New Show! Introducing The Next Page Pod featuring designer and bookstore owner Barbara deWilde

Barbara deWilde, a veteran publication designer, recounts her career evolution from crafting iconic book covers at Knopf to leading digital product development at The New York Times. After decades in high-profile media roles, she pursued a radical career pivot, enrolling in an MFA program in interaction design at age 51 before opening the Frenchtown Bookshop. This transition highlights the power of intentional career resetting and the enduring value of "magazine thinking" in professional reinvention. By leveraging her design expertise and editorial background, she transformed a small-town bookstore into a community-focused hub, emphasizing the importance of physical spaces for connection in an increasingly digital world. Her journey underscores the necessity of embracing discomfort and constant learning to build a sustainable, purposeful second act beyond traditional industry structures.