in the field of research and advocates for building technology innovation for ALL. Outside work, Gloria spends time exploring the world, building the next generation of researchers + creatives, and spending time with her family. In this insightful interview, Gloria O-B Osardu, Ph.D. shares her journey into the field of UX research and design. She discusses how she got started and provides valuable advice for those aspiring to leadership roles. Osardu defines strong UX research leadership, highlighting key principles like fostering collaboration, managing diverse perspectives, and building high-performing teams. She delves into her decision-making process for major research initiatives and strategies for upholding diversity and inclusion. Osardu also touches on balancing business objectives with user needs, and where she sees UX research heading with the rise of AI. Finally, she shares a glimpse into her daily life as a leader, how she continues learning and growing, and recommends books and people that inspire her in this space. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Aditi Sharma is an award-winning design executive passionate about inclusive, ethical, sustainable, and human-centered innovation. She is the recipient of the prestigious 'Dr. Sarojini Naidu Award' from the Govt. of India, '40 under 40' award from Business Elite, 'Woman Who Builds' award by Globant, and was named an inspirational woman in STEM by the Authority Magazine. As a lecturer at Pratt, Aditi curated one of the top ten UX programs offered in the United States. Aditi is a published design practitioner, is regularly invited to share her thought leadership across print, keynotes, and podcasts, such as for CampaignLive, Business Insider, AI & Data Analytics Network, Interaction Design Association, Brave UX, Authority Magazine, Inclusive Design Association, Customer Experience Network, Finance Magnates, South by Southwest (SXSW), and Product-Led Alliance (PLA) to name a few. As the Head of Design & Research at Amazon, Aditi manages a global team that leads the customer experience for 30+ Fintech products to help track revenue, usage, costs, and forecasts for AWS. Previously, as the Head of Payments Design/ Executive Director of Digital Experience Design at J.P. Morgan & Chase, Aditi set up a global design practice to build intelligent enterprise Fintech platforms. Prior to that, at Accenture Interactive, she strategized and executed customer-centric design engagements for clients such as Walmart, DuPont, and Cargill. She continues to explore the dynamism of creativity to deliver customer outcomes at the intersection of human excellence, business profitability, and technical innovation.  Today, we're diving into Scaling Design teams with Aditi Sharma. Aditi will share her journey into design, tips for scaling design teams, and her vision for the future of design. Stay tuned for insights on aligning teams, hiring strategies, and managing feedback loops. We'll also explore how Aditi approaches challenges and stays inspired in her daily routine. Get ready for an insightful conversation with Aditi Sharma on the Nodes of Design podcast! Books Recommendations       Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Find Your Why by Simon Sinek Think Again, Adam Grant Creative Confidence, David and Tom Kelley Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. Keywords: Design teams, design hiring, scaling design teams, design thinking, Amazon Design, Design systems, Design leadership

With over two decades of experience in arts, design, culture, education, and nonprofit sectors, Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar brings a unique perspective and passion for reimagining the future of creative learning and practice. A proven administrator, award-winning designer and educator, and globally respected thought leader, Ruki has served as the President & CEO of the Kansas City Art Institute, Acting Director of Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, and the Acting Under Secretary of Education at the Smithsonian Institution (at-large) in Washington, D.C. Originally from Chennai, India, she received her MFA in graphic design from Iowa State University and BFA in the history of fine art and drawing and painting from Stella Maris College in India. She also has executive education certificates in business from Yale University and Harvard University and a certificate in museum studies from Northwestern University. Ruki has served in multiple leadership roles for the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and in 2015, she was named an AIGA Fellow by the Oklahoma Chapter for her advocacy and leadership as a design educator. She is featured in films, podcasts, and interviews. She has won numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2021 Design Achievement Award from the Iowa State College of Design, and was the commencement speaker at Iowa State University's Fall 2023 Ceremony. In this episode, we'll delve into how Ruki's background in design has shaped her approach to leadership, problem-solving, and societal development. We'll also discuss the importance of teaching design as a life skill, the role of design in addressing complex social issues, and how design thinking can prepare future generations for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Additionally, Ruki will share her insights on the evolution of design thinking with AI and how design can contribute to sustainability and environmental consciousness. We concluded the show with Ruki's recommendations for her three favorite books and the people who inspire her the most in the design space. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. Keywords: Design as a life skill, Design Thinking, Design for Sustainability, Design for AI, Creativity, Industry Insights, Design Challenges

In this episode of the Nodes of Design Podcast, we were honored to have Karen Korellis Reuther, a design luminary with over 20 plus years of experience Karen Korellis Reuther is an experienced creative executive, and a Design Critic in architecture at Harvard's Graduate School of Design. From 2021-2022 she was aSenior Fellow at Harvard's Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI). Before ALI she was Vice President of Creative Direction + Future at Reebok and Global Creative Director at NIKE for twelve years where she developed major product, merchandising, and brandstrategies solidifying NIKE at the top of its industry. Karen is a practicing activist committed to “Inclusion by Design: Ending Gender Bias in Product Design”. Karen received her Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design from Purdue University and herMasters in Business Management from Lesley University. In this episode Karen shared her journey into design, emphasizing curiosity, continuous learning, and resilience as key for beginners. Karen delved into her design process, revealing a behind-the-scenes look at creating new collections, where balancing innovation with practicality is crucial. She highlighted the necessity of balancing form and function, especially when designing products that are both aesthetically pleasing and performance-oriented. Facing challenges head-on, Karen recounted overcoming obstacles through collaboration and a solution-focused approach keeping customer at the center Discussing the impact of fast fashion, Karen voiced concerns over sustainability and envisioned a future where emerging technologies and AI play pivotal roles in creating personalized, sustainable fashion. We concluded the podcast with Karen recommending three books for design enthusiasts and naming her biggest inspirations in the design space. Her insights provide a treasure trove of inspiration and guidance for anyone looking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of design. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. Keywords: Footwear Design, Apparel Design, Design Innovation, Fashion and Function, Future of Fashion, Industry Insights, Design Challenges

Connor Moore is a seasoned design leader focused on the audio UX and audio branding space. For the last 15 years, Connor has been able to work with some of the most forward-thinking brands creating innovative sound solutions that drive functionality and build brand affinity. These clients span a range of industries and include the likes of Google, Lucid Motors, Ford, Peloton, Uber, Airbnb, and State Farm to name a few. Connor founded CMoore Sound at a time when brands first began considering sound and music as a core part of their identity systems. During this time, he was primarily focused on creating branded audio user experiences for products, apps, and digital experiences with a focus on emerging technology. Connor is currently Executive Creative Director at Listen, an audio branding company based in New York working with a range of brands across industries. In his current role, he leads the creative team producing audio UX, sound logos, experiential audio, and branded music that spans a brand's entire ecosystem.  Ever wondered why some apps feel intuitive while others leave you lost in a maze of beeps? The secret lies in audio user experience (UX), and this episode, we're unlocking its mysteries with expert Connor Moore. Join us as Connor takes us on a journey from his early sound experiments to crafting immersive sonic worlds for mobile apps, voice assistants, and even virtual reality. You'll discover: Why audio UX matters: It's not just about fancy sounds; it's about shaping how we interact with technology, building trust, and creating seamless, enjoyable experiences. The design secrets behind the mic: Learn how Connor tackles crucial considerations like clarity, accessibility, and adapting to different platforms. Future trends and challenges: Explore the rise of AI-powered sound and the ethical considerations shaping the evolution of audio UX. A day in the life of an audio UX master: Get a glimpse into Connor's world, complete with fascinating anecdotes and insights. Book recommendations and inspirations: Discover Connor's favorite resources and the people who fuel his passion for sonic design. Get ready to have your ears opened (and maybe even your mind blown) as we delve into the fascinating world of audio UX with Connor Moore. It's time to listen up and experience technology in a whole new way! Keywords: audio UX, user experience, sound design, accessibility, future of technology, mobile apps, voice assistants, VR, podcasts

