InsightDec 18, 2025

The 10 most popular DesignThinkers Podcast episodes

With 55 episodes released to date and over 40,000 downloads, the RGD podcast features thoughtful conversations with leading voices in design, creativity and leadership—all of whom have also took the stage at our DesignThinkers Conferences.

From reflections on career paths to practical insights into creative practice, these episodes continue to resonate with our community.

This list highlights the top five most downloaded episodes from Seasons 2 and 3 which features speakers from our 2025 DesignThinkers Conferences in Vancouver and Toronto along with our five most-listened to episodes from Season 1, spanning our 25 year history.

Adam JK

Embracing imperfection (Season 2)

Adam JK, a Toronto-born, Honolulu-based artist is known for his honest, humorous and emotionally-resonant work. In this conversation, Adam reflects on creative burnout, major life transitions and the challenge of finding purpose in an increasingly noisy world. He shares thoughtful insights on how making, doing and learning along the way can help creatives regain momentum and meaning.

Pali Palavathanan

Design as activism (Season 3)

In this episode, Pali Palavathanan explores design as a force for activism and change. Through his studio, Templo, Pali has collaborated with organizations such as the UN, Amnesty International and grassroots groups working toward social justice.

Drawing from his lived experience as a refugee, Pali discusses how values shape his studio’s approach, how to navigate projects with high ethical stakes and how to balance purpose-driven work with commercial realities. This episode offers a compelling perspective on responsibility, instinct and the real-world impact of design.

Members will be able to watch Pali's DesignThinkers 2026 presentations in the new year. (All attendees have access until then through Pheedloop.)

Meg Lewis

Leveraging your quirks (Season 2)

Artist, performer and educator Meg Lewis brings joy, colour and energy to this conversation on embracing individuality. Known for her bold, playful work with brands such as Dropbox, Meta and Pinterest, Meg blends design with performance, improv and storytelling.

This episode feels like a creative pep talk, exploring how leaning into your quirks can help attract the right clients, build sustainable careers and show up more authentically. It’s a reminder that joy and play can be powerful strategic tools.

Members can watch DesignThinkers presentations by Meg Lewis:

Eva Cremers

Finding your own way (Season 2)

Eva Cremers, a 3D artist and animation director based in the Netherlands, shares her unconventional path into motion and CGI. Blending a graphic design sensibility with vibrant, playful 3D worlds, Eva has worked with global brands including Apple, Amazon Music, Meta and Samsung.

The conversation explores how constraints helped shape her signature style, the excitement of creative discovery and her experimentation with generative AI—including training a model on her own work. Honest, curious and refreshingly candid, this episode dives into the heart of creative exploration.

Members can watch Eva's presentation from DesignThinkers 2025 in Vancouver:

Designing 3D Fun

Rachel Gogel

Redefining a creative career (Season 3)

Independent creative executive Rachel Gogel discusses designing a career beyond traditional full-time roles. After leading multidisciplinary teams at organizations such as GQ, The New York Times, Meta and Godfrey Dadich, Rachel launched her own consultancy, working with both major tech companies and purpose-driven ventures.

This episode explores fractional leadership, negotiating value, leading without hierarchy and creating space for queer and marginalized voices. Rachel’s perspective offers clarity and encouragement for designers rethinking success, sustainability and leadership on their own terms.

Members will be able to watch Rachel's DesignThinkers 2026 presentations in the new year. (All attendees have access until then through Pheedloop.)

Another presentation by Rachel for the RGD, from our Creative Directions Conference in 2021 is available:

Dear Boss, You Need Help

Top five most downloaded episodes from Season 1

Christopher Doyle

With over 22 years of experience, Christopher Doyle is one of Australia’s leading brand and design talents. Based in Sydney, his independent studio, Christopher Doyle & Co., is celebrated for its sharp approach to visual identity, creative direction, campaigns and digital design.

Recorded live ahead of his DesignThinkers presentation, this episode covers Christopher’s best and worst projects, his unconventional approach to process, the value of openly sharing ideas and how he balances work and family life.

Members can watch:

Paula Scher

In this episode, we sit down with one of the most acclaimed graphic designers in the world. A partner at Pentagram New York since 1991, Paula Scher's work for the Public Theater, the Museum of Modern Art, Shake Shack and the High Line has become foundational to contemporary branding.

Paula reflects on her early career, life at Pentagram and why she continues designing well into her seventies.

Members can watch presentations by Paula:

I Am Not Done Yet (DesignThinkers 2023 in Toronto)
All Design Is Social (DesignThinkers 2014 in Toronto)
Unfortunately her talk from 2002 in Toronto was not recorded.

Michael Bierut

Pentagram partner Michael Bierut joins the podcast to discuss a career spanning more than three decades. His work includes projects for The New York Times, MIT Media Lab, Mastercard, Princeton University and the New York Jets.

Michael reflects on moving to New York City in 1980, his formative years at Vignelli Associates and what it took to unpack that influence over time.

Members can watch:

How To (DesignThinkers 2018 in Toronto)
Michael's presentation in 2009 in Toronto was not recorded.

Min Lew

Min Lew, Partner, Executive Creative Director and Managing Director at BaseNYC, brings over 20 years of experience across culture, technology, luxury and fashion. Her portfolio includes collaborations with Apple, The New York Times, JFK T4 Terminal and MoMA.

In this episode, Min shares her path into design, advice on growing within agency environments and what she looks for in strong client relationships, offering valuable guidance for emerging designers.

Members can watch:

Greg Hoffman

Former Nike Chief Marketing Officer Greg Hoffman joins the podcast to reflect on nearly three decades at one of the world’s most influential brands. During his time at Nike, Greg led marketing, design and innovation teams and was named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business.

Now founder of Modern Arena, Greg discusses managing large creative teams, growing within corporate environments and why pursuing interests outside of design can make us better designers.

Members can watch:

Equality by Design—Cultural Impact Through Creative Leadership (In-House Design Conference)
Greg's DesignThinkers presentation in 2007 was not recorded.

Whether you’re revisiting a favourite episode or discovering these conversations for the first time, these podcasts offer timeless insight and inspiration for designers at every stage of their careers.

Listen to the RGD Podcast and explore all episodes here.