DesignThinkers Podcast

Recent episodes

1. Temi Coker on Starting Before You're Asked

   Jul 22, 2026

   This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Temi Coker. A Dallas based designer, photographer and the multidisciplinary artist behind Coker Studio . Temi’s client list includes Adobe, Apple, Google, HBO, Peloton and The Oscars. But almost none of it started with a client brief, it started with a self assigned poster a day challenge in 2016 made for no one but himself. And it led Temi to a belief that you should be making creative work just to make it. In this conversation, we trace that thread through his whole career, from a stint studying biomedical engineering to please his parents, to pursuing digital media for himself, from making a pillow because his wife thought his work would look good in people’s homes to a full fledged home collection at Walmart. From teaching photography and design at his former high school, so that students would have a model of what a Black creative professional looks like to finding the nerve to ask the Academy if he could steep his Oscars statuette artwork in Black history. This episode is for anyone with an idea sitting quietly in their mind, something they haven’t started yet. Temi’s whole career is proof that the things you make for yourself are often the things that end up mattering the most. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

2. Live Recording with Dalit Shalom

   Jun 3, 2026

   This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Dalit Shalom. Dalit is the Director of Product Design at The New York Times where she oversees the creation of new formats, spaces and tools that advance the future of storytelling. She also leads Design and Strategy for various work streams for the company's AI initiates, having previously focused on trust and credibility by developing features that clarify Times journalism for its readers. An educator as well as a practitioner, Dalit also teaches design thinking classes at NYU's Tandon School of Engineering and ITP. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

3. Kenjiro Kirton on How Design Doesn’t (Only) Happen at a Desk

   May 20, 2026

   This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Kenjiro Kirton. Ken is the co-founder and creative director of HATO , the London- and Hong Kong-based publishing house, design studio and concept store known for its playful, research-driven approach to culture, branding and digital experiences. His work moves fluidly between publishing, interaction, retail, and storytelling, often blurring the line between design practice and everyday life. In this conversation, we talk about what happens when design escapes the boundaries of the studio—when research becomes fiction, when process becomes play and when creative practice becomes something lived rather than simply produced. We also get into the value of iteration and experimentation, the similarities between cooking and design, building participatory creative communities, and why some of the most meaningful creative work happens along the soft edges between disciplines. This episode is for designers who are interested in expanding everything design—and the design studio—can be. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

4. Ariane Spanier on Typography as Visual Voice

   May 6, 2026

   This week on the DesignThinkers Podcast, I’m joined by Ariane Spanier, a Berlin-based designer whose work sits at the intersection of typography, culture, and editorial design. Ariane has built a practice working closely with cultural institutions—museums, publications, and artists—where design isn’t just about communication, but about interpretation. She’s also the creative director and co-editor of Fukt, an annual magazine dedicated to contemporary drawing, known for its experimental and often tactile typographic covers. In this conversation, we unpack her DesignThinkers talk, Type with an Accent , and what it means to think about typography not as something neutral, but as something that carries voice, identity, and history. We talk about the tension between rules and expression, how designers develop a visual “accent,” and why your first instinct is often the most honest place to start from. We also get into her work on Fukt , and how using typography in a more physical, expressive way can shift how people experience a publication altogether. This episode is really for anyone thinking about their own voice as a designer—how it forms, how it evolves, and how to trust it. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

5. Dr. Dee Miller on Designing Beyond Compliance

   Apr 22, 2026

   This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Dee Miller. Director of Product Strategy and Insights for Product Equity at Adobe . Dee is a researcher and innovation leader, working at the intersection of technology, design, and equity. She's focused on turning real world insights, into products that are more accessible, usable, and culturally relevant. In this conversation, we unpack what inclusive design actually looks like in practice, and why it's not just about compliance, but about building better more innovative products. Dee shares how her work at Adobe translates research into real product decisions. From improving accessibility features, to shaping how AI tools like Firefly are developed and deployed. We also talk about the tension between speed and accessibility, what it takes to advocate for inclusive design inside large organizations, and why designing with communities is critical to building trust and accountability. This episode is for anyone working in product, design, or research who wants to move beyond theory and start building experiences that truly work for more people. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

