Design Better podcast

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In school, art is often positioned in curricula as an enrichment subject, not a core skill like math or language arts. But those of us who pursue the arts instinctually recognize that there is something in creative expression that is foundational to the human experience. Susan Magsamen, executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has spent years studying the effect art has on our mind and body. Her research is surfacing profound health and longevity benefits created through poetry, music, painting, and other arts. Susan recently collaborated with Ivy Ross, Chief Design Officer for Consumer Devices at Google, to co-author a fascinating book called Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us . We speak with Susan and Ivy about how they found their way into collaborating on the book, why we are “wired for art,” how practicing art can actually extend your lifespan significantly, and how they bring the ideas in their book into their work to reduce stress and help teams perform at their peak. Bios Susan Magsamen Susan Magsamen is the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she also serves on the neurology faculty. A pioneer at the intersection of neuroscience and the arts, Susan has spent over 40 years exploring how aesthetic experiences can enhance health, learning, and well-being. She co-directs the NeuroArts Blueprint, a collaboration with the Aspen Institute, aimed at advancing the science of arts and health. Her work bridges public and private sectors, focusing on early childhood development, mental health, creativity, and social equity through arts-based initiatives. She developed the Impact Thinking framework to support interdisciplinary collaboration in neuroaesthetics and serves on advisory boards across fields including public health, education, and museum engagement. Susan is also a Royal Society of the Arts Fellow and a published author of both academic articles and books for children and families. Previously, Susan founded and led Curiosityville and Curiosity Kits, both acquired by major educational companies. She served as SVP of Global Learning Sciences at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and has created hundreds of learning programs rooted in the arts and sciences. A frequent speaker, Susan continues to champion the transformative power of the arts in shaping healthier, more connected communities. Ivy Ross Ivy Ross is the Vice President of Hardware Design at Google, where she and her team developed the award-winning design language behind Google’s hardware products launched in 2017. Under her leadership, the team has earned over 240 design awards. Recognized as one of Business Insider’s “Most Powerful Women at Google” and Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Ivy brings a unique perspective to innovation, blending design with psychology, sound therapy, and play. Before joining Google, Ivy held executive roles at leading brands including Calvin Klein, Swatch, Coach, Mattel, Old Navy, and Gap. Her creative approach has been adopted by major corporations like Mattel and Procter & Gamble, and she has served on the Vatican’s Arts and Technology Commission and as a judge for multiple international design awards. A former jewelry designer with works in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian and the V&A, Ivy has also contributed to and been featured in numerous influential books on leadership, creativity, and design. A sought-after speaker, Ivy has delivered keynotes at global conferences including Cannes Lions, TEDx, and the FORTUNE Most Powerful Women Summit. She continues to champion the power of blending art and science to create products and experiences that resonate deeply with people. Premium Episodes on Design Better This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you’d like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription , where you’ll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books , as well as our monthly AMAs with former guests , ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops , and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgrade to paid Masterclass: MasterClass is the only streaming platform where you can learn and grow with over 200+ of the world's best. People like Steph Curry , Paul Krugman , Malcolm Gladwell , Dianne Von Furstenberg , Margaret Atwood , Lavar Burton and so many more inspiring thinkers share their wisdom in a format that is easy to follow and can be streamed anywhere on a smartphone, computer, smart TV, or even in audio mode. MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to http://masterclass.com/designbetter for the current offer. Aquatru: We’d like to think our tap water is clean and healthy, but for so many there are impurities and chemicals that can be detrimental to our health. We’re big fans of AquaTru, makers of reverse osmosis filtration systems for your countertop or under sink. Get 20% OFF any AquaTru purifier at AquaTru.com with discount code DESIGNBETTER . If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please contact us at: sponsors@thecuriositydepartment.com If you'd like to submit a guest idea, please contact us at: contact@thecuriositydepartment.com Insights from the episode 1. 🧠 We Are Neurologically Wired for Art Susan explains that humans are fundamentally wired for artistic experiences: "Neurophysiologically, we are wired for the arts. And it's sort of the mother load... We all have these sensory systems that allow us to bring the world in." She describes how arts and aesthetic experiences are "highly salient" inputs that can change our neurophysiology and biology "instantly and oftentimes forever." Our brain processes and prioritizes the information that's emotionally or practically important to us, and aesthetic experiences rank among the most salient. 2. 🎭 Arts as Essential Rather Than Luxury A core theme throughout the interview is the reconceptualization of arts from a luxury to a necessity: "These art forms that we've kind of made a luxury... are the ways that we really grow and learn at the most profound levels." The research they've compiled shows that artistic practices have tangible, measurable benefits for our health, cognitive function, and longevity—making them essential rather than optional for human flourishing. 3. ⏸️ The Importance of Pause and Default Mode Network Ivy emphasizes how constant productivity has pushed aside critical mental processes: "We've been optimizing for productivity and efficiency and work, work, work, work, work, do, do, do, do, and never take those pauses to understand that that is critical to then inform and come up with better ideas, better thinking." These pauses activate what neuroscientists call the default mode network—the brain system that works when we're not actively focused outward, allowing for reflection, integration, and creativity. 4. 🧬 Longevity Benefits of Arts Engagement Read more…

