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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... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes262Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Design Better

Latest Episodes

Blaine Billingsley is a staff designer at OpenAI, and his path there was anything but a straight line. He studied music composition and comparative religion, played guitar in Texas for a living (he remembers checking his bank account, seeing seven do... more

In the mid-1950s, North Carolina was one of the poorest states in the country. Its economy ran on tobacco, furniture, and textiles — all three in decline — and its universities were turning out talent that promptly left for somewhere with better jobs... more

When Samsung’s CEO asked Federico Casalegno to redesign the cameras on the company’s phones, Federico told him he was the wrong person for the job. He wasn’t an optical engineer. He didn’t understand cameras. What he understood was storytelling — and... more

Jonathan Adler was one of our favorite guests, so we’ve been angling to get him back ever since. He started as a potter and now designs furnishings and interiors that are decadent, but layered with meaning and humor. A lot has happened since we last ... more

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Recent Guests

Blaine Billingsley
Staff designer at OpenAI
OpenAI
Episode: Blaine Billingsley: OpenAI designer on the collaboration problem AI hasn't solved yet
Mack Paul
Co-author of Miracle Road, historian of RTP
Miracle Road / RTP
Episode: Mack Paul: Co-author of Miracle Road on designing places where innovation happens
Federico Casalegno
Head of Samsung's Global Design Studios, MIT Design Lab co-founder
Samsung; MIT Design Lab
Episode: Federico Casalegno: Samsung EVP and MIT Design Lab founder on what 20,000 years of human creativity means for design today
Clay Parker Jones
Head of Org Design and Development at Airbnb
Airbnb
Episode: Clay Parker Jones: author of "Hidden Patterns" on why your team isn't really a team
Angel Steger
VP of Design at Wealthfront, former designer at Pinterest/MySpace/23andMe/Dropbox/Meta
Wealthfront
Episode: Angel Steger: Wealthfront's VP of Design on what architecture teaches you about software
Jeffery Hammoud
Chief Design Officer, Rivian
Rivian
Episode: Jeff Hammoud: Chief Design Officer of Rivian on constraints, color, and what separates designers from stylists
Eric Ries
Lean Startup author and entrepreneur
Author of Incorruptible
Episode: Eric Ries: Lean Startup author on why good companies go bad, and why good design is critical to success
Ian Bogost
Game designer, Atlantic contributor, and philosopher of the everyday
Washington University in St. Louis; The Small Stuff author
Episode: Ian Bogost: