The 10 most popular DesignThinkers Podcast episodes
The DesignThinkers Podcast is nearing its end, featuring 33 episodes. To celebrate, the RGD shares the DesignThinkers talks from past speakers and guests who appeared in the top 10 most downloaded episodes of the Season One DT Podcast.
Recordings of DesignThinkers presentations going back to past year conferences are available for free to RGD Members. Non-Members will have access to these presentations until December 1.
10. Michael Bierut
Talk: How To by Michael Bierut
DesignThinkers 2018 — Toronto
In this talk, Michael shares an inside look at how he creates design solutions for clients large and small, rich and poor, difficult and easy, serious and fun and how you can, too.
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9. Paula Scher
Talk: I am Not Done Yet
DesignThinkers 2023 — Toronto
In this presentation, Paula discusses aging in design, her career staircase and recent works. You’ll discover that age is just a number and has nothing to do with creativity.
All Design Is Social
DesignThinkers 2014 — Toronto
From projects encompassing urban planning to environmental graphics to map painting, Paula’s work contains one overarching theme — all design is social. Paula discusses and reveals how the design or redesign of parks, schools, museums and other public places contribute to society while being the world’s best projects.
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8. Erin Sarofsky
Talk: The Truth about Clients
DesignThinkers 2023 — Toronto
The one thing that connects all designers, no matter what medium or style, is that we all have clients. Because of the collaborative nature of the relationship, designers need to manage the experience in ways that allow us to produce artful work and make the client feel heard. In this talk, Erin explores the not-so-subtle nuances of this vital relationship.
Sarofsky’s Top 10 Design Philosophies
DesignThinkers 2016 — Toronto
To a creative director and designer, what project details really warrant personal attention? What should you look for in key project collaborators to help them embrace detail management? What are some instances where attention to detail can help you land the project of your dreams? As a company owner or freelancer, how can you leverage an understanding of key design philosophies to make effective decisions? What is the difference between A and A+ work, and how do you get clients and collaborators to go with you the extra mile? This talk by Erin Sarofsky answers these questions and more and explains the design philosophies that make her company work spectacularly.
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7. Aaron Draplin
Talk: Bigger Isn't Better by Aaron Draplin
DesignThinkers 2018
Aaron shares updates from the front lines of the graphic design industry and discusses his observations from his ongoing 100-show book tour. He talks about the importance of remaining modest in a vast world, outlines flexible strategies for maintaining creative freedom and presents spirited case studies of his recent work, along with some cosmic musings. He explores enigmas and riddles that have been solved, providing undeniable evidence that one can lead a fulfilling life in graphic design and still manage to get a good night's sleep.
Tall Tales from a Large Man
DesignThinkers 2014
Using scientific evidence and state-of-the-art multimedia, Aaron delivers a powerful talk that provides genuine proof of the challenges and triumphs of fiercely independent living, along with some interesting stories from his career in the competitive field of graphic design. Aaron, just a regular person with a journey that's a bit more unconventional than most, speaks to those brave enough to attend. If you're a young designer, you might find yourself inspired to approach your design future differently. If you're already established, you might just leave feeling thankful that you have nothing to do with him. It's hard to predict. But you must watch!
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6. Liza Enebeis
Talk: Identity in Motion
DesignThinkers 2019
What challenges do brands encounter across a diverse device and media landscape? How can motion help brands evolve on multi-platform applications? How can customized tools enhance the brand experience? Liza and Merijn discussed creating compelling identities in a constantly changing media environment in this talk. From experiment to application, from input to output, condensed to extended, violins to bitcoins, icons to stories.
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5. Steven Heller
Talk: Making Eye Candy into Design History - A Story of Addiction
DesignThinkers 2016
Steven Heller surveys his passion/addiction for the artifacts that are the foundations of graphic design and popular culture histories. Design practice is one part inspiration, two parts talent and many parts knowledge and insight into the past and present. It is not enough to be an island—design today is interconnected with history and more.
Iron Fists
DesignThinkers 2009
In his latest book, Iron Fists, Steven shares the use and abuse of type and image in the service of four totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. Each used branding techniques to impress its deologies and images on the masses. In this talk, Steven discusses how power is communicated through graphic design and offers a double dose of communication strategy and the history that proves its effectiveness.
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4. Karin Fong
Talk: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Main Titles *but were afraid to ask by Karin Fong
DesignThinkers 2019
Your questions about designing for film and TV are answered here! Karin shares her process for creating main titles and what we can learn from them. Karin explains how they can inform the design process for all cinematic projects. Metaphors, music and visual puns all show up as we journey from concept to final product, discussing ideas and inspirations along the way.
Heroes: Super, Design, Real and Imaginary
DesignThinkers 2013
One of the founding members of Imaginary Forces, Karin infuses her work with filmmaking and design savvy. She has earned multiple nominations and an Emmy for title design. Her title designs include Boardwalk Empire, Terminator: Salvation, Ray and Rubicon. Karin also shoots live-action for commercial campaigns, including Herman Miller, Target and Honda. Her vision has since extended to cinematics for the Sony Playstation game God of War III and large-scale video installations for Lincoln Center, Times Square and the LA Opera.
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3. Debbie Millman
Talk: An Accidental Journey: The Power of Self-Generated Projects
DesignThinkers 2023
In this talk, Debbie shares the details about the origins of Design Matters, the ups and downs of creating an independent project, how and why self-generated projects are the best way to build your reputation and showcase your ideas, honest talk about finances, platforms and examples of self-generated work by designers that changed their lives, too.
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2. Brian Collins
Talk: Inventing Tomorrow
DesignThinkers 2022
Brian and his team have work featured in publications including The New York Times, Businessweek and Fast Company, which named Brian an American Master of Design. Their clients include Target, Mailchimp, Nike, Coca-Cola, Spotify and Dropbox. Under Brian's leadership, COLLINS was added to Working Not Working's annual list of Companies Creatives Would Kill To Work For Full-Time. They were named the Design Agency of the Year in 2019.
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1. Khoi Vinh
Digital Killed the Art Director Star
DesignThinkers 2010
In this wide-ranging talk about the changing world of interaction design, Khoi examines the fundamental ways digital media is altering the value that designers bring to audiences. He examines the stark contrasts between human-centric publishing and machine-centric publishing, a shift that has wrought profound changes in how design is practised and what users expect from designers. Khoi charts the path from graphic design's maturation in the 20th century to interaction design's dominance in the years ahead.