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Jordan Mechner: Pioneering game designer on creating Prince of Persia, Karateka, and a new graphic novel memoir

17 days ago

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As a kid in the 80’s, Eli fell in love with games on computers like the Apple II, Commodore 64, and later the Amiga and Macintosh. One of the very first games he played was called Karateka, which was inspiring for the realistic movements of its digital karate antagonists, even on a black-and-green Apple II monitor. Karateka on the Apple II Our guest today, Jordan Mechner , created Karateka while an undergrad at Yale University in 1984, and it went on to be a commercial success. He followed it up with the game Prince of Persia (you’ll hear a clip from the soundtrack in the introduction, which Jordan’s father composed and which Jordan invented a way to transpose onto the Apple II’s tinny speakers before game soundtracks were widespread on the machine). Prince of Persia on the Apple II (play the Mac version online here) Jordan documented the creation of the game in a wonderful published version of his diaries called The Making of Prince of Persia , and we spoke with him about how he taught himself the skills to build successful video games in a pre-internet era, why he journaled about his work process (and what it taught him), and about his new graphic novel Replay , a memoir recounting his own family story of war, exile and new beginnings. Buy the book Book & links mentioned Journals: Steven Soderbergh , Michael Palin , Brian Eno Hobonichi Techo John August The World of Yesterday , Stefan Zweig Bio Jordan Mechner is an American author, game designer, comic book artist, and screenwriter, best known for creating the iconic video game Prince of Persia in 1989. He relaunched the series with Ubisoft in 2003 and wrote the original screenplay for the film adaptation produced by Disney in 2010, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time . This work is considered a timeless classic and has spawned a global transmedia franchise, with over 20 million games sold to date. Since 2017, Jordan has been living in France, where he made his debut as a full author with his autobiographical graphic novel Replay . Among the albums he has written are Monte-Cristo (with Mario Alberti), Liberté! (with Étienne Le Roux and Loïc Chevallier), and Templiers (with LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland), which appeared on the New York Times bestsellers list. His latest works were first published in French, with English editions following in 2024. Jordan's video games, such as Karateka (1984) and The Last Express (1997), are recognized for their cinematic storytelling and innovative use of rotoscoping. In 2017, he received the Pioneer Award from the International Game Developers Association. Jordan also wrote and directed Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story , an award-winning documentary broadcast on PBS. He has published his development journals, The Making of Karateka and The Making of Prince of Persia , as well as an adaptation of the Persian tales Samak the Ayyar . A passionate artist, he keeps a sketchbook journal, regularly sharing his thoughts and drawings, a testament to his love for art and storytelling. Premium Episodes on Design Better This is a premium episode on Design Better. We release two premium episodes per month, along with two free episodes for everyone. Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books , as well as our monthly AMAs with former guests , ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops , and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgrade to paid Visiting the links below is one of the best ways to support our show: Masterclass: MasterClass is the only streaming platform where you can learn and grow with over 200+ of the world's best. People like Steph Curry , Paul Krugman , Malcolm Gladwell , Dianne Von Furstenberg , Margaret Atwood , Lavar Burton and so many more inspiring thinkers share their wisdom in a format that is easy to follow and can be streamed anywhere on a smartphone, computer, smart TV, or even in audio mode. MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to http://masterclass.com/designbetter for the current offer. Aquatru: We’d like to think our tap water is clean and healthy, but for so many there are impurities and chemicals that can be detrimental to our health. We’re big fans of AquaTru, makers of reverse osmosis filtration systems for your countertop or under sink. Get 20% OFF any AquaTru purifier at AquaTru.com with discount code DESIGNBETTER . If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please contact us at: sponsors@thecuriositydepartment.com If you'd like to submit a guest idea, please contact us at: contact@thecuriositydepartment.com Read more…