6. Peter Smart on Why Your Design Skills Still Matter in the Age of AI

   Apr 8, 2026

   This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Peter Smart. Chief Experience Officer and Managing Partner at Fantasy . Based in the Bay Area, Fantasy is a creative partner behind some of the world’s most widely used digital products. Working with companies like Disney, Nike, Spotify, Netflix, Meta, and Google. In this conversation, Peter shares how he’s thinking about the next shift in digital product design. One where fixed interfaces and screen based experiences may no longer be the default. We talk about what happens when products become more dynamic and more personalized. How AI is reshaping the relationships between brands and users, and why designers may need to redefine their own value. We also get into some of the trends Peter is seeing and why he thinks the most important thing designers can do right now is zoom out. To look beyond the tools, understand where value is shifting, and rethink what they’re really designing. This episode is for anyone trying to make sense of where design is heading. Maybe you’re early in your career or leading a team or simply wondering how to stay relevant in a moment that seems to be changing every single day. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

7. Nu Goteh on Designing With Community

   Mar 25, 2026

   This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Nu Goteh, founder of Room for Magic and co-founder of Deem Journal . Nu’s path into design isn’t a straight line. He started out making graphics on early internet platforms, spent over a decade working in marketing for brands like Puma, Red Bull, and Sonos, and eventually returned to design through a deeper set of questions—about power, participation, and how he wanted to show up in the world. In this conversation, we talk about what it really means to design with communities—not just for them—and why that work often comes down to time, trust, and budget. We get into the limits of performative “purpose,” the realities of working with clients, and how design can move beyond outputs to shaping systems. We also talk about Deem Journal: a print publication that explores design as a social practice. We discuss why print as a medium still matters, especially as a way to document, archive, and expand what we consider to be design. This episode is for anyone thinking more critically about their role as a designer—whether you’re early in your career or rethinking what your practice is really in service of. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

8. Emmi Salonen On Managing Your Creative Inputs

   Mar 11, 2026

   Emmi Salonen is a Finnish graphic designer and art director whose work spans editorial design, visual identity, publishing, and exhibition graphics. She often works with cultural and institutional clients, bringing a thoughtful, systems-driven approach to typography and structure—with just enough play to keep things interesting. Beyond the systems and the structure, Emmi has long been thinking about something deeper: the conditions that allow creative work to be sustainable over time. Her new book, The Creative Wellbeing Handbook , explores creativity not as a lightning strike or a productivity hack, but as an ecosystem: something that needs tending to. In this conversation, we talk about burnout, systems, slowness, education, and what it really means to protect your creative energy in an industry that often demands constant output. We also talk about typography, control, joy, and the small signals we ignore when we’re pushing too hard. This episode is for anyone who loves design—and wants to keep loving it. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

9. Elizabeth Goodspeed On Finding New Ideas in Old Things

   Feb 25, 2026

   This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Elizabeth Goodspeed . Elizabeth is an independent designer, art director, writer, and educator oscillating between Providence, Rhode Island and New York City. Her work riffs on history and visual culture in ways that feel both smart and weirdly intimate. She’s a devoted generalist: branding, packaging, book & editorial design. She’s also known for her sharp writing on the culture of design as the American editor-at-large for It’s Nice That . In this conversation, Elizabeth shares how her fascination with archives and ephemera became a creative method. We talk about how you can use design history without getting stuck in nostalgia, why research can be a powerful tool for original thinking, and what it means to design when you think in words before images. We also explore her approach to teaching, the value of slow craft, and how paying closer attention to the visual world around us can change the way we work. This episode is for anyone who wants to build more depth into their practice. Whether you’re trying to move beyond trends, develop a stronger point of view, or simply learn how to turn curiosity into compelling creative work. Let’s get into it. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

10. Pali Palavathanan on Design as Activism

    Sep 24, 2025

    This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Pali Palavathanan , co-founder and creative director of Templo . Based in London, Templo is a purpose-led design studio known for bringing creativity and activism together—working with clients like the UN, Amnesty International, and GF Smith, alongside grassroots organizations fighting for justice around the world. In this conversation, Pali shares how his own experiences as a refugee shaped his desire to build a different kind of studio. We talk about what it means to take on projects where the stakes are as high as arresting war criminals or tackling corruption. We also talk about how to balance activism with commercial work, the importance of instinct in choosing clients, and why he believes design is both a privilege and a responsibility. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered how design can drive real change—whether you’re looking to make your practice more purposeful, thinking about the ethics of the clients you take on, or simply curious about what it looks like to build a studio where values lead the way. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

11. Pablo Martin on Building an Agency Culture In-House

    Sep 17, 2025

    This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Pablo Martin , Creative Director at MUBI . A legend in editorial design, Pablo has spent four decades shaping the visual language of publications and brands across Spain, the UK, and beyond. His journey has taken him from a work placement with Massimo Vignelli to co-founding the Barcelona-based studio Grafica and then Atlas, to leading major cultural projects for clients of all kinds, to now steering the global creative vision of MUBI. At MUBI, Pablo oversees everything from brand identity to experimental publishing—including Notebook, the streaming platform’s print magazine that treats cinema as both cultural archive and design playground. In this conversation, we talk about his path through editorial design, why he’s always resisted specialization, what it means to run an in-house team that thinks like a studio, and how print still has the power to push boundaries in a digital-first world. This episode is brought to you by MUBI, a curated streaming service for great cinema from around the globe. Try MUBI free for 30 days at mubi.com/designthinkers . Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

