Design Futures: Recent Episodes
Chris St.Cyr
Graphic Design? Can you make a living at that? Abso-freakin-lutely you can. Design is all around us. Just look at the apps on your phone, the magazines at the doctor’s office, the stickers on the door of your favorite skate shop, and the logo on the side of that coffee cup containing your $7 whatevaccino. Join us for real stories about life after design school. Learn more at www.designfuturespodcast.com.
In this sixth and final episode of season 5 of Design Futures, I talk with Taneisha Lugo, a principal product designer at Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform, where she designs interactive features including mini games, short form content, and experiences tied to major properties like the NBA and the Olympics. Taneisha has previously worked at companies including Instagram, BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and 2communiqué, and her work has been recognized by the Albany Ad Club, Adweek, and the Webby Awards. She is a 2014 graduate of The College of Saint Rose.
We trace Taneisha’s path from studying fine arts to discovering graphic design and ultimately building a career in digital product design. She reflects on balancing school with real world agency work, and how early exposure to social media campaigns and app design introduced her to UI and UX as distinct but increasingly connected disciplines.
Much of the conversation centers on her evolution from visual designer to product designer, and what that role actually means today. Taneisha walks through how product design brings together user flows, visual systems, prototyping, and collaboration within cross functional teams made up of design, engineering, and product leads. She shares how her role has expanded to include leadership, mentorship, and guiding projects from early ideation through launch and iteration. She discusses the challenge of creating intuitive, engaging experiences for TV interfaces, where users interact through a remote and where innovation often means designing without clear precedents.
We wrap up with talk of New York City walks, bakery research, shortbread cookies, and the realities of balancing work, life, and creative growth.
Time to grab a coffee and a pastry, and have a listen.
Show Links
- Taneisha’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Peacock
- NBCUniversal
- BuzzFeed
- HuffPost
- 2communiqué
- The College of Saint Rose
- NBA
- Olympics
- Adweek
- The Webby Awards
The Intro Music
• • Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In episode 5, I talk with Alex Terry, the Global Social Creative Innovation Lead at Motorola, who develops large-scale digital and social campaigns for global audiences. Alex’s work spans brand, advertising, and social media innovation, and includes campaigns connected to Super Bowl 59 as well as work for brands such as Rocket Mortgage, Walgreens Health, 92 Shoes, and Sky Zone. Alex is also an entrepreneur who launched Wisher, a grain-free vodka made from beets, and previously founded EM + ME, a pet and party supply company. He is a 2012 graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design.
We start at the beginning, tracing Alex’s creative path from growing up in Texas and initially considering architecture at Texas A&M before realizing that math heavy blueprints were not quite the right fit. A high school animation teacher encouraged him to explore Ringling, and a quickly assembled portfolio ultimately led him to join the inaugural advertising design class.
Much of the conversation centers on how Alex combines creativity, business thinking, and experimentation across multiple industries. At Ringling he gravitated toward advertising as a natural bridge between art and business, reflecting the influence of both sides of his family. He also shares memories from his time as a student, including foundational design exercises and some very unexpected extracurricular activities.
One of those activities involved bringing real life Quidditch to campus. What started as a playful student club quickly grew into something much bigger, eventually leading Alex to serve as chairman of the board for the International Quidditch Association. The story is a perfect example of how curiosity, community, and a willingness to experiment can turn into a global phenomenon.
We also talk about his current work leading social innovation at Motorola, how modern campaigns move fluidly across platforms, and why creative careers often look less like a straight line and more like a series of experiments. Alex shares insights on entrepreneurship, brand storytelling, and the value of staying open to unexpected opportunities.
It’s time for the wisdom and magic of episode 5.
Show Links
- Alex’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- EM + ME
- EM + ME (Instagram)
- Motorola
- Wisher Vodka
- International Quidditch Association
- Ringling College of Art and Design
- Super Bowl
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this episode of Design Futures, I talk with Alyssa Varsanyi, a UX/UI designer, formerly of Oomph, where they worked on high performance digital solutions for mission driven organizations including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Environmental Education Foundation, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Columbia Health, and Massachusetts Legal Help. In 2024, they were named a Person to Watch by Graphic Design USA. Alyssa holds a Master of Professional Studies in UX Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art and is a 2018 graduate of The College of Saint Rose.
We trace Alyssa’s creative beginnings, from Microsoft Paint experiments and Neopets HTML hacks to becoming a tour guide for the Saint Rose art department and fully embracing what they call “graphic design bootcamp.” They reflect on how critique culture, interdisciplinary thinking, and following threads between subjects, including a geology inspired typeface project, shaped their design philosophy.
Much of the conversation centers on their pivot from print focused graphic design to UX strategy. Alyssa talks candidly about feeling stuck while working at a pharmaceutical company, enrolling in graduate school during the pandemic, and discovering a deep love for research, user interviews, affinity mapping, and design strategy. We dig into their MICA thesis project, a theater companion app built through field research in New York City, and how learning to choose the right methodology became one of their most valuable skills.
We also explore their UX work on projects involving suicide prevention and legal aid platforms, designing for users in vulnerable, high stress situations and advocating for accessibility and clarity above aesthetics. Alyssa shares how research, empathy, and strategy guide their process, and why staying curious is the most important trait a designer can cultivate.
We wrap up with Broadway soundtracks, true crime podcasts, Pokémon Go, mini cans of Dr Pepper, and a memorable no shirt user interview story that reinforces the importance of boundaries in research.
Time to get dressed, grab a seltzer or a mini Dr Pepper, and have a listen.
Show Links
- Alyssa’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- National Environmental Education Foundation
- Roger Williams Park Zoo
- Massachusetts Legal Help
- The College of Saint Rose
- Graphic Design USA
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Figma
- UX Strategy by Jaime Levy
- Neopets
- Pokémon Go
- Boop! The Musical
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this third episode of season 5, I talk with Brett Lindstrom, founder and head of creative at Fish and Chips, a Web3 and crypto-focused creative agency and 2011 graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design. Brett’s career spans an unusually wide spectrum: former head of design at CBS Sports Fantasy Sports, former creative director at Citibank, creator of the Rolling Loud brand, Billboard-charting songwriter, crypto advocate, and podcast host.
We trace Brett’s path from growing up in Key West to discovering design as a way to make sense of—and influence—the world. He reflects on his time at Ringling, the role of painting and graffiti in shaping his creative voice, and the importance of student-led projects, late-night conversations, and grassroots experimentation outside the classroom.
Much of the conversation focuses on Brett’s belief that design sits at the center of culture, technology, and business. He walks through major career milestones, including branding and strategy work for CBS Sports HQ during the 2019 Super Bowl, the origins and explosive growth of Rolling Loud, and how moments of instability and risk helped sharpen his perspective as both a designer and entrepreneur.
We also dig into Brett’s work in Web3 and crypto, including NFT-based projects like Zombie Cupcakes, where game design, mental health, and digital economies intersect. He shares candid thoughts on AI, the future of design, why understanding business is no longer optional, and what it takes to build brands, systems, and communities in emerging tech spaces.
Take a break, play a video game, and then come back ready to listen to us rap about design.
Show Links
- Brett’s Portfolio
- Twitter Profile
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- CBS Sports HQ
- Rolling Loud Festival
- Replit
- Figma
- Ringling College of Art & Design
- Super Bowl (2019)
- Web3
- Meme Coins
- NFT
The Intro Music
Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this second episode of season 5, I talk with Casey Ligon, an associate creative director at VML, where she concepts, builds, and animates content for major brands including Wendy’s, Nintendo, Disney, and Netflix. Casey is also a lettering artist, food stylist, chalk muralist, photographer, and prolific maker of tactile images. Casey is a 2012 graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design.
We trace Casey’s creative origin story, from growing up with craft-heavy Klutz books to initially pursuing dentistry before realizing that drawing, making, and experimenting felt far more natural than chemistry labs. She talks candidly about transferring into art school, navigating Ringling’s advertising program, and learning how presentation, storytelling, and confidence became essential tools in her professional life.
Much of the conversation centers on Casey’s unconventional career path and how self-initiated work—especially daily Instagram posts—became a living portfolio. She shares the story of landing an agency role by printing her Instagram feed, asking a company to invent a job for her, and then building a career around the kind of tactile, lettering-driven work she wanted to be known for.
We dig into the realities of large-scale production, from food styling and stop-motion animation to whiteboard murals, chalk art, and in-camera brand work. Casey walks through projects for Wendy’s, Disney, Publix, and Netflix, explaining how patience, craft, and hands-on experimentation play a central role in her process.
Time to fix yourself a charcuterie board and have a listen.
Show Links
- Casey’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- VML
- Publix
- Hallmark
- Stop-Motion Animation
- Eglin Air Force Base
- Ringling College of Art & Design
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this episode, I talk with Soleil Paz, a 2018 graduate of The College of Saint Rose and an associate designer at Macmillan Publishers who specializes in book cover design for non-fiction, social justice, and popular science titles.
We trace the origins of Soleil’s creativity, from drawing to survive summer math workbooks to discovering typography through early computer graphics classes, and how those early experiences led to a focused interest in book design. Soleil talks about choosing Saint Rose, navigating design school with a clear professional goal, and persistently networking her way into an internship at St. Martin’s Press.
We dig into the realities of designing book covers: editorial pitches, author expectations, tight timelines, and the importance of making a cover an “instant read.” Soleil shares stories behind several meaningful projects, including designing for themes of synesthesia and racial injustice, as well as her thesis project The Other Side, an interactive book that visualized the randomness and inequities of the immigration process.
We wrap up with talk printing techniques like LithoFoil, discuss daily routines in publishing, and end with Soleil’s most important advice for emerging designers: build relationships and keep them alive. Enjoy the story.
Show Links
- Soleil’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Macmillan Publishers
- The College of Saint Rose
- St. Martin’s Press
- St. Martins Press Instagram
- Chip Kidd Instagram
- Haruki Murakami
- Synesthesia
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
Hey future and current designers, it’s been a minute, but I’m back with Season 5 of Design Futures. Starting in January you’ll hear all new stories from former students.
In this season I talk to designers that are probably the most diverse in terms of their experiences.
On one end of the spectrum there’s a designer who makes type and image with food, among other non-traditional materials and on the other end I talk to designers who work with NFTs and virtual reality.
All my guests have amazing careers in the areas of advertising, branding, publishing, packaging design, streaming services, and UX Design.
It’s time to go back to the Future of Design. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast to catch up on the first four seasons of Design Futures.
Thanks for listening
—Chris
In episode 10, the last episode of season four, I talk with Jonny Ouellette, the co-founder and creative director of the motion design firm, Kill 2 Birds and 2002 graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art & Design. We talk about our interactions in the graphic design program at MassArt and our passion for making type move on screen. Jonny shares stories of his client work that involve some of the most watched series and movies in recent years and I dig into our design collaboration on some DVD intros for Aspect Magazine. He also discusses taking that entrepreneurial leap of faith with a friend to start Kill 2 Birds. Additionally, Jonny educates me on some of the industry-specific terminology, like key art, upfonts, MOGRTs, and lower thirds. This episode is full of amazing motion graphics, so be sure to check out the video on Youtube. Let’s do this one more time. Enjoy the show.
Show Links
- Jonny’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Responsible Business Initiative for Justice
- After Effects
- Boston
- Massachusetts College of Art & Design
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In episode nine of season four I interview Ringling College of Art & Design graduate and Director of Product Design at BILL, Greg Tariff. We discuss his appreciation for design’s role in the business world and how to navigate a career in Silicon Valley. Greg talks about how his interest in cars led to an internship at General Motors, how networking in New York City led to an agency job in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and how a side project with some agency friends led to a career in product design. Greg also shares insights about working on start-up projects, advising start-up companies, and mentoring young designers. We also discuss collecting 1990s pop culture (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Shepard Fairey art. And of course we talk about the dogs — Shelby, Sookie, and Salem. If you are at all interested in design, business, networking, and dogs you’ll want to have a listen. Time to download episode nine and get to work.
Show Links
- Greg’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Bill
- Toyota Supra
- Shepard Fairey
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- 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 this episode I talk with 2016 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Rachel Suflita McKee, about her path from intern to art director at the Boston-based design studio, Pinkergreen. She talks about how the diversity of projects (Boston University Global Music Festival, Flex Rx, Flyte 70, The Bug Club, etc.) at a small studio is special and keeps her engaged with graphic design and the people she collaborates with on those projects. We also discuss a challenging design school assignment, about graphic design style, that had both of us considering some of the ethical questions involved in the creative process. We talk about the wonderful aspects of life outside of work like baking (so much butter), cooking (Bolognese), vacationing (in Maine), and of course yoga where goats climb on you as you try to stretch — it’s mostly about playing with goats. And finally, Rachel shares the wonderful news that she will be a new mom in March. Time to rest up people, episode seven is here now.
Show Links
- Rachel’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Pinkergreen
- Bolognese recipe
- NY Goat Yoga
- Boston’s South End
- The College of Saint Rose
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
Five, four, three, two, one… Happy New Year. In this first episode of 2024 Saint Rose alumni and technical UI designer, Nael Uppal, talks to me about starting a degree in his home country of Pakistan, continuing his education in Albany, NY, and completing his degree back home — it’s called a sandwich degree. Apparently that’s a term. Somewhere in the middle of this culinary delight is some work experience as well. Nael tells us about growing up in a creative family, including hanging out in museums with the older kids in his mom’s art classes. He explains in great detail and clarity the complexity of the development of web and mobile games and his current role at Revolving Games where he works on the user interface side of the process. Nael also talks about the very different experiences of going to school in two different parts of the world. And we learn a little bit of the history and culture of Pakistan. Winter break is over. Time to get listening to episode six of Design Futures.
Show Links
- Nael’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Revolving Games
- Sandwich Degree
- Partition of India
- Lahore, Pakistan
- National College of Arts
- College of Saint Rose
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
As 2023 comes to a close, I interview Lindsay Agnew, 2010 graduate of the Ringling College of Art & Design and creative director at Panama Jack (She has since moved on to Entertainment Retail Enterprises). In this episode we discuss the trajectory of her career that started at Disney Imagineering working as an environmental graphics designer, where she focused on designing signage and way-finding systems for the Mouse. This in turn led her to working on similar projects for The Villages, a massive planned retirement community, sometimes referred to as the Disney for adults. And we talk about her role at Panama Jack designing packaging and apparel for the sun-care lifestyle brand. If you’re not already there, this episode will make you wish you were at the beach. Grab a cold one and the sunscreen, it’s time for episode five.
Show Links
- Lindsay’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Disney Imagineering
- Test Track
- The Villages
- Panama Jack
- Orlando, Fl
- WGSN
- Ringling College of Art & Design
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this episode, Stephanie Pepaj, 2019 graduate of the College of Saint Rose discusses her spontaneous decision, based on an over-heard conversation at a coffee shop, to go back to school to get her master’s degree in marketing from Queens University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Why not? It was the pandemic and she always wanted to live outside the U.S. While living in Belfast she worked for a digital agency, spent time traveling in Europe, and went swimming in ice-cold water. Apparently, that’s a thing. Currently, Stephanie is putting her education into practice with developing social media marketing campaigns for her food and beverage clients. We also talk about avoiding bears on hikes, her family restaurant in Cooperstown, NY, and her commitment to yoga. It’s time to set an intension to listen to episode four of Design Futures. Namaste.
Show Links
- Stephanie’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Yoga Benefits (Johns Hopkins)
- Toscana
- Cold Plunge Science (NPR)
- Best Lunch Recipes (Food Network)
- Later.com
- Belfast, NI
- The College of Saint Rose
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this episode I chat with Lead Product Designer, Alex Gennette, at Netflix Games. We not only discuss his role in designing for the Netflix Games platform, but we also talk about board games and those tiny figurines that come with many multi-player adventure games. We nerd-out about non-linear content and a project in Alex’s portfolio that required him to design a system for livestream motion graphics. Alex also shares insights about being humble when designing for users. Of course we touch on his time at Ringling College of Art & Design, where he learned to write code for Flash animations just as Apple announced they would not support it on the iPhone and spending time at the beach, but only during the evening because he was too busy working on class assignments during the day. Game on people!
Show Links
- Alex’s Portfolio
- Twitter Profile
- LinkedIn Profile
- Sony Playstation
- Netflix
- Polaroid
- Figma
- Gloomhaven
- San Francisco
- Ringling College of Art & Design
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
Heather Argus, a senior brand designer at the tech company Platform.sh, is a founding member for the Asheville chapter of AIGA. In this episode I talk to Heather about her journey from upstate New York to North Carolina and from being a not-so-confident design student to a role as a design mentor. She talks about the people, her family included, that have influenced her and continue to build her confidence as a designer. Heather also shares some design-adjacent stories about being a booth model and an actor while living in Southern California and some details about creating a home and family (dogs and chickens included) in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
Show Links
- Heather’s Portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- AIGA Asheville
- Asheville Humane Society
- Figma
- Blue Ridge Mountains
- The College of Saint Rose
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.)
Hey future & current designers it’s time for Season 4 of Design Futures. Starting the first week of October you’ll hear all new stories from former students.
Season 4 is unofficially titled the international season because in this season I talk to a designer who went on to earn her Masters degree in Northern Ireland, a designer who returned to Pakistan to work in the gaming industry, and two designers who live and work in England.
And you’ll hear from other designers living in the states of Massachusetts, Florida, California, New York, and North Carolina.
They all having thriving careers in the areas of Branding, Packaging Design, UI/UX Design, Social Media, and Motion Design.
In order to get ready for this trip make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you can catch up on the first three seasons of Design Futures.
As always, Thanks for listening.
See ya.
For all those foodies and a designers out there, this is for you. In this last episode of Season 3, Ashley Tucker, 2006 graduate of the University of Denver (DU) and Associate Design Director at Penguin Random House, joins me for a conversation about food, design, and book publishing. She talks about her transition from a pre-med course of study at Northwestern University to studying graphic design at DU. Ashley also shares her enthusiasm for typography, printed books, cooking, baking, and reading; the challenges of reviewing color proofs with only natural sunlight; and enjoying some amazing meals in New York City. And finally, she gives a whole lot of credit to her parents, mom for being an inspiring interior designer and architect and crediting her dad with her drive for precision and craftsmanship. Bon Appétit.
