Design Futures

In this first episode of 2022, Deb Levison, 2012 graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design, talks to me about the importance of getting a routine when working remotely, the design process at Maark where she is a senior digital designer, using Figma for almost all her work, and showing or not showing high fidelity prototypes to clients. We discuss the realities of moving into a design leader role and Deb gives students some soul-crushing advice. She also tells us about her journey that inlcudes getting her degree in art history and that Saturday morning Photoshop course that got her hooked on design. And it wouldn’t be a conversation about Ringling without talking about the Time-Life book project.

Show Links

• LinkedIn Profile
• Maark
• Figma
• Baugasm
• Deep Focus Playlist (Spotify)
• Ringling College of Art & Design

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode eight I interview 2015 graduate of Russell Sage College and Director of User Experience at Upside Collective, Krystal Hinckley. In our discussion Krystal shares details of working on large-scale websites for the state of New York, including the attorney general’s website that she spent two years working on. She also talks about scrolling through the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society photos for project research that ended with her adopting her third cat. We also discuss our time together at Sage which included a trip to Boston to visit design firms and the Boston Aquarium because that’s what you do when you go to school in Albany. Krystal shares her love of paragraph styles that she gained in high school that led to her interest in the organizing aspects of UX design. And of course we talk about home projects including stripping paint from stairs, putting up wallpaper, as well as getting excited about a new roof and gutters. Now that’s adulthood! Oh yea, cats are mentioned multiple times in this episode. So sit down with your favorite pet friend and have a listen.

Show Links

• Krystal’s Portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Upside Collective
• This Old House
• Mohawk Hudson Humane Society
• Drupal
• Russell Sage College

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode 10 of season 2 Larry Nguyen, Creative Director of Outfit Branding & Design and 2005 graduate of the University of Denver discusses his passion for branding, working with international clients, and getting projects published in design books. Larry shares his appreciation for the eMAD program at DU (listen for the faculty shoutouts) that taught him to take risks, think conceptually, and become a typographic monk. He also discusses the time he created a slide deck for his in-laws in order to convince them that it was a good idea to quit his job and start a design firm with their daughter. There’s plenty of stories about work and family and the Boston Red Sox. That’s right, for all you baseball fans you’ll want to listen to the end (no skipping) for an amazing story about the 2004 World Series.

Show Links

• Outfit Branding & Design
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Palette Perfect on Amazon
• Brand New Brand book
• Beanfolk on The Dieline
• Wework
• University of Denver
• International Cricket Council

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this first episode of season four of Design Futures I talk with London-based designer Kristie Malivindi of Jones Knowles Ritchie. We discuss her journey from making amazing work and mistakes at the two-person design firm, 2communiqué, to mentoring young designers in her recent role as creative director at JKR, where she works on global brands such as Burger King and M & M’s. We also talk about the in-between years of “being a brat” in Chicago as well as losing her dream design job and the hustle of New York City that led to burnout. We get nostalgic for our time (way back in the 20th century) at Massachusetts College of Art & Design in the graphic design department where I was a grad student and Kristie was an undergrad. And we talk about all the good things in life, like naps, cats, travel, and New York bagels.

• Jones Knowles Ritchie
• LinkedIn Profile
• Alexey Brodovitch
• Harper’s Bazaar
• Napping: The Do’s and Don’ts for Healthy Adults
• Claire Saffitz Makes Homemade Bagels
• Visit London
• Massachusetts College of Art & Design
• Dinosaur Jr.

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode, 2014 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Taira Perrault, schools me in digital product design jargon like M.V.P.s, D.S.M.s, and sprints as we view her portfolio and nerd-out about components and templates for editorial design experiences. She also talks about her experience with a UX/UI bootcamp where she mentioned to the teachers that some of their exercises about visual design were wrong (hey, she does have BFA in graphic design) and despite that feedback she created a product design portfolio that redirected her career. Taira shares fond memories of trips to New York City and drawing on one of the eight wonders of the world during her time in college. For all you high school students listening, Taira discusses getting college credits during her senior year that gave her a head start in higher ed. And of course we talk about baking for fun and for interviews. Bon appétit!

Show Links

• Taira’s portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Thinkful (formerly Bloc) UX/UI Bootcamp
• Figma
• Cupcake recipe
• Healthline
• Healthline Design System
• A Comprehensive Guide to Design Systems
• The College of Saint Rose
• Design Sprints
• Minimum Viable Product
• The Great Wall of China

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)