12. Debra Bishop on Making Magazines

    Sep 10, 2025

    This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Debra Bishop—an award-winning creative director and one of editorial design’s most influential voices. Over the past four decades, Debra has shaped the look and feel of some of publishing’s most iconic titles—from her early days at Rolling Stone , to launching magazines at Martha Stewart, to serving as a design director at The New York Times . For the last eight years, Debra brought her bold, playful vision to The New York Times for Kids , a monthly print-only section beloved for its inventive layouts, striking typography, and respect for young readers. The project published its final issue at the end of August, though Debra continues her work at the Times . This interview was recorded before the official announcement came out—so you won’t hear us talk about the closure, but you might sense a little mourning in the conversation. What we do talk about in this episode are the joys and challenges of redesigning magazines, what Debra learned from design legends like Paula Scher, Fred Woodward, and Robert Priest, and how she has continued to expand the possibilities of what publications for kids, women, and niche audiences can look like. We also explore why she still believes in the enduring power of magazines—even as the industry continues to evolve. Whether you’re a designer, editor, or simply someone who’s ever loved a great magazine, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and a whole lot of design wisdom. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

13. Nadia Tzuo on Storytelling Through Title Design

    Sep 3, 2025

    This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Nadia Tzuo —an Emmy Award–winning motion designer and director whose title sequences have become cultural touchstones. Nadia’s work spans television, film, and streaming, with credits on The Last of Us , Shogun , American Horror Story , Pachinko , Star Trek Beyond , and Captain Marvel . Her sequences don’t just introduce a story—they set its mood, build its world, and often become iconic in their own right. In this episode, Nadia shares how she approaches title design as both storytelling and branding, the deep research that fuels her process, and why she thinks in moods before visuals. We talk about the importance of cultural specificity, the role of collaboration, and how streaming has reshaped the way audiences engage with titles. Whether you’re a designer curious about motion, a film lover fascinated by world-building, or someone interested in the intersection of story and design—this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

14. Stephen Gates on Speaking the Language of Business

    Aug 27, 2025

    This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Stephen Gates —global design leader, keynote speaker, and host of The Crazy One podcast. Stephen’s career has spanned more than 20 years leading creative teams at companies like Apple, Citi, InVision, and McCann, where he’s built award-winning work across branding, product design, and customer experience. Known for his candid, no-nonsense approach to leadership and creativity, Stephen now works with organizations and teams around the world—helping them unlock better ideas, build stronger cultures, and navigate the complex realities of design at scale. In this episode, we get into what it really means to lead as a designer, how to break out of safe thinking, and why creativity and business have to speak the same language. Stephen shares hard-won lessons on building trust with executives, the traps teams fall into when chasing innovation, and the mindset shifts that can make the difference between a good career and a great one. Whether you’re a design leader, an ambitious creative, or just curious about what it takes to make work that matters—this conversation is equal parts practical, inspiring, and refreshingly honest. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

15. Verònica Fuerte on Building Hey Studio

    Aug 20, 2025

    This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Verònica Fuerte . Verònica is the founder and creative director of Hey Studio in Barcelona. Since launching the studio in 2007, Verònica has built one of the most recognizable and beloved visual identities in contemporary design: known for bold color, geometric forms, and a relentlessly optimistic aesthetic. Hey’s work has spanned everything from brand systems and editorial design to public art and exhibitions, with clients like Apple, The New York Times, Monocle, and the city of Barcelona itself. In this episode, Veronica shares how she built Hey from the ground up, starting as a solo designer with no clients, to now running a globally admired studio that’s remained intentionally small, collaborative, and independent. We talk about the importance of creative intuition, the realities of studio life, how to keep personal work at the center of your practice, and why she never wanted Hey to feel like an agency. We also touch on making space for women in leadership, building visibility as a Spanish design studio on the international stage, and why sometimes the simplest ideas are the strongest. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to run a studio with heart and vision—this episode is for you. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