Show Links
- Ashley’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Penguin Random House
- The Chef’s Garden
- Dirt Candy
- Loring Place
- Lasagna Recipe
- Dateline Podcast
- Esquire Magazine
- University of Denver
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
Wake up listeners. It’s time for episode 8 of season 3. In this episode my guest, 2019 graduate of the College of Saint Rose and Death Wish Coffee Merchandise Coordinator, Sadie Kenyon talks about her journey from designer to working with designers on the non-coffee products for the coffee company. She connects the design skills of paying attention to the details as well as giving feedback to the merchandise coordination of sourcing products and working with vendors to find the right solutions for the Death Wish customer. We also about her background in welding, her love for dogs (she has five), and creating a sustainable farm that includes cows and way too many chickens. And finally, Sadie discusses her hustle energy that kept her working in college and always growing. So, grab your favorite cup of coffee and have a listen.
Show Links
- Sadie’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Death Wish Coffee
- Bestpass
- PDP
- The Capital District Humane Society
- Welding at BOCES
- The College of Saint Rose
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In episode seven, 2018 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Kim Lê joins me for a discussion about all things Boston, such as what it’s like working for Opus Design, a small design studio, enjoying the T, and finding four-leaf clovers in her neighborhood park — a hobby that started as a college experiment during one summer break. We also talk about her family expectations of career and how those didn’t include graphic design. Kim acknowledges that science was not her strength, as she quickly learned at Clarkson University, and that she was truly an art kid. Finally, we talk about life at Saint Rose, including Kim’s confession that she was her own worst enemy when it came to redesigning her projects at the last minute. Stop wasting time and listen now.
Show Links
- Kim’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Behance
- Opus Design
- Kombucha
- The Boston T
- The College of Saint Rose
- Luck of Four-Leaf Clovers
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In episode six, the first of 2023, 2014 graduate of The Sage Colleges, Jared Schafer joins me for a conversation about 3D motion graphics, water-cooled computers, and creating animated videos for virtual reality. He talks about instead of watching TV he enjoyed a healthy drawing competition with his brother when they were kids that developed his illustration passion and skills. We also discuss the challenges of InDesign, hating web design, and having side projects to fuel your creativity as well as the 20 dudes that would buy what results from those side projects. And Jared talks about finding design after he tried a few other things in his 20s, like playing guitar, video games, and tending bar. If you’re ready for the honest truth, press play now.
Show Links
- Jared’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Art on Lark
- Upside Collective
- Learn After Effects
- Onewheel
- The Sage Colleges
- Ira Glass talks about the gap between taste and falling short
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In episode five of this season, I talk with 2017 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Moira Gilligan about her career as a designer and art director in the fashion world. We discuss big budgets, location scouting, and hiring models for fashion shoots. And she educates me in such fashion trends as dressing a goat in a cashmere sweater, chunky white dad sneakers, and high-waisted mom jeans. Speaking of moms and dads, Moira credits her parents with unquestioning support to pursue a creative career. She also tells me about the time she and some college friends went looking for a place to use the Ouija board in the basement of an old residence hall that also happened to have the drawing studios in it. After seeing the drawings in the studio she knew she had to change majors to earn her B.F.A. It’s time to put on that cozy boyfriend sweater, grab a hot beverage, and press play, because this episode is on-trend.
Show Links
- Moira’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Koio
- Naadam
- Harper’s Bazaar
- Ouija
- Klaviyo
- The College of Saint Rose
- Washington Park (Albany, NY)
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
Ringling College of Art & Design and Accenture alumus (he currently works for Brunswick Creative), Yuri Priamo Canales joins me to talk about high level brand strategy in experiential design, running disruption sessions in the Mural whiteboard space, questioning what the client thinks they want for design deliverables, and trying to understand the Metaverse. He also retells the story of organizing his own New York City apartment viewing before anybody else had a chance to look at it, thus ensuring he got the apartment and upsetting at least one real estate agent in the process. We also discuss getting into graphic design through is father’s vinyl record collection and learning a lot about his Ringling faculty by packing up their offices to move into new building. Pass the box cutter, it’s time to unpack episode 04.
Show Links
- Yuri’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Accenture
- Brunswick Creative
- Storm Thorgerson
- Alex Steinweiss
- Mural
- Ringling College of Art & Design
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!
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.)
In this second episode of Season 3, Boston-based art director, Nelson Couto, talks about balancing a design consulting business with family life and moving rocks in his front yard. One of his strategies is meditating each morning after bringing the kids to school. We also put our memories to the test and try to remember how we met at MassArt over 20 years ago. Nelson also shares his struggles with learning to airbrush, falling asleep on the commute to Boston from Rhode Island, and his love of MotoGP. Hold off on that afternoon nap, it’s time for a conversation about dads and design.