Jakob Nielsen, Ph.D., is a usability pioneer with 41 years of experience in UX and the Founder of UX Tigers. He founded the discount usability movement for fast and cheap iterative design, including the heuristic evaluation and the 10 usability heuristics. He formulated the eponymous Jakob's Law of the Internet User Experience. Named “the king of usability” by Internet Magazine, “the guru of Web page usability” by The New York Times, and “the next best thing to a true time machine” by USA Today. Previously, Dr. Nielsen was a Sun Microsystems Distinguished Engineer and a Member of Research Staff at Bell Communications Research, the branch of Bell Labs owned by the Regional Bell Operating Companies. He is the author of 8 books, including the best-selling Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity (published in 22 languages), Usability Engineering (26,439 citations in Google Scholar), and the pioneering Hypertext and Hypermedia (published two years before the Web launched). Dr. Nielsen holds 79 United States patents, mainly on making the Internet easier to use. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Human–Computer Interaction Practice from ACM SIGCHI. Buckle up, designers! In this episode, we crack open the UX vault: From humble beginnings to shaping the digital world, dive into Nielsen's inspiring journey. Heed the master's voice! Get actionable tips to launch your UX career. Prepare for the future! Discover how usability evolves with AI and tech's rapid shift. Demystify heuristic evaluation, Nielsen's groundbreaking method that still rocks the design world. Shatter usability testing myths and learn how to integrate it for optimal outcomes. Conquer mobile design across diverse platforms and devices. Master the art of balancing beauty and function – a design that delights and works! Plus, a peek into Nielsen's day, and the heroes who inspire him. Ready to unlock the secrets of user-centered design? Hit play and join the Nodes of Design revolution! subscribe to Jakob Nielsen, newsletter: https://jakobnielsenphd.substack.com/ Follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakobnielsenphd/  And check his website: www.uxtigers.com Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

As a well-known agency founder and design leader, Andy helps companies like Virgin Holidays, John Lewis and Penguin Random House with issues of customer experience, product strategy, and digital transformation. Andy's role at Clearleft was to set strategy and vision, promote the value of design, and help their clients realise their digital potential. Andy was very active in the company's day-to-day running, managing the leadership team, setting company culture, and looking after the happiness and well-being of 30+ staff. Andy is a designer at heart, having spent over 20 years in the field. He loves using his design, technology, and human behaviour knowledge to influence product strategy. As such, Andy is in his element when working alongside board members and their management teams. In his early career, Andy helped pioneer the field of Web Standards through his work, his blog (one of the highest trafficked in the UK at the time), and the publication of his best-selling book, CSS Mastery. Later, Andy helped popularise the field of UX design, setting up the UK's first dedicated UX agency, along with its first and arguably best UX conference. When he's not running the company or managing our creative output, Andy can be found sharing his wealth of knowledge at conferences around the world like SXSW, An Event Apart and The Next Web. He also curates the UX London and Leading Design conferences. In 2011, Andy co-founded the Brighton Digital Festival, a citywide celebration of digital culture attracting 40,000 visitors and over 190 events. He currently runs an online community of over 1,500 Heads, Directors and VPs of Design, and is a founding member of Adobe's Design Circle. These are just some of the reasons his company has won Netmag Agency of the Year several times, and he's appeared on both the Wired 100 and BIMA 100 lists. Never happier than when he's diving some remote tropical atoll, Andy is a qualified PADI dive instructor and retired shark wrangler. With a degree in Aeronautical engineering, Andy is currently learning to fly. In this episode, Andy discusses the essential qualities and skills a successful design leader should possess. He also shares his insights on building and managing a design team, fostering collaboration and creativity, advocating for an organisation's design, and the importance of empathy in design leadership. Andy also provides tips on how to navigate through various challenges while growing on the ladder as a designer leader and how to approach feedback and critique to help your team grow and improve their design skills. Finally, Andy shared his vision for the future of design leadership and the most important skills or qualities for design leaders in the coming years. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Albert Shum is a design leader who recently retired from Microsoft as a Corporate Vice President of Design. With over 25 years of global consumer brand and design development expertise, Albert has led strategic initiatives across multidisciplinary teams at Nike and Microsoft, scaling design thinking and launching products that influence millions. He led the recent efforts to reimagine Microsoft's web experiences, including search, browser and services across a suite of products that reached over a billion customers at work, home, and school. He had previously led Windows, Windows Mobile, Xbox, HoloLens and device experiences. He has spoken on the responsibility of design to audiences at different forums like AdobeMAX, Innovation Forum in London, 99U Conference, Fast Company Innovation Festival, MIT IDM Master's program, School of Visual Arts. Currently, he is a Class Advisor at the Institute of Design in Chicago. Albert's work in design leadership has helped shape conversations on diversity and inclusion throughout the industry. Albert has served as a mentor, partner, and leader in programs like the Adobe Design Circle and its Scholarship Fund, the Design for Inclusivity Industry Summit, the LEAP apprenticeship program at Microsoft, and in student design challenges in partnership with IxDA, AIGA, and Emily Carr University of Art & Design. He holds a Master's in Product Design from Stanford and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. In this episode, we delve deep into the heart of responsible design by exploring the critical role of ethical design. Join us as we navigate the complex moral landscape of artificial intelligence, unpacking the challenges designers face and the ethical frameworks that can help steer the creation of AI towards positive and equitable outcomes. Discover how ethical considerations are not just an afterthought but a fundamental aspect of responsible design that has the power to shape technology for the greater good. Albert's Newsletter Design Loft on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7002302185275359233 Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Gordon Ching is the Founder & CEO of the Design Executive Council (DXC), the premier membership network dedicated to advancing strategic design leadership to the highest levels of business and society. DXC has carved a niche in raising design leaders' strategic competence and profile to ascend and succeed in strategic roles, including Vice Presidents of Design, Chief Design Officers, and Board Members. Launched in 2022, DXC provides design executives with a true peer-to-peer network and access to distinct programs, events, and research that advances their leadership performance, market value, and the business value of design. DXC membership counts global public corporations and venture-backed enterprises, including senior design executives from industry giants like Adobe, Capital One, Cisco, JPMorgan Chase, SAP, SEPHORA, Target, Warner Music Group, and more. Before his vision materialized with DXC, Gordon honed his expertise across design leadership, operations, and marketing at global brands and startups, including Apple, Affirm, Synchrony, Fast, and AIESEC International. His academic journey took him to Savannah College of Art and Design, where he secured a Master's in Design Management. There, his groundbreaking thesis on Chief Design Officers and Design Executive Effectiveness set the tone for his future endeavours and now serves as the basis of DXC. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography from Simon Fraser University. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Gordon now brings his passion, expertise, and vision to San Francisco, driving DXC's commitment to magnifying the impact of design leadership on a global scale. In this episode, we dive into the role of the design executive, contrasting it with other design positions and highlighting its strategic importance. We explore the significance of mindfulness in leadership, its impact on decision-making, and team dynamics. In the episode, we further address embracing failures as learning opportunities, fostering a culture of innovation, and the crucial elements of resilience and adaptability in the design leadership realm. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Kirti Trivedi is a Design Thinker, Designer, Educator and Researcher. After a Master of Design from the Royal College of Art, London, he joined IDC, IIT Bombay in 1975 and was a Professor there till 2013. He founded India's first Master of Design program in 1981 at IIT Bombay. He was a UNESCO fellow in Japan under the guidance of Prof. Kohei Sugiura, who introduced him to the intellectual depth of Asian Design. Besides teaching and research, he is active as a design consultant in the areas of Communication Design, Book Design, Industrial Design and Exhibition & Museum Design. He is currently mentoring the setting up of India's first School of Digital Arts and is engaged in research in developing Universal Interfaces and New Learning Environments. In this episode, we journey through the evolution of industrial design, examining its shifts and the impact of emerging technologies. We discuss the role of sustainability, the importance of cultural inclusivity, and the ethical considerations in the Industrial design landscape. We also discussed AI's place in Industrial design and its future trajectory. Dive in as we Demystify the complexities of industrial design. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Anton Sten is a seasoned designer and accomplished writer specialising in sculpting superior, user-centric experiences. With a rich tapestry of 25 years in the industry, he has collaborated with global giants such as IKEA, Spotify, Google, Loom, Ueno, and numerous others, leaving an indelible mark on their user experiences. Dive deep into the world of design systems with design leader Anton Sten. In this insightful episode, we unravel the intricacies of what truly makes a design system tick. Anton sheds light on the fundamental question: What is a design system? From there, we delve into the common hurdles organisations grapple with when integrating a design system, offering tried-and-tested solutions. Listen in as Anton shares his expert approach to designing, documenting, and implementing best practices. Balancing standardisation with creative liberty, involving stakeholders, and the nuances of governance are all on the table. Plus, have you ever wondered how to quantify the success of a design system? We've got you covered with must-know metrics and KPIs. As a cherry on top, peek into the future of design systems in an AI-driven world. A must-listen for every design enthusiast out there! Resources by Anton Stén Newsletter; https://www.antonsten.com/newsletter/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/antonsten Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Alexander Christian is a globally recognized design leader with nearly 20 years of experience envisioning, shipping, and creating next-generation consumer and B2B products. He leads and motivates teams, demonstrating proven success in various environments, including global-scale tech companies and large, mid-sized, and bootstrapped startups. Passionate about building tight-knit, high-performing teams and creating cultures of inclusion and trust, Alexander is a calm and confident leader. He excels as a clear communicator and has extensive experience managing large teams, internal stakeholders, executive management, and cross-disciplinary partners at a senior level. Regularly sought after as a mentor and speaker, Alexander actively contributes to industry events and organizations in the United States and Australia. His exceptional contributions to design have been recognized by renowned award bodies such as RedDot, One Show, The Emmy Awards, and countless others. In this riveting episode of the Nodes of Design podcast, we sit down with Alexander, a luminary in the world of design. Diving deep into the intricacies of design, digital realms, and branding, Alexander unfurls a tapestry of insights and experiences. Alexander retraces his steps into the world of design. He shares personal anecdotes, invaluable lessons, and golden nuggets of advice for beginners venturing into design. Discover the confluence where digital design weds branding. Understand why this union is the lifeblood of today's digital ecosystem. Delve into the crucial considerations one must remember to ensure digital designs resonate with a brand's ethos. The power of storytelling in digital design and branding is monumental. How does one gauge the success of their design strategies in fortifying brand awareness and fostering customer loyalty? Alexander has some tried-and-tested strategies to share. Prepare to be enlightened, inspired, and equipped with knowledge that could redefine your design strategies. Whether you're a beginner, a professional, or someone curious about design and branding, this episode with Alexander is a must-listen. Book Recommendation by Alexander Start with Why — Simon Sinek Radical candor — Kim Scott Alan Watts — The Wisdom of Insecurity Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Rachel Kobetz is a distinguished Chief Design executive with proven expertise driving the vision, strategy, and implementation of customer experiences and organizational transformation for Fortune 100 companies. Her ability to shape product cultures that humanize technology and forge meaningful connections between products and consumers has made her a sought-out operator, indispensable advisor, and industry thought leader. Rachel builds world-class organizations integrating human-centred design to drive product and service innovation and elevates design as a strategic advantage. She brings deep expertise in design strategy, operational leadership, and organizational design, ensuring businesses can navigate the present and shape the future. Her leadership experience spans a range of industries, including tech, e-commerce, financial services, consumer electronics, and travel.As former SVP and Global Head of Design for Expedia Group, Rachel led a cultural transformation to shift the company into an experience-led organization, responsible for the design vision, experience strategy, and operational leadership for all products and services. Before joining Expedia, Rachel held prominent leadership positions as SVP and Head of Experience Design at Bank of America, Head of Studio, New Product UX at Amazon's Human-Centered Design Group, and Senior Director of UX at Samsung's Mobile Innovation Lab.Rachel serves as Advisory Board Member for the Design Executive Council and Executive Board Member for the Fast Company Executive Board. She also writes the influential newsletter,' Defining Experience,' providing insights on design leadership, experience-led culture, emerging technology, and the future of work. In this insightful episode, Join us as we delve into Intelligent Interfaces. Rachel takes us deep into what intelligent interfaces are and how they are reshaping our interactions with technology. Intelligent interfaces aren't one-size-fits-all. Rachel discusses the pivotal considerations when designing for varying demographics, ensuring they remain accessible, inclusive, and respectful of users' needs. With the advent of intelligent interfaces comes increasing concern about privacy and security. Rachel sheds light on the best practices and strategies to ensure that these interfaces not only serve their purpose but also protect their users. What happens to those who design them as our interfaces get more intelligent? Rachel offers her take on how the roles of designers and design teams are rapidly transforming in this intelligent age. The future beckons a new generation of design leadership. Our guest paints a picture of what it will look like as intelligent interfaces continue to define our digital experiences. Join us for this enlightening conversation as we journey through the frontier of design and technology with Rachel Kobetz. Whether you're a design enthusiast or just curious about the future of tech, this episode promises to be a treasure trove of insights. Book Recommendation by Rachel Kobetz Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making - Tony Fadell MC 24 - Bruce Mau A New Way to Think: Your Guide to Superior Management Effectiveness - Roger Martin Resources by Rachel Kobetz Applications are now open for the alpha cohort of Design Leadership at Scale — an advanced-level, two-week course curated for senior design leaders ready to transform their sphere of influence, amplify their impact, and lead design practices into the future. To learn more or apply for the course, visit https://maven.com/rachel-kobetz/design-leadership-at-scale. Subscribe to the Defining Experience newsletter and stay ahead with the latest trends, insights, and practical advice on design leadership, emerging technology, and the future of work. Follow Rachel on Twitter and LinkedIn for more design and product leadership perspectives. Please share and support if this episode helped you understand and learn something new.

As we mark the remarkable journey of 'Nodes of Design' with our 100th episode, we're turning the spotlight onto you – our treasured listeners. This isn't just a milestone for us but a collective celebration of the stories, insights, and voices that have woven the fabric of this podcast. Dive into this special edition as we traverse memory lanes, explore standout moments, and anticipate the future of design. It's a heartfelt thank you, a toast to shared experiences, and a glimpse into the myriad perspectives that have shaped and enriched Nodes of Design. Join us in celebrating a centennial of design dialogues!