16. Rachel Gogel on Redefining a Creative Career

    Aug 13, 2025

    This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Rachel Gogel . Rachel is an independent creative executive shaping the future of design at the intersection of brand, culture, and technology. After building multidisciplinary teams at places like GQ , The New York Times , Meta, and Godfrey Dadich, Rachel launched her own consultancy in 2020. Since then, she’s worked with everyone from tech giants like Airbnb and Dropbox to smaller purpose-driven, often women-founded ventures. In this episode, we talk about what it means to lead creatively—without being full-time. Rachel walks us through the rise of fractional leadership, how she designs her own career on her own terms, and why negotiating your worth is a skill every designer should learn. We explore the challenges of showing work that isn’t always visual, and the importance of making space for queer and marginalized voices in the industry. Whether you’re freelance-curious, burnt out on traditional career paths, or just looking to redefine what success means for you—Rachel’s story will leave you feeling empowered, clear-eyed, and ready to think differently. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

17. Kemp Atwood on Design as a System for Value

    Aug 6, 2025

    This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Kemp Attwood , partner at AREA 17 . With a background in creative writing and new media design, Kemp has spent nearly two decades working at the intersection of design, strategy, and technology. He has helped shape AREA 17’s global vision—leading interdisciplinary teams across Paris and New York to deliver transformative work for clients like The New York Times , Google, the Art Institute of Chicago , and the National Gallery of Canada . In this episode, we dive into how design is more than just craft—how it becomes a system for delivering real value. Kemp shares his thoughts on behavioral branding, the rise of hyper-personalized UI, what AI tools get right (and wrong), and why making is still one of the best ways to think. We also talk about long-term client relationships, running a distributed global team, and how 100+ office plants became part of the AREA 17 ecosystem. Whether you’re deep in digital design or simply curious about how strategy, brand, and interface collide, this one’s packed with thoughtful ideas, a few laughs, and a whole lot of wisdom. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

18. Introducing Season Three of the DesignThinkers Podcast, Coming August 6th

    Jul 30, 2025

    We’re back with a third season of the DesignThinkers Podcast. DesignThinkers is Canada's largest graphic design conference. For twenty-five years, the Association of Registered Graphic Designers has been bringing together visionaries from a range of disciplines to explore creativity and the design process. This podcast is an extension of that mission. We’re here to talk about process, creativity and the business of design with past and present DesignThinkers speakers. Join me, Nicola Hamilton, for another season of candid conversation with design leaders from all over the world. This season, I have plans to catch up with founder of Hey Studio, Veronica Fuerte, Design Director at The New York Times for Kids, Debra Bishop, Founder of TEMPLO, Pali Palavathan; and fractional design leader Rachel Gogel, to name a few. Tune in on Wednesday, August 6 for our first episode. We’ll have a new episode for you every Wednesday. Follow us on Instagram at @rgdcanada or visit us online at RGD.ca. And if you loved our previous seasons, please leave us a review. It really helps! And if you like what you hear, join us at DesignThinkers in Toronto, happening October 1 and 2. You can find all the details at designthinkers.com. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

19. Adam JK on Embracing Imperfection

    May 7, 2025

    This is our last episode of the season—and what a high to go out on! Adam JK is a Toronto-born, Honolulu-based artist whose illustrative work is rooted in honesty, humour and a little bit of darkness. His books and journals, including Things Are What You Make of Them , have sold over a million copies in 20 languages worldwide. Obsessed with aphorisms and ephemera, Adam's work seeks to craft new reminders from familiar sources, offering his brand of "back-handed optimism" as a token of encouragement and camaraderie for other creative, emotional and deeply human people. Our conversation takes us to all kinds of places. We talk about big transitions that span our personal and professional lives. We talk about downswings in our lives and the ways the Internet has ruined the experience of making things. We talk about reclaiming a sense of purpose in our lives—and how we’ve accidentally learned a lot along the journey of making and doing things. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .

20. Eva Cremers on Finding Your Own Way

    Apr 30, 2025

    This week, I’m sharing my conversation with Eva Cremers. Eva might be a new name for our DesignThinkers audience! She’s a 3-D artist and animation director from The Netherlands. Eva blends her playful, graphic CGI style with her own graphic design sensibility to create charming, joyful worlds for a growing list of global clients including H&M, Meta, Amazon Music, Apple and Samsung. In this episode, Eva tells me how she sort of fell into 3-D animation as she familiarized herself with Cinema 4D in preparation for her first internship. She shares the ways her developing skill set actually gave her constraints for developing her signature style and how she still feels a sense of overwhelming joy when a cool, new project request lands in her inbox. We spend some time talking about Generative AI too. As an experiment, Eva trained a model on her own work. The results were hilariously mixed. Eva and I spent a bit of time catching up before we hit record, so we’re diving right into this conversation without any of the usual greetings. Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca . Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com .