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The Curiosity Department · Arts & Culture

Design Better

Design Better co-hosts Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter explore the intersection of design, technology, and the creative process through conversations with guests across many creative fields, helping you hone your craft, unlock your creativity, and learn the art of collaboration. Whether you’re design curious or a design pro, Design Better is guaranteed to inspire and inform. Vanity Fair calls Design Better, “sharp, to the point, and full of incredibly valuable information for anyone looking to better understand how to build a more innovative world.”

Episodes

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Randy Hunt: Notion and Etsy design leader on why the best design teams stay small

07 Oct 2026
40m
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Design leadership thrives on talent density, where small, autonomous teams prioritize direct execution over bureaucratic overhead. By fostering a culture of "whole design," teams treat every user touchpoint—from push notifications to core dashboards—with the same level of craft and hospitality found in high-end service...

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Matt Owens: Athletics co-founder on keeping your creative fire lit

05 Oct 2026
55m
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Matt Owens, co-founder of the design studio Athletics, traces his career from his roots in the punk rock and skateboarding scenes to his influential work in early web design. The conversation centers on the necessity of "rebel optimism"—a mindset of fearlessness and adaptability—when navigating technological shifts lik...

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Blaine Billingsley: OpenAI designer on the collaboration problem AI hasn't solved yet

23 Sep 2026
28m
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Blaine Billingsley, a staff designer at OpenAI, navigates the intersection of design and technology by leveraging a background in music composition and comparative religion. Achieving clarity requires an allergy to corporate jargon, which often obscures project goals and prevents team alignment. Influence stems from be...

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Mack Paul: Co-author of Miracle Road on designing places where innovation happens

17 Sep 2026
44m
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Federico Casalegno: Samsung EVP and MIT Design Lab founder on what 20,000 years of human creativity means for design today

10 Sep 2026
24m
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Jonathan Adler returns: The minimalist inside the maximalist

02 Sep 2026
44m
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Clay Parker Jones: author of "Hidden Patterns" on why your team isn't really a team

28 Aug 2026
23m
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Angel Steger: Wealthfront's VP of Design on what architecture teaches you about software

21 Aug 2026
52m
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Ben Drury: Yoto co-founder on audio, imagination, and screen-free design

13 Aug 2026
50m
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Jeff Hammoud: Chief Design Officer of Rivian on constraints, color, and what separates designers from stylists

05 Aug 2026
46m
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Eric Ries: Lean Startup author on why good companies go bad, and why good design is critical to success

22 Jul 2026
34m
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Ian Bogost: Game designer, Atlantic writer, and philosopher of the ordinary, on the small stuff that makes life delightful

15 Jul 2026
47m
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Chris Entwisle and Mark Havens: authors of WAIL on the constraints that led to timeless designs for Prestige Records

01 Jul 2026
24m
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Niyati Gupta: Netflix Product Design Lead on what happens when a designer becomes a product manager, and why your influence might not be in your title

25 Jun 2026
44m
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Mike Schnaidt: Fast Company Creative Director on typography, creative endurance, and designing for the long haul

17 Jun 2026
23m
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Bonus Episode: Dorrian Porter returns with the Vestaboard Note

11 Jun 2026
39m
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Tina Roth Eisenberg: Creative Mornings founder on building communities that run on trust

10 Jun 2026
37m
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Paul Ford: Writer, developer & "fun Cassandra" on why everything is changing (but not how you think)

03 Jun 2026
26m
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Jessie McGuire: National Design Award-winning studio leader on design as a civic tool

27 May 2026
41m
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Colin Fisher: The lone genius is a myth

20 May 2026
33m
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