Welcome to this extraordinary episode of Nodes of Design. Today, we have the rare privilege of hosting the venerable Don Norman, a luminary in the design world whose contributions have paved the way for countless others. A visionary, an author, a researcher, an educator, a cognitive scientist and a champion of human-centred design. Don Norman is a legend in UX design. Since the 1960s, he has been at the forefront of human-computer interaction and human-centred design; His group coined the term "User Experience" while working as vice president of the Advanced Technology Group at Apple in the 1980s. Don's legendary work has transformed the fields of cognitive science and usability engineering; he has a long legacy in academia, for example, at the University of California, San Diego, where he is a professor and head of the UCSD Design Lab. He co-founded the Nielsen Norman Group, a leading consultancy on User Experience. He is renowned globally for his book, 'The Design of Everyday Things', which continues to influence and inspire designers worldwide to focus on users in their work. Throughout his extensive career, Don has always emphasized the importance of design thinking and the role of design in improving the human experience. His theories and methods have defined and revolutionized the user-centred design approach.  Don discusses his newest book, 'Design for a Better World'. This book explores design's critical role in addressing some of the world's most pressing issues, from climate change and social inequality to global poverty. We'll be delving into how designers can contribute to solving these grand challenges and how cross-collaboration with scientists, policymakers, and politicians can lead to better products and services. We'll also discuss the future of design in an age where AI is increasingly becoming a co-pilot in our design process. Lastly, for all our budding designers out there, Don will be sharing advice on how to foster an environmentally conscious design mindset, a skill that is increasingly important in our changing world. This episode is a deep dive into the mind of one of the most influential figures in design, brimming with wisdom and insight. It's a must-listen for anyone passionate about design and those who wish to understand how design can contribute to a better world. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Deepak Menon is Vice President at Microsoft India, leading the Product Experience, Design and Research teams across products in the Experience & Devices (E+D) and Security, Compliance, Identity and Compliance (SCIM) divisions at Microsoft India. They include products like Windows, Teams, Office, Edge, Search, Bing, OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, and Loop. Deepak's team helped define the enquiry around ‘What is productivity for billions of mobile-only users', which has led to product innovations like Kaizala and Microsoft Office – mobile products that help businesses connect with their value chain to collaborate and complete consumer and business workflows. Deepak was also responsible for designing and defining the Ribbon interface for Microsoft Office. He was also the driver for the Microsoft Centre for Information work, which reimagined the future of productivity and won the IDSA gold reward in 2003. Deepak has worked at Google leading User Experience teams in India and Seattle. He was also the Chief Product and Customer officer at Myntra, leading teams across multiple functions. Deepak completed his B.Arch. from REC. Trichy, his M.Arch. on a fellowship and M.F.A. from The Ohio State University. He loves sports and lives in Hyderabad with his wife, Ashwini, two sons, Adhvai & Prathyai and his dog Dash. Join us as we delve into the pivotal role of design in driving innovation within organizations. Deepak shares a compelling project Kaizala, where design proved crucial in fostering innovation and illuminated the powerful impact of design thinking on transformative outcomes. In this episode, we explore the indispensable roles of diversity and empathy in the design process when aiming for innovation. Deepak unravels how embracing diverse perspectives and empathetic approaches unlocks the potential for groundbreaking solutions and user-centric experiences. Discover the art of balancing practicality and creativity in the quest for innovative design. Learn how to cultivate a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment where design seamlessly integrates with engineering, marketing, and product management functions. We unveiled effective strategies for nurturing innovation through harmonious cross-functional collaboration. Get insights on approaching emerging technologies and trends in design innovation. Deepak gives invaluable tips on staying ahead of the curve, leveraging cutting-edge advancements, and navigating the ever-evolving landscape of emerging technologies to drive innovative design solutions. Embark on a journey of technological promise as our guest unveils their excitement for emerging technologies and trends driving innovation in design. Discover the transformative potential of groundbreaking advancements and explore the untapped possibilities that lie ahead. Please tune in to our podcast, Designing for Innovation: Unleashing Creative Brilliance, as we engage in thought-provoking conversations with Deepak Menon, uncovering the transformative power of design in driving innovation. Book Recommendation by Deepak Menon Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive, and Others Die - Chip Heath Guns, Germs And Steel - Jared Diamond  Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger - Peter Bevelin Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Christopher Reardon, a product visionary with a strong focus on AI, Chris has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry, particularly as the Head of Design for Meta's Responsible AI organization, where he established industry standards that have impacted over 3.6 billion monthly users. His expertise in AI has enabled him to drive innovation and create cutting-edge solutions in various sectors. Before joining Meta, Chris led product design at a stealth startup, where he spearheaded the development of natural language agents capable of multimodal communication and automated robotic processes for renowned US banks, automotive, insurance, and healthcare companies. His expertise in AI has enabled him to drive innovation and create cutting-edge solutions in various sectors. While at Ogilvy, Chris significantly contributed to defining the IBM Watson brand and platform and successfully launching AI into the global mainstream. His strategic insights and creative talent have been instrumental in the success of some of the world's most disruptive brands, including Meta, AOL, Apple, Bank of America, Chase, Sony, and IBM. With a rich background in AI, Chris Reardon brings a unique blend of technical expertise and zero-to-one product vision, consistently delivering groundbreaking solutions that have shaped the AI landscape and transformed industries worldwide. Join us in this captivating podcast series as we explore the intricacies of designing for AI and the unique challenges it presents compared to traditional design approaches. We delve into the key considerations designers should consider when working with AI-powered systems, discussing specific design principles and methodologies to enhance their projects. One of the central themes we explore is the delicate balance between creating human-centred designs and harnessing the capabilities of AI. As AI becomes more prevalent in our lives, designers must navigate the fine line between tailoring experiences to human needs and understanding the limitations of AI systems. We discuss practical strategies and approaches to strike this balance effectively. We delve into the collaborative nature of designing AI-powered products, emphasizing the importance of cross-functional teamwork. We uncover practical ways to ensure that design and development processes align harmoniously to create seamless AI-powered products. Bias in AI is a crucial topic we address head-on. We explore how AI algorithms and models can be trained on biased datasets, leading to subjective outcomes. Our discussions revolve around proactive measures designers can take to address and mitigate bias in AI design actively. We highlight real-world examples and best practices to empower designers to champion fairness, ethics, and inclusivity in AI-powered systems. Lastly, we peer into the future of designing for AI, examining the evolving landscape and emerging trends. Chris offers valuable insights into the advancements designers should be prepared for, such as explainable AI, interpretability, and the rise of ethical frameworks. Chris unravels the potential paths that designing for AI may take and how designers can adapt and thrive in this ever-changing field. Chris Medium blog - https://medium.com/@chris.reardon.ux || Chris website - www.c-squared.ai Boook Recommendation by Christopher Reardon The Most Good You Can Do - Peter Singer (and Practical Ethics) Start with Why - Simon Sinek The Stoic Challenge - William B. Irvine Podcasts Recommendation by Christopher Reardon Dare to lead - Brene Brown, hosting Adam Grant & Simon Sinek DeepMind podcast - Hannah Fry (and Demis Hassabis) Hidden Brain podcast - Shankar Vedantam Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.

Guthrie Dolin is a seasoned design executive and advisor to early-stage companies. Guthrie has over two decades of experience building cross-functional teams and fostering cultures of collaboration and creative excellence. Guthrie has spent his career working with forward-looking companies developing disruptive offerings. Including; defining work for Tesla, Nest and Fitbit, as well as innovative initiatives for the likes of Microsoft, Nike, Apple and Sony. He founded Rise & Co., a design and venture consultancy focused on category-defining startups. Guthrie is currently Global Design Director at Ford Model E — leading Design DNA across all Digital Products. Guthrie also lectures at the Institute of Design at Stanford (the d.school) on branding and design innovation for entrepreneurs. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of automotive UX design and explore key considerations, trends, and the future of this field. We start by examining the crucial factors designers must consider when creating user experiences for automobiles. Next, we explore the impact of the shift towards electric and autonomous vehicles on automotive UX design. We discuss how these technologies have revolutionised how users interact with cars, leading to new design challenges and opportunities. Our exploration continues as we take a deep dive into the process of designing a new automotive UX experience. We explore the research methodologies, user testing, and design principles that enable designers to create experiences that align with a brand's history, vision, and customer expectations. Data plays a crucial role in automotive UX design, and we explore its significance in this episode. We discuss how data-driven insights can inform decision-making processes, enhance user experiences, and contribute to the overall evolution of automotive design. Finally, we peer into the future and discuss the exciting trends and innovations shaping automotive UX in the coming years. From advancements in augmented reality and voice control to personalised experiences and seamless integration with smart devices, we explore the possibilities that lie ahead. Join us as we unravel the future of automotive UX design in this thought-provoking episode. Book Recommendation by Guthrie Dolin Cars: Freedom, Style, Sex, Power, Motion, Colour, Everything  The Field Guide to Human-Centered Design The Creative Act: A Way of Being Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Anab Jain is a filmmaker, designer and futurist. She co-founded Superflux, a pioneering speculative design and experiential futures company in London, UK, working for clients and commissioners such as V&A, Google, Red Cross, UNDP, IKEA, Deepmind and many more. Anab has delivered prolific talks at TED, Skoll, NEXT, House of Lords and House of Commons UK, and shown work at MoMA New York, V&A London, National Museum of China and Museum of the Future Dubai. Profiles on Anab and Superflux can be found in Wall Street Journal, Business Insider and Financial Times.  Anab and Jon, co-founders of Superflux, have recently been awarded Royal Designers for Industry in speculative design, UK's highest accolade for design. Anab also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Arts London for her contributions to the field.  Anab serves as a Professor for Design Investigations at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, for the last six years. She hopes to instil a culture of radical enquiry in her students so they can become active designers-translators-catalysts for a complex and uncertain world.  In this episode, Anab shared great insights on Design for futures; we started the episode by defining design for the futures and what is the design process when working on a project focused on the future. Then we discussed navigating that uncertainty in work and how designers can balance the need for innovation and creativity with practicality and functionality in their designs. Later, we discussed why ethical considerations are critical when designing for the future and how do designers ensure their work is inclusive and representative of different perspectives and experiences. Book Recommendation by Anab Jain RDI Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning - Karen Barad Correspondences - Tim Ingold Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Amit Dangwal is a Design Director at Microsoft India Development Center, where he leads the Search and AI design studio. He has been with Microsoft for 16 years, with 20 years of experience designing user-centric products and solutions. Amit has led the design team for products like Microsoft Office, SharePoint, CRM and Lync. He holds a Master of Design degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and a B.Arch degree from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. He is passionate about creating engaging and delightful user experiences across different platforms and devices. In this episode, Amit shared great insights on How to grow as a designer in an organisation. We started by discussing the core skills a designer needs to possess to succeed in an organisation and how designers can show their value to the organisation and impact business outcomes. Later, we spoke about what role collaboration plays in the growth and development of a designer within an organisation. How can a designer take on leadership roles within the organisation, and what sort of preparation or guidance is required? In the end, we concluded the show with Amit's take on how designers can use feedback and constructive criticism to grow and improve their work and how does the organisation measure the success of a designer's work? Book Recommendation by Amit Dangwal Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss⁠ and ⁠Tahl Raz Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Matthew Holloway ⁠is an accomplished design leader with a career spanning 25 years; Matthew has co-founded six start-ups after holding leadership and executive roles at Apple, WebMD, Shutterfly, and SAP, where he shifted their strategic direction with his team's innovations, delivering increased customer value and market share.  Collaborating across organizations, Matthew helps executive teams fully engage design as a critical differentiator for their businesses while assisting design leaders in making the shift from creative thinkers to business executives. Many designers he has managed and mentored have moved on to executive roles at companies such as SAP, GE, Oracle, Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, JPMorgan Chase, Nike, etc. Matthew also advises early-stage start-ups on effectively balancing their technology, design, and marketing investments to maximize their roadmap's impact.    In this episode, Matthew shared great insights on Designing at scale and helped us understand the term scale in terms of the product and the organization itself; we discussed some of the biggest challenges faced when designing at scale. How to overcome them and speak on balancing creativity and innovation with the need to scale quickly when designing for a large organization, and how to approach user research and testing when designing at scale? What role does collaboration play in creating at scale? How do you encourage cross-functional collaboration and ensure everyone is aligned on the design vision? We then concluded the show with Mathews's tips on measuring the success of a large-scale design project and what metrics to use.   Book Recommendation by Matthew Holloway Dawn of Everything, by David Graeber and David Wengrow  Crucial Conversations, by Grenny, Patterson, and McMillan,  Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni Stolen Focus, by Johann Hari  Design for the Real World, by Victor Papanek  Orbiting the Giant Hairball, by Gordon McKenzie   Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.   If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge.   This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.  

Sheri Panabaker is an accomplished UX Leader with an impressive 23-year tenure at Microsoft, where she served as the Senior Director of UX Research. While at the tech giant, Sheri played an instrumental role in shaping product and marketing strategies for a diverse range of consumer, enterprise, and employee experiences. Her extensive expertise in UX research and data analytics enabled her to drive a user-centred culture within Microsoft, significantly influencing the development of innovative experiences across Windows, Surface, and Microsoft Digital (internal) programs. Sheri firmly believes that you are a product maker no matter which disciplines you to represent, and adopting that mindset enhances your strategic influence. In her post-Microsoft career, Sheri is committed to mentoring and developing diverse talent while continuing to share her insights at speaking events. Additionally, with a focus on applying UX and design thinking to reimagine fan experiences in sports, particularly Formula 1, Sheri is driven to make a lasting impact on that notoriously male-dominated industry. Outside of her professional life, Sheri enjoys Pilates, interior design, and exploring the Pacific Northwest in search of the perfect bubble tea. In this episode, Sheri Panabaker shared great insights on Product Maker Mindset; we started by defining the word product maker and what it means to have a product maker mindset. We then discussed what strategies to use to collaborate effectively with other team members, such as engineers, marketers, and designers, and how to ensure everyone is aligned around the same goals and priorities. We then discussed the translation of insights to design considerations and working with Design and PM to clarify how to measure product success and what metrics to use to evaluate. Book Recommendation by Sheri Panabaker How to win friends and influence people - Dale Carnegie The 360 Degree Leader- John C. Maxwell Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone - Satya Nadella Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Irene Au is Design Partner at Khosla Ventures, working with early, mid, and late-stage startup CEOs. She is dedicated to raising the value of design and user research within software companies through better methods, practices, processes, leadership, and talent. Through her mentorship of the next generation of designers, she helps companies build an empathetic understanding of user needs, inspiring and informing product design and experiences. Irene has unprecedented experience elevating the strategic importance of innovation within technology companies, having built and led the entire User Experience and Design teams at Google, Yahoo!, and Udacity. She began her career as an interaction designer at Netscape Communications, where she worked on the design of the internet's first commercial web browser.   For ten years, Irene taught yoga at Avalon Yoga Center in Palo Alto, where she also is among the teacher training program faculty. She is a frequent author and speaker on mindfulness practices, design, and creativity. She is an adjunct lecturer at Stanford University and teaches Product Design in the mechanical engineering department. Irene is also a trustee for the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Museum of Design. Irene authored the definitive O'Reilly book, Design in Venture Capital, and her popular essays can be found on Medium. In addition, she has been featured in Wired magazine, Fast Company magazine, CommArts magazine, and on the cover of Mindful magazine.Irene graduated magna cum laude from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She received her Master's Degree from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, focusing on Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In this episode, Irene Au shared great insights on The Psychology of Design: How Human Behaviour and emotion influence Design Decisions. We started the episode by defining the intersection of psychology and design and what fundamental principles designers should consider when adding human behaviour and emotion to their work. Then Irene shared a few product examples where psychology played a crucial role in shaping the final product. We then discussed how designers could use colour, typography, and other visual elements to evoke specific emotional responses in users and the best practices for doing so effectively. In the end, Irene spoke on how cultural and societal factors influence design decisions and what strategies designers can use to create designs that resonate with diverse audiences. Irene Au Websitehttps://medium.com/design-your-life Book Recommendation by Irene Au The Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman The Creative Act: A Way of Being - Rick Rubin Geometry of Design - Kimberly Elam Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Nicole Lachenmeier is a Swiss information designer and co-founder of the data experience agency Superdot, founded in 2011. Alongside her team, she has developed over a hundred visual tools and design systems for large companies, NGOs and governmental organizations. Besides her agency work, Nicole teaches visualization (and design) at several design universities. She also won many accolades for her work in visualisation and design. Darjan Hil is an information designer. He co-founded Superdot with Nicole while working as a researcher at the University of Applied Sciences, Northwestern Switzerland. In addition, Darjan has taught at various Swiss Universities, lecturing on data visualization and information design principles. He is co-author of Visualizing Complexity, the Handbook for Modular Information Design and initiated the event series On Data And Design in Vienna, Basel and Berlin. Both of them at Superdot make complex issues understandable with innovative and attractive information design and data experience design. In this episode, Darjan Hil⁠ and ⁠Nicole Lachenmeier shared great insights on Data+Design; we started the episode by defining the intersection between data and design. Then, what was one of the most complex data viz challenges that Nicole and Darjan had to improve and why? We then discussed balancing accuracy and clarity with the desire for creativity and visual appeal in data visualisations. Later, we discussed the role storytelling plays in crafting patterns for data visualisation and how information design and visualisation are applied to promote social progress or deal with significant societal issues. Special Shoutout to Darjan Hil & Nicole Lachenmeier Book - Visualizing Complexity: Modular Information Design Handbook Resources Mentioned in the Episode The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid - Oliver Byrne Information Architects Hardcover - Richard Saul Graphic Design Manual: Principles and Practice - Armin Hofmann The Women in Data Viz:Valentina D EfillipoFederica FrangapaneStefanie Posavec Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Ryan Rumsey is the author of Business Thinking for Designers, founder of Chief Design Officer School, and CEO of Second Wave Dive, a peer-coaching community for the next generation of design leaders and executives. ​For 20+ years, he worked as a designer and executive at Apple, Electronic Arts, USAA, Nestlé, and Comcast. Highlights include designing the first capitally funded Learning Management System at Apple, using CSS as a security measure, selling design systems before asking for buy-in, and building teams of incredibly talented and impactful designers, developers, researchers, PMs—humans. In addition, Ryan is a sought-after speaker and has presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He is a father, a husband, and an avid fan of Liverpool Football Club. His life experiences include working on a farm and acting in a Staind music video. In this episode, Ryan shared his journey into design and spoke about how to grow as a better designer; he shares his approach to working with clients or stakeholders who may need a clear vision or direction for their project and how we could help them define their goals as designers. Ryan then shared some frameworks to improve decision-making skills and confidence as a designer. We then spoke about how to face criticism or negative feedback on our work and how to respond to it. Finally, we concluded the show with Ryan's tips for designers to improve their business acumen. Links to the resources by Ryan: Chief Design Officer School (Courses for design leaders) Second Wave Dive (Peer-coaching community for design leaders) Anything But Design (Editorial platform and podcast) Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Kristen is the Founder + Creative Director of MLTI NYC, a multi-disciplinary boutique creative agency based in New York City — specializing in Campaigns, Branding, Art Direction, Graphic + Motion Design, Photography, Brand Films, & More for Fortune 500 Companies and Start-Ups. Shockingly, only 0.1% of creative agencies are founded by women. After designing and leading teams at Nike and PepsiCo for ten years, Kristen created MLTI NYC to tell compelling visual stories and powerfully bring brands to life to build brand love — all from a diverse, global, and female-led perspective. MLTI NYC is a team of visionary thinkers and relentless craftspeople with great taste and a modern aesthetic. We strive to consistently deliver aspirational, culturally relevant results and pack a bold (and sometimes playful!) punch. MLTI NYC clients include PepsiCo, FootLocker, Nike, and Amazon, as well as a series of funded Start-Ups. Aside from MLTI NYC, Kristen also recently launched a women's running apparel brand, DWNTWN Run Co., which merges function and style for modern female runners. In this episode, Kristen shared her journey into creative entrepreneurship and spoke about her challenges as a creative entrepreneur. We then discussed how she balances her work's creative and business parts and what techniques she employs to maintain her commitment to her artistic vision while establishing a prosperous business. Later she shared insights on how she stays on top of industry trends and advancements and what strategies she uses to ensure your work remains relevant and innovative. Takeaways - Journey of a creative entrepreneur, How to stay relevant and innovative, How to balance personal and business life being a creative entrepreneur Books recommended by Kristen A New Earth and The Power of