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Brad Frost: Design systems are about human relationships

22 days ago

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Design systems are the foundation of nearly every piece of software we use. No one has had a greater influence on the philosophy and tactics of building design systems than Brad Frost, author of Atomic Design . After helping countless companies craft design systems, Brad has come to realize that this topic is a nexus of collaboration and conflict. In our conversation, Brad shared why he thinks design systems are an enduring topic in design teams, the power of design tokens, and how AI is reshaping this space. Plus, Brad filled us in on his new online course on design tokens. As a special opportunity for Design Better listeners, use code “DESIGNBETTERISAWESOME” at checkout for 20% off Brad’s upcoming design tokens course: Pre-order design tokens course Bio Brad Frost is a design system consultant, front-end developer, speaker, writer, musician, and artist located in beautiful Pittsburgh, PA. He helps teams establish and evolve design systems, establish more collaborative workflows, and create better software together. He is the author of the book Atomic Design, which introduces a methodology to create and maintain effective design systems. In addition to co-hosting the Style Guides Podcast, he has also helped create several tools and resources for web designers, including Pattern Lab, Styleguides.io, Style Guide Guide, This Is Responsive, Death to Bullshit, and more. Premium Episodes on Design Better This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you’d like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription , where you’ll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books , as well as our monthly AMAs with former guests , ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops , and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgrade to paid Visiting the links below is one of the best ways to support our show: Masterclass: MasterClass is the only streaming platform where you can learn and grow with over 200+ of the world's best. People like Steph Curry , Paul Krugman , Malcolm Gladwell , Dianne Von Furstenberg , Margaret Atwood , Lavar Burton and so many more inspiring thinkers share their wisdom in a format that is easy to follow and can be streamed anywhere on a smartphone, computer, smart TV, or even in audio mode. MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to http://masterclass.com/designbetter for the current offer. Aquatru: We’d like to think our tap water is clean and healthy, but for so many there are impurities and chemicals that can be detrimental to our health. We’re big fans of AquaTru, makers of reverse osmosis filtration systems for your countertop or under sink. Get 20% OFF any AquaTru purifier at AquaTru.com with discount code DESIGNBETTER . If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please contact us at: sponsors@thecuriositydepartment.com If you'd like to submit a guest idea, please contact us at: contact@thecuriositydepartment.com Insights from the episode 1. 🛠️ Design Systems as Storytelling Tools Brad defines design systems in a unique way: "A design system is the official story of how an organization designs and builds user interfaces." He explains that this story has several components: Assets (Figma libraries, code components, documentation) People (teams, roles, relationships) Process (workflows, governance, decision-making) Rather than just being a collection of UI components, design systems are about orchestration of these elements to create coherent user experiences. 2. 🤝 The Fundamental Tension in Design Systems Brad identifies a core tension that makes design systems an enduring challenge: "It's really that balancing act of shared versus bespoke, and there's an innate tension there that will always be there." This tension between standardization and customization, between efficiency and creativity, is why design systems remain a continuous journey rather than a solved problem. 3. 👥 Human Relationships at the Core One of Brad's most powerful insights is that the real work of design systems is human-centered: "It's ultimately the human relationships part of it that a lot of people don't care to admit is the real work of it... And it's like, y'all aren't talking to each other at all. That's your actual problem. You all need to talk to each other." While teams often fixate on implementation details in Figma or code, the real challenges are often communication breakdowns between different disciplines. 4. 🎨 Design Tokens as a Separation of Concerns Read more…

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Heidi Trost: Human Centered Security

4 weeks ago

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Designing a good security experience is hard. Every time we run into one of those security captchas that requires you to “identify all the motorcycles” in the tiled images, we want to give up and surrender to our robot overlords…or throw our laptop out the window. Our guest today, Heidi Trost, just published a book called Human-Centered Security: How to Design Systems That Are Both Safe and Usable. In the book, Heidi aims to help people who are “tired of hearing things like ‘humans are the weakest link’ and instead want to focus on designing more secure, more resilient systems.” Buy the book In our conversation, we spoke with Heidi about the metrics we can use to measure the quality of the security experience, why the login/password recovery is so broken—even for companies that are good at UX design—and some ways to approach user testing for security. Bio Heidi Trost is a UX leader who helps cross-disciplinary teams improve the security user experience. With a background in UX research, Heidi does this by helping teams better understand the people they are designing for, as well as the security threats that may impact people and systems negatively. Heidi is also the host of the podcast, Human-Centered Security, where she interviews security experts and people who design for the security user experience. When not thinking about security, you can find her in a sunny spot reading a book, hiking, or riding horses. Premium Episodes on Design Better This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you’d like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription , where you’ll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books , as well as our monthly AMAs with former guests , ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops , and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgrade to paid Visiting the links below is one of the best ways to support our show: Masterclass: MasterClass is the only streaming platform where you can learn and grow with over 200+ of the world's best. People like Steph Curry , Paul Krugman , Malcolm Gladwell , Dianne Von Furstenberg , Margaret Atwood , Lavar Burton and so many more inspiring thinkers share their wisdom in a format that is easy to follow and can be streamed anywhere on a smartphone, computer, smart TV, or even in audio mode. MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to http://masterclass.com/designbetter for the current offer. Thuma: We’re the sort of people who can’t help but get lost in the details of creating a beautiful living space. A well designed home is a sanctuary for creative thinking. For those who revel in crafting a beautiful living space, Thuma offers modern furniture that transforms your home into a sanctuary for creative thinking. Their timelessly designed beds, nightstands, dressers, and shelving are built from solid wood using Japanese joinery techniques for a silent, stable foundation, balancing form, craftsmanship, and functionality. With clean lines, subtle curves, and a minimalist style available in four signature finishes—and an upgradeable headboard—the Thuma Bed collection assembles in just about 5 minutes with a single hand-tightened screw, ensuring a durable piece backed by a lifetime warranty. To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to http://thuma.co/designbetter . If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please contact us at: sponsors@thecuriositydepartment.com If you'd like to submit a guest idea, please contact us at: contact@thecuriositydepartment.com Insights from the episode Below are some insights drawn from our interview with Heidi, including a framework for UX security improvement, and user reseach approaches for security. 1. Security is a User Experience Issue Heidi emphasizes that security challenges are fundamentally UX issues: "This is really a user experience issue... When I can't log in, when I get a phishing email or something that looks suspicious and I say to myself, is it legitimate? Is it deceptive? ... When I have to enable two-factor authentication, I know I should, but it's really, really annoying." This reframes security from a purely technical consideration to one that directly impacts user satisfaction and product adoption. 2. The Security Ecosystem Has Three Key Players Heidi presents a framework for understanding security design challenges: "There are kind of like three main players in this ecosystem. So you have your end user, and I like to call her Alice... And then you have the security user experience, which I like to personify as Charlie... And then you have threat actors." This dynamic triangle helps explain why security UX is so challenging - changes to any corner affect the others in a continuous cycle. 3. Security Impacts the Entire User Journey Security isn't just about login screens: "Security impacts end users at every part of the user journey... Even like the way that you're wording your privacy policies, even the things that you say on your marketing website are impacting the security user experience." Especially critical is the onboarding phase: "You have kind of the user's focused attention during onboarding and setup. And their decisions at this point in time could mean whether or not their account gets compromised later." 4. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration is Essential Read more…

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Trenton Doyle Hancock: An artist’s process for creating order from chaos