Nelson’s Portfolio
Twitter Profile
LinkedIn Profile
Instagram Profile
Dribbble Profile
Daily Calm Video
Chiat/Day Virtual Office Article
Azores, Portugal
Airbrushing for Beginners
Massachusetts College of Art & Design
Autism Society
MotoGP
Boston’s South End
The Intro Music
Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this first episode of season 3 we’re going to space. That’s right, I talk to NASA designer and 2016 Saint Rose graduate, Morgan Denman, about designing for space. She shares her story about how she got into the space industry and why she wouldn’t ever leave. She also talks about being a cancer survivor and how that experience put into perspective what she really wanted to focus on in her design career. And of course we talk about her time at Saint Rose — the healthy competition of her classmates, the support of the faculty, and the crying in the Drawing 1 course. Buckle up crew, it’s time to blast off into the unknown blackness of season 3.
Morgan’s Portfolio
Twitter Profile
LinkedIn Profile
Instagram Profile
NASA
Artemis 1
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Orbital Mechanics
The College of Saint Rose
Tang
The Intro Music
Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
Hey future & current designers. If you’re hearing my voice you know what that means. That’s right. Season 3 of Design Futures is happening. Starting the first week of October you’ll hear all new stories from former students.
In this season we go to the extremes.
You’ll hear from a designer who’s work has literally been to space and back. And I don’t mean literally as in figuratively like the kids use that word. It’s literally on rockets and spacesuits. You also hear from a designer who creates beautiful 3D motion graphics depicting some of the smallest substances in medical research.
And of course you’ll hear stories about design at all scales in between including
Product Design
Publication Design
Branding
Food & Beverage
Fashion
and Experience Design
So start your pre-launch preparations now by subscribing to catch up on the first two season of Design Futures.
As always
Thanks for listening
See ya
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.)
Lesia Gribbin, 2014 graduate of the College of Saint Rose and Group Art Supervisor at Neon joins me for a conversation about travel, working remotely, and creating advertising campaigns for pharmaceutical products. We talk about her time spent in the early morning hours at Picotte Hall, Saint Rose’s art building, where she would work two or three hours before class. And that one time when, because it was so early, nobody was around to help her when she sliced her finger with an X-acto knife. She also shares her story about being inspired by creative director Kelly McMurray, starting in a design course that Kelly taught at Saint Rose and ending with an internship at 2communiqué. Shout out to all our mentors.
Show Links
- Lesia’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- 2communiqué
- 5g
- Palm Pilot
- The College of Saint Rose
- Online Ceramics
- Museum of Brands
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this episode, 2012 graduate of The Sage Colleges, Jordan McClendon, discusses his role as Manager of Digital Communications at the ARRIVE center at the State University of New York (SUNY), his celebrated collection of animated shorts titled “Albany Shorts,” and passion for making his own projects that led him to his current success in the design field. He also talks about spending countless peaceful hours at the Cintiq workstation at Sage working on illustration and animation projects even though years before, during a portfolio entrance review, he was told to consider a different career. We talk about film-making, including the exciting and humbling experience of getting into film festivals the Dolly Zoom in-camera effect, even though we can‘t recall the name of it. Grab some popcorn. It’s time to start the show.
Show Links
- Facebook Profile
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- NYC Independent Film Festival
- FlickFair Film Festival
- Cintiq
- Washington Park, Albany, NY
- The Sage Colleges
- The ARRIVE Center
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In episode 7, Whitney Dobladillo brings her signature energy and smile to the conversation as she shares her passion for community building and stories about the communities she’s created and led. Her most recent projects include Type Thursday; Ladies, Wine & Design; and Peruvian Sisters, a community she started with, you guessed it, her sister. We also discuss her design position at the book publisher, Scholastic, where she works on projects for students, parents, and teachers. Whitney talks about learning of the company book club from the Scholastic librarian, yes they have a librarian. How cool is that. And finally we discuss our time together at the College of Saint Rose. It’s time to get involved and join us for the conversation.
Show Links
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Instagram (Peruvian Sisters)
- YouTube (Peruvian Sisters)
- Type Thursday
- Ladies, Wine & Design
- Scholastic
- The College of Saint Rose
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
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.)
Vegas, baby, Vegas. That’s right. In this episode I interview 2014 graduate of the The College of Saint Rose, Kim Szkudlarek, who quit her design job in Miami, took a road trip, and ended up in Las Vegas. Kim talks about not wanting to sit at a computer all day and instead pursued a career that consists of constructing three-dimensional objects, mixing paint to get just the right color match, and using her designer’s eye to fine tune the details. And who cares about those hot glue gun burns. In this conversation she educates me on faux marble finishes, what a box-out is, and creating art for private high-roller events and conferences. Brown, Izenour, and Venturi would be proud. I’m definitely learning from Las Vegas.