Now — Eckhart Tolle The War of Art — Steven Pressfield It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be — Paul Arden Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Susan Weinschenk has a Ph.D. in Psychology and is the Chief Behavioral Scientist, and CEO at The Team W, Inc. Susan consults with Fortune 1000 companies, start-ups, governments, and non-profits, and is the author of several books, including 100 Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People, 100 MORE Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People and How To Get People To Do Stuff. Dr. Weinschenk's area of expertise is the brain and behavioral science applied to the design of products and services. Her clients include Medtronic, Disney, the Mayo Clinic, Zappos, the European Union, Discover Financial, and United Health Care. Susan is co-host of the HumanTech podcast and writes her blog and a column for Psychology Today online. In this episode, Susan shared great insights on the Brain and Creativity and how we could train our brains to produce the best creative solutions. What are different frameworks to rewire our brain to for creativity? We then spoke on the role of perception in enhancing the brain. And how designers can use the same to improve the user experience. We concluded the show with resources and frameworks on behavioral sciences. Takeaways - Building creating, the role of perception in enhancing the brain, Methods to improve creativity. Books by Susan Weinschenk Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Iain McConchie is an award-winning digital product designer and design executive whose career started in 2000, working for MTV in London. Entertainment and cultural media have always been a core influence in his design approach, emphasizing the emotional experience as the utility of a digital product or service. He has worked for brands and clients such as Disney, VISA, McLaren F1, Transport for London, News UK, Netflix, and Headspace and is currently the senior director of product design at chow now. In the last decade, he has focused on people management supporting talented UX, UI, and Product Designers to deliver best-in-class products and services for their intended audiences. As a visual creative, Iain encourages teams to play, remix, and look at things sideways - pushing on brand and using storytelling to create a differentiated product experience while remaining accessible for all. In this episode, Iain shared great insights into how designers could bring creativity and differential experiences to any digital product. What is the structure/framework that one must follow to get uniqueness in experiences while solving business problems? We then discussed, as creatives, how we could stay focused on the outcome without thinking/stressing too much about metrics and data. What different ways to train oneself to explore beyond typical design patterns? And how to deliver excellent, fun, interactive products to the end user? Takeaways - Thinking unique, How to train yourself to think beyond the ordinary, Building a culture to bring creativity and uniqueness to the teams. Resources mentioned in the show by Iain McConchie Emotion By Design - Greg Hoffman Creativity Inc - Ed Catmull The Steal Like An Artist Audio Trilogy Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Rafael Brandão is a Product Experience Director passionate about arts and technology. For over 15 years, he has worked in several Advertising Agencies, Design Offices, Startups, and big companies. Currently, he is the Director of Product Experience at HBO Max Latam (Warner Bros Discovery). Professor and course coordinator at Miami Ad School, the most creative Design School worldwide (elected at Cannes 2019 and 2022), and career and business mentor at Designed.org and AbeLLha. In this episode, Rafael shared great insights on collaborative innovation and its true meaning while walking us thru some of the best practices. We then discussed how to forge the team towards the right way of innovation. And how collaboration impacts innovation in an organization. Later, he spoke about design-led innovations and how designers can aspire to be great innovators. We then concluded the show with a few thoughts on future innovation trends in the design industry. Takeaways - True meaning of innovation, How to forge collaborative innovation? How to nurture innovation? Resources mentioned in the show by Rafael. https://projectofhow.com/ https://www.designkit.org/ Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Denise Pilar is a UX Researcher/Strategist with over two decades of experience. She is also one of the three authors of the very first Brazilian book on UX Research: UX Research com Sotaque Brasileiro (in Portuguese). She holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science, a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology, an MBA in Positive Psychology, and is currently a strategist at NU bank. In this episode, Denise shared great insights on UX strategy and its importance. She spoke on different frameworks for UX Strategy and how to measure the strategy's success. We then discussed the initial steps for the design team/designer to create a strategy that solves the business goals and user needs and how to dynamically modify the strategy based on the users' inputs and feedback. Later, we concluded the show with Denise's advice on effectively narrating a strategy to a broader audience. Takeaways - What is UX Strategy, Different frameworks of UX Strategy, Establishing a strategy. Denise Pilar book - UX Research com Sotaque Brasileiro Books recommended by Denise. Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman Design of Everyday Things Contextual Design Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Bob Baxley is a design executive, advisor, mentor, and advocate who has built, managed, and led UX teams at some of Silicon Valley's most respected companies. With a career spanning three decades, Bob's work at Apple, Pinterest, Yahoo!, and elsewhere has touched hundreds of millions of users worldwide. Currently, Bob serves as the Senior Vice-President of Design at ThoughtSpot, a business intelligence, and data analytics platform. Before ThoughtSpot, Bob was Head of Product Design at Pinterest and spent over eight years at Apple. While at Apple, Bob served in senior leadership roles in the retail and e-commerce teams, including leading the creative team responsible for the Apple Online Store. Bob is an advisor to Project Invent, Bob is committed to recruiting and inspiring the next generation of designers by mentoring individuals and advising organizations that are working to improve the profession and practice of digital product design. In this episode, Bob shared great insights on User interface design and how it evolved from silicon valley. We then spoke on what are the different frameworks for data-enabled Design? And why having good taste is better than having good data. Latter, Bob shared his views on why only a few companies can design at the level of Apple and shared his experience working at Apple during the meteoric rise of the iPhones. We then spoke on how individual contributors could grow in careers and present to executive levels as designers. Later, we concluded the show with Bob's take on the future of Design. Takeaways- User interface design and its evolutions, Core fundamentals of the software, how to grow in your career as a designer. Bob Baxley Book - Making the Web Work: Designing Effective Web Applications Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Charles L. Mauro CHFP is president and Founder of MAURO Usability Science (MUS), a New York-based consulting firm founded in 1975. Mr. Mauro is a Certified Human Factors Engineering Professional BCPE. Mr. Mauro has personally managed over 4,000 research and development projects over his 40-year career as a leading expert in human factors engineering, product design, and design research. His clients include Nike, Dyson, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, Merck, Amazon, Facebook, and industries covering high technology, medical/pharmaceutical, financial, heavy industrial, consumer, government/DOD, and startups. Received numerous citations for design and design research, including The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), which has given its highest recognition, the Personal Achievement Award to Charles L. Mauro CHFP. Historically, the Award has been given to leading design luminaries, including Sir Jonathan Ive of Apple, Raymond Loewy, Henry Dreyfuss, and others. Mr. Mauro is a frequent speaker at international conferences, leading academic institutions, and government agencies, including MIT, Stanford, UPenn, The FDA, USPTO, NASA, and legal conferences on a global basis. In this episode, Mr. Mauro shared great insights into Industrial Design and human factors sciences; we discussed how ergonomics and human factors science play a significant role in industrial design. In addition, he shared his great learnings while working with Raymond Loewy. We then discussed how designers could use data to design sustainable products and shared his experience creating the solution for NYSE. In the latter part, we discussed Design IPs, IP fundamentals, and how IP helps designers. Takeaways- What is Industrial design? How to design sustainable products? Does design have an enormous impact on metaverse? Resources mentioned in the show by Charles L. Mauro Article on the metaverse, Design IP UX research newsletter on LinkedIn MAURO Usability Science blog Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Reggie Murphy is passionate about creating a human-centered world. He is a 20-year veteran of the UX Research and Design space and currently leads the Creation and Conversations Research team on Twitter. Before Twitter, Reggie built and led the client experience research team at Vanguard. He also led research teams at Meta (formerly Facebook) who helped build Facebook's Camera Effects Platform, Facebook Groups, and Workplace. Before Meta, Reggie led research and design engagements for Electronic Ink (now Capgemini) as a Principal Research Consultant working with clients such as J.P. Morgan Chase, UnitedHealth Group, and Penske. In this episode, Reggie shared great insights on Human-Centered Research and the different ways to understand and empathize with the user? We then discussed the various frameworks for human-centered research and how