5 weeks ago

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Aarron’s friend Trenton Doyle Hancock did something remarkable when they were both in the graduate Painting and Drawing program at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia—he had work in the Whitney Biennial. It was a bit like winning an Oscar while in acting school, just not something that ever happens. Arsenal , 2024, by Trenton Doyle Hancock. Acrylic, graphite, plastic bottle caps on paper and canvas, mounted to canvas. 72 x 108 in. 182.9 x 274.3 cm. (Photo Credit: Phoebe d'Heurle) Most people are thrown by early success, but not Trenton. He pressed forward in his studio where he crafted epic stories in large scale paintings that later expanded into installations, sculptures, and performance art. His creative process is unique. Piles of collected objects, receipts, food wrappers, etc find their way into his work where their color, texture and attitude unfold as the fabric of Trenton’s universe of heroes, villains, and ancient mysteries. Money Monster Management and the Magnificent Mess , 2024, by Trenton Doyle Hancock. Acrylic and mixed media on canvas. 48 x 60 in. 121.9 x 152.4 cm. (Photo Credit: Dan Bradica) We spoke with Trenton about his neurodivergent approach to the world, how collecting influences his visual sensibilities, and how chaos becomes precise order in his work. At the time of our recording, Trenton had a large show at the Jewish Museum in New York exploring intersecting themes in his work and that of Philip Guston. Bio For nearly two decades, Trenton Doyle Hancock has created a vivid, fantastical universe where autobiographical elements blend seamlessly with references to art history, comics, superheroes, and popular culture. Through paintings, drawings, and expansive installations, Hancock crafts complex narratives exploring themes of good versus evil, infused with personal symbolism and mythology. His work draws stylistically from artists like Hieronymus Bosch, Max Ernst, Henry Darger, Philip Guston, and R. Crumb, integrating text as both narrative driver and visual element. His distinctive storytelling has extended beyond gallery walls into performances, ballet collaborations such as Cult of Color: Call to Color with Ballet Austin, and murals at prominent public spaces including Dallas Cowboys Stadium and Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. Born in Oklahoma City in 1974 and raised in Paris, Texas, Hancock studied art at Texas A&M University, Commerce, and earned his MFA from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. His career features numerous prestigious exhibitions, notably the Whitney Biennial in 2000 and 2002—making him one of the youngest artists ever included at that time. His major exhibitions include retrospectives at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston, MASS MoCA’s Mind of the Mound: Critical Mass , and collaborations like his 2024 Jewish Museum exhibition pairing him with Philip Guston. Hancock’s artworks are held in prominent permanent collections, including those of MoMA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Premium Episodes on Design Better This is a premium episode on Design Better. We release two premium episodes per month, along with two free episodes for everyone. Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books , as well as our monthly AMAs with former guests , ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops , and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgrade to paid Visiting the links below is one of the best ways to support our show: Masterclass: MasterClass is the only streaming platform where you can learn and grow with over 200+ of the world's best. People like Steph Curry , Paul Krugman , Malcolm Gladwell , Dianne Von Furstenberg , Margaret Atwood , Lavar Burton and so many more inspiring thinkers share their wisdom in a format that is easy to follow and can be streamed anywhere on a smartphone, computer, smart TV, or even in audio mode. MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to http://masterclass.com/designbetter for the current offer. Thuma: We’re the sort of people who can’t help but get lost in the details of creating a beautiful living space. A well designed home is a sanctuary for creative thinking. For those who revel in crafting a beautiful living space, Thuma offers modern furniture that transforms your home into a sanctuary for creative thinking. Their timelessly designed beds, nightstands, dressers, and shelving are built from solid wood using Japanese joinery techniques for a silent, stable foundation, balancing form, craftsmanship, and functionality. With clean lines, subtle curves, and a minimalist style available in four signature finishes—and an upgradeable headboard—the Thuma Bed collection assembles in just about 5 minutes with a single hand-tightened screw, ensuring a durable piece backed by a lifetime warranty. To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to http://thuma.co/designbetter . If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please contact us at: sponsors@thecuriositydepartment.com If you'd like to submit a guest idea, please contact us at: contact@thecuriositydepartment.com Insights from the episode Here are some insights from our conversation with Trenton Doyle Hancock that you can draw inspiration from: 1. Creative Process: From Chaos to Order Trenton has a unique approach to organization, allowing what appears as chaos to those outside to have its own internal structure: "It's sort of like going from chaos to order in your life... I think there's this idea of order that needs to happen. And it's a different target for everyone." He describes how he organizes his collections meticulously once they become part of his creative canon. For designers, this suggests embracing the messy middle of creative work while developing personal systems for managing information and inspiration. 2. The Power of Collecting and Visual Archives Trenton's process heavily involves collecting objects that may or may not make it into his work: "Some material is very close to what we would consider just art material... But then there are other things... that you found on the street. Receipts, all kinds of other things, toys... whether they make themselves physically present in a finished artwork or it might just be the essence of something, the color, the texture, something about it, an attitude, will make its way into a work." This speaks to the importance of maintaining visual libraries, reference collections, and inspiration archives—something particularly relevant to designers building design systems or reference materials. 3. Neurodivergent Approaches to Creation Read more…