Show Links
- Kim’s Etsy Shop
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- The Neon Museum
- Rocket League
- MGM Resorts
- The College of Saint Rose
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
Put away the sketchbooks and open up your spreadsheets, calendars, and digital notepad. You’ll need those tools to take some notes on my conversation with Jibran Kutik, Product Design Manager for new customer experience at Twitter. We talk at length about user testing, product design, and all the details in an interface that help you find value in a digital product. Jibran also discusses his passion for being a manager, how Sarasota beaches ruined L.A. beaches for him, and that one time when he was right about a text input field – dropdowns are horrible! The magic hour, or at least 40 minutes, is about to start.
Show Links
- Jibran on Twitter
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Dantley Davis (Twitter)
- House of Highlights (Twitter)
- Bradley Brownell (Twitter)
- Figma
- Siesta Key, Florida
- Ringling College of Art + Design
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this episode, Glen Carlson of Metabolon, discusses designing user experiences for scientists, starting the AIGA student group at the University of Denver, and growing up in Silicon Valley. Glen shares his no-interface design philosophy, advocating for the kind of work you want to do, and learning to embrace ambiguity. Join us for a fascinating conversation that also includes pop-culture references to Jurassic Park, the 1989 Tim Burton Batman movie, and Steve Jobs’ garage. Hold onto your butts, it’s going be a ride.
Show Links
- Glen’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Instagram Profile (Fine Art)
- Metabolon
- Metabolomics
- Sik Oheso (Spotify)
- Steve Jobs’ Garage
Designer Oj Wilson of Teal Media and the College of Saint Rose joins me for a discussion about designing for agency clients, not-for-profit, and political campaigns. That’s right, all those door hangers, lawn signs, and bumper stickers you’ve been seeing the last few months were created by designers like Oj. She shares her involvement with social impact that started with working with her mom’s not-for-profit, the Southern Children’s Network. We also talk about Oj’s passion for soccer, whether it’s playing for the women’s team at Saint Rose or playing in two adult leagues in Georgia. In the spirit of campaigning, show your support by downloading this episode.
Show Links
- Oj’s portfolio
- LinkedIn Profile
- Instagram Profile
- Teal Media
- The Ringer-Verse
- You’ll be in my heart by Phil Collins
In this first episode of season two, Saint Rose graduate and art director at TracyLocke, Susi Cadena talks about working and living in New York City, designing for big brands like Pepsi and Godiva, navigating the process of corporate sponsorship for foreign nationals working in the U.S., and TracyLocke’s Design Collective. She also shares her academic story of starting college as a business administration major that ends with her graduating with a B.F.A. in graphic design and that one drawing class that changed her life. Susi also schools me in agency jargon such as “Out of Home,” “O.N.D.,” and “A.M.J.” Grab a bag of Lays or a box of Godiva and press play.
Show Links
- Susi’s portfolio
- Instagram profile
- LinkedIn profile
- TracyLocke
- 99% Invisible Ep. 140: Vexillonaire
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Dia de los Muertos
- Pepsi
- Purely Patricia
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
It’s time to put on the flannel, get back to school, and learn something
Welcome to the best season of the year.
It’s Autumn. And you know what’s going to make it even better?
Yea, you know because you’re listening to this trailer.
It’s time for Season 2 of Design Futures.
This past summer I had the pleasure of talking with a group of amazing alumni and I’m super excited to share their diverse stories of life after school. In Season 2 we’ll hear from designers who work in the areas of biotech, social impact, animation & motion graphics, social media, exhibition & events, and agencies.
If you haven’t subscribed do it now and catch up with Season 1 because Season 2 starts in October.
As always, thanks for listening.
See ya
In this final episode of Season 1 Melike Turgut, 2011 graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design, discusses the career path that started with a company-supplied apartment in Brooklyn and led her to the current role as Design Manager of Web Expressibility at Squarespace. We talk about challenging school projects, machine learning, principle designers, and documenting design process with diagrams. Melike also talks about what it’s like to be an adjunct professor of interaction design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Show Links
- Melike’s portfolio
- Ringling College of Art & Design
- Squarespace
- “Designing for Millions of Websites at Once”
- School of Visual Arts
- Machine Learning
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
If you’re just out of school you’ll want to listen to this interview with Associate Graphic Designer at Insider, Alyssa Powell. She talks about the challenges of landing her first job and the random connection that led to it. We talk about the non-design stuff at work, including salary, deadlines, teams, and working and learning from co-workers. She also discusses making videos and chalk typography as projects to work through some life issues, how she doesn’t get creative block, and traveling to Cuba and Italy during her time at Saint Rose.
Show Links
- Alyssa’s website
- Insider
- Can I Have Your Number (Mad TV)
- Type Thursday
- Big Chop Tutorial
- Slack
- Seth Godin
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In episode six we travel west to Colorado to talk with illustrator and designer Amanda Lenz. We talk about remembering how to talk to people with the help of renting a desk at a co-working space, illustrating a portrait of Oprah Winfrey for Time Magazine, and being selected for the Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund. Amanda talks about her love of nature inspired by growing up in West Virginia where she was encouraged by her mom to attend special art programs to explore her artistic interests. We also discuss the challenges of life drawing class, transitioning to working as an independent illustrator, project scope creep, and client red flags.
Show Links
- Roost
- Time Magazine’s 100 Women of the Year
- Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund
- Oprah Winfrey
- Colorado Fourteeners
- University of Denver
- AIGA Colorado
- Graphic Artists Guild
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
It’s baseball season. In episode five, graphic designer at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Dani Dayton talks about designing exhibition and social media graphics, inauguration tickets, and the retail catalog. We discuss the process of using wood flooring as the background for a product photoshoot, the Tao of Pooh, and that magical experience of walking in the Plaque Gallery in the early morning as the sun shines through the skylights. Dani also talks about the challenges of being a student athlete (softball) at the College of Saint Rose and thanks Mr. Erik Wilson, the high school art teacher, who deserves some credit for Dani’s successes. Thanks Mr. Wilson.
Show Links
- The Tao of Pooh
- National Baseball Hall of Fame
- New York Yankees
- The College of Saint Rose
- SR Golden Nights
- Tony the Tiger
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In episode four, 2014 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Erica Cotten and I nerd-out about user flows, prototyping with Sketch and Figma, the art of comic books, and the UI pattern of toggles. We discuss her role as a user experience designer at Salesforce, a cloud-based software company, where she works on story grooming, wireframes, user research, and rapid prototyping. Erica discusses a number of conferences that she’s looking forward to attending post-pandemic to connect with college and gaming friends. And she helps me understand Twitch. Let the streaming begin.
Show Links
- Erica on Twitch
- The College of Saint Rose
- Salesforce
- Adobe XD
- Figma
- TwitchCon
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
The husband and wife team at Macaroni Creative, Ron Gibbons and Mackenzie Carey, join me in episode three. We discuss designing for consumer packaged goods, leaving their full-time jobs to start their own design firm, and being the only designers in the room. They share the challenges of teaching an online course (“props to our teachers” —Mackenzie) on Nerdabe.com and streaming their design process on Adobe Live. We talk about all this and more while New York City fire trucks drive by and the dogs, Harvey and Milo, sleep at their feet. Did somebody say Greenies?
Links
- Macaroni Creative
- The Sage Colleges
- The College of Saint Rose
- The Dieline
- Cleveland Kitchen
- Louisville Vegan Jerky
- Nerdabe
- Adobe Live
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this episode creative director and entrepreneur, Paul Gonzalez shares stories about making pillows with his mom as a child in Sarasota, FL, his appreciation for House music, and being a professional Salsa dancer. We also discuss his New York City internship and returning to the city to begin freelancing immediately after graduating from the Ringling College of Art & Design in 2012. He also tells us what he learned from those years of freelancing and how that experience helped him start his own design firm, StudioBlack. And finally, we absolutely do talk about Type Club.
Show Links
- StudioBlack
- Ringling College of Art & Design
- Baila Society
- Nike
- Audible
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
In this first episode I talk to Josh Terry, graphic designer at T Brand Studio at The New York Times, about his role as an editorial designer working on branded content articles for advertising clients. We discuss collaborating with illustrators to design editorial content for interactive experiences. Josh also reflects on drawing boxes, learning art and design history, and developing design concepts at The College of Saint Rose. We also discuss his sweet tooth, being a marine reservist, and meeting Milton Glaser.
Show Links
- Josh’s portfolio
- T Brand Studio
- Star Trek: Discovery
- The Darkest Hour
- The College of Saint Rose
- Rui Ricardo
- Mads Berg
- Boldtron
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)
Graphic Design? Can you make a living at that? Design Futures is a show about the lives of designers as they discover their way in the world after graduation.
Chris St.Cyr, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at the College of Saint Rose and creative director at the design firm, 2communiqué, interviews former graphic design students to find out what they’ve been doing since graduation. Maybe you’re a high school student or the parent of a high school student wondering if your child can have a career in graphic design or maybe you’re in college right now still wondering about your choice of graphic design as a major or you’re a former student at one of the schools I’ve taught at and you’re wondering what happen to your classmates. We’ll have stories that consider these questions as they relate to design, careers, education, and life after school.
Subscribe! The first episodes will be available in early 2021.
The Show
- Youtube
The Host
- chrisstcyr.com
- 2communiqué
The Intro Music
- Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)