research is both an art and science; how to balance this combination while capturing in-depth insights. In the latter part, we discussed how to focus on insights gained from the user research to synthesize and make it accessible across the board. Takeaways- What is human-centered design? How to empathize with the users? Different ways to capture deeper insights. Book Recommendations by Reggie Murphy The Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman Don't Make Me Think - Steve Krug Radical Candor - Kim Scott Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Eva Deckers is a design leader and design strategist. At present, she is the Director of Data-Enabled Design at Philips Experience Design, where she leads a team of designers at the cutting edge of integrating design, data, and AI. Eva holds a Ph.D. in human-centered AI and translates her ideas into the health technology context. As a strategist, she supports her organization in shaping and implementing customer-driven strategies, ensuring strategy always starts from the benefit you will deliver. She is passionate about using the power of design, data, and AI to make a difference in the health and wellbeing of people. In this episode, Eva shared great insights on Data Enabled Design and how data could be used as creative material. We then discussed the different frameworks for data-enabled design and how we could take the aid of data to design sustainable and ethical products. In the latter part, we spoke on how individuals could implement and scale the data-enabled design model across the organization, enabling data to drive all major design decisions. Takeaways- What is data enabled design, How to design ethical products with data, Data in design as a creative process. Resources Recommendations by Eva Deckers Things We Could Design: For More Than Human-Centered Worlds - Ronald Wakkary Keynote Presentations of Prof.Kees Overbeeke Sir Ken Robinson Ted talk Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Nur Karadeniz is a design leader in human-centered services and systems. With a deep passion for shaping new technologies and delivering value for humanity, Nur helps organizations achieve sustainable transformations and leverage new technologies for better use. Over the last decade, Nur has set up award-winning innovation teams for Fjord, Accenture, and Wongdoody of Infosys and leading global innovation capabilities for large organizations. She is currently authoring a book, System Design Practice, and teaching the topic at multiple universities in Europe. In this episode, Nur shared great insights on System Design Methodology, how to build system design maps, and the frameworks to follow to design innovative and sustainable products. We then discussed how designers could utilize the power of system design to bring practical and scalable ideas to life. Takeaways- What is system design, How to conduct system design workshops, How to identify and solve problems beyond systems. Nur's Upcoming Book - System Design Practice Books Recommendations by Nur Karadeniz Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Cracked it! - Bernard Garrette Solving Complex Problems Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Rich McCoy is a highly experienced creative leader. He is passionate about his work and has led teams for Trade Me and Nationwide Building Society. His creative endeavors have seen him working at celebrated agencies such as AKQA, LBi, Isobar, and Saatchi & Saatchi. He is currently contracting for Air France/KLM via Isobar Paris. He is also running his art practice, a vegan cooking photoblog, and mentoring a new generation of creatives. In this episode, Rich shared great insights on lean design practices and their frameworks. We then spoke on the different ways of scaling lean practices across organizations without compromising the quality of deliverables and how lean practices help rapid innovation and find the right product-market fit. Takeaways:- What is lean design practices, How to cultivate a lean mindset, How to scale lean across an organization. Books Recommendations by Rich McCoy Oh, the places you'll go by Dr. Seuss The Lord of the Rings by TRR Tolkien Zen the art of Simple living by Shunmyo Mason Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Afshin Mehin is the founder of Card79, a creative studio based in San Francisco and Vancouver, helping companies give form to the future. Consistently blurring the boundaries between our digital and physical lives, he's worked with clients ranging from startups such as Neuralink and Noon Home to large organizations such as Amazon, Lululemon, and Ford. Before setting up Card79, Afshin worked for design studios such as IDEO and Whipsaw in the Bay Area, designers such as BarberOsgerby and Terence Conran in London, and research Labs such as M.I.T.'s Media Lab Europe in Dublin. In this episode, Afshin shared great insights on industrial design, how different it is from product design, and the frameworks to follow to explore ideas for manufacturing a product and reframing problems as opportunities. We then discussed various ways to evaluate product safety, appearance, and function to determine if a design is practical. In the latter part, he spoke on conveying a narrative behind a design to more oversized holders and audiences. Takeaways:- What is Industrial design, How to reframe problems as opportunities, and What different frameworks to explore ideas and bring them to vision. Books Recommended by Afshin Mehin Design by numbers - John Maeda The Essential Rumi - Book by Rumi White Teeth - Zadie Smith Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Brigette Metzler is the ResearchOps Lead at the Australian government Department of Agriculture, Water, and Environment. From 2017-2020, Brigette led the user research library at Services Australia. Alongside chairing several government communities of practice, she is also the co-chair of the ResearchOps Community, a global community of people discussing ResearchOps — the people, mechanisms, and strategies for scaling research. She also hosts The ResearchOps Podcast, where she does fireside chats, which is wide-ranging but focused on talking about all things ResearchOps. In this episode, Brigette shared great insights on ResearchOps and its importance; we then spoke on the framework for ResearchOps? And how to get started with it and what are the eight pillars and common components of ResearchOps. Later we discussed how researchers could implement and scale ResearchOps in their companies or institutions. Brigette also shared incredible knowledge on research libraries and knowledge management. Takeaways- What is ResearchOps, What is the framework of ResearchOps, What are research libraries. Books Recommended by Brigette Metzler Pace Layering The Clock of the Long Now, by Stewart Brand Research Practice by Gregg Bernstein (has an essay on ResearchOps by me) Build Better Products by Laura Klein Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Kieron Lewis is a south London-born freelance graphic designer and public speaker. Over the years, he has designed numerous self-directed and client-based projects for clients such as Harper Collins, Penguin Books, Levi Strauss, and Adobe. This year, Kieron was a judge at the D&AD Awards for the Writing for Design Jury. In October, he will be speaking at Adobe Max, exploring topics within the editorial design, the African community and its diaspora, and the importance of collaboration. In this episode, Kieron had shared great insights on Editorial Design and the classic elements of editorial design. We then established visual hierarchy and balance layouts in the editorial work, where he explained the Editorial design process. Next, he shared insights on storytelling via words and how he establishes a connection with readers. In the end, we concluded the show with tips to beginners on creating an Editorial Design Portfolio. Takeaways - What is the process of editorial design, How to establish storytelling via Words, Getting started with editorial design portfolio. Books Recommend by Kieron Lewis Still Breathing Dare to Change It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Randy Herbertson is a recognized brand strategist and creative director with over twenty years of marketing and innovation experience. Randy has worked with WPP and Omnicom agency networks, Conde Nast Publications, Allied Domecq, and E&J Gallo. In addition, Randy has recently worked in the boutique agency world, owning and operating two firms, including The Visual Brand, founded in 2013. In this episode, Randy had shared great insights on Creative thinking DNA, where Randy explained how to find a style of creativity that will enhance the skills. We then spoke on Randy's take on whether people are born creative or creativity as a skill that could be enhanced by practice. In the latter part, we discussed on the what is the concept of introvert and extrovert creatives and how could both of them collaborate to drive great results. Takeaways - What are the different styles of creativity, Creativity as a skill, Who are introverts and extrovert creatives, How to enhance the storytelling via creative thinking. Books Recommended by Randy Herbertson Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Ashwin Rajan is a strategic designer accelerating the emerging discipline of Behavior Design. He has two decades of innovation experience in the digital industry. He is also the founder of the Fabric behavioral lab. They work with clients to bring behavioral thinking methods and tools to product growth, user and customer experience, competence building, employee and citizen engagement. In this episode, Ashwin shared great insights on Behavioural Design and its importance and How could designers use Behavioural Design to impact the end-users positively? We then discussed the framework of behavioral design and the different metrics involved. Takeaways- What is Behavioural Design, How to design products to create a positive impact, Framework of behavioral design. Books Recommended by Ashwin Rajan Leon Festinger - A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, 1957. Metaphors We Live By - George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, 1980. Future-Minded: The Psychology of Agency and Control: Magda Osman, 2014. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and be a part of the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.