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Dan Harden: Form follows emotion—industrial design lessons from George Nelson to Steve Jobs

6 weeks ago

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If you were mapping out the most amazing career in industrial design, you might dream of working with George Nelson, Henry Dreyfuss, Steve Jobs, and influential companies like Frog design in the early days. It seems impossible that one person could have such a career, but Dan Harden has done all of this and more. We spoke with Dan about what he learned from these iconic people and companies, and also about how he started his own design consultancy, Whipsaw , which has gone on to win over 300 awards over 700 patents. Dan also shared what George Nelson was up to when he disappeared into his private bathroom at the end of each workday. It’s not what you think. Bio Dan is CEO, Founder, and Principal Designer of Whipsaw, an acclaimed Silicon Valley product design and experience innovation firm that has introduced over 1,000 products to market for leading global companies. A highly influential figure in the design industry, Dan infuses his work with a deep passion and unique perspective shaped by his interests in art, culture, psychology, and technology. Previously, he served as VP and President at Frog, designing notable products for industry icons including Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison, and also held a leading design role at Henry Dreyfuss Associates. Over his prolific career, Dan has created hundreds of successful products across diverse categories, from baby bottles to supercomputers, winning over 300 prestigious awards, including 41 IDEA Awards, and securing more than 700 patents. His innovative designs have been exhibited at renowned institutions such as the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt Museum, The Henry Ford Museum, and the Chicago Athenaeum. Recognized by Fast Company as one of the "100 Most Creative People in Business," Dan's visionary contributions have been highlighted extensively in prominent publications including CNN, Fortune , Newsweek , Time , and Wired . Premium Episodes on Design Better This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you’d like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription , where you’ll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books , as well as our monthly AMAs with former guests , ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops , and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgrade to paid Visiting the links below is one of the best ways to support our show: Masterclass: MasterClass is the only streaming platform where you can learn and grow with over 200+ of the world's best. People like Steph Curry , Paul Krugman , Malcolm Gladwell , Dianne Von Furstenberg , Margaret Atwood , Lavar Burton and so many more inspiring thinkers share their wisdom in a format that is easy to follow and can be streamed anywhere on a smartphone, computer, smart TV, or even in audio mode. MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to http://masterclass.com/designbetter for the current offer. Thuma: We’re the sort of people who can’t help but get lost in the details of creating a beautiful living space. A well designed home is a sanctuary for creative thinking. For those who revel in crafting a beautiful living space, Thuma offers modern furniture that transforms your home into a sanctuary for creative thinking. Their timelessly designed beds, nightstands, dressers, and shelving are built from solid wood using Japanese joinery techniques for a silent, stable foundation, balancing form, craftsmanship, and functionality. With clean lines, subtle curves, and a minimalist style available in four signature finishes—and an upgradeable headboard—the Thuma Bed collection assembles in just about 5 minutes with a single hand-tightened screw, ensuring a durable piece backed by a lifetime warranty. To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to http://thuma.co/designbetter . If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please contact us at: sponsors@thecuriositydepartment.com If you'd like to submit a guest idea, please contact us at: contact@thecuriositydepartment.com Read more…

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Kristen Berman: Behavioral economics expert on designing products that change behavior

7 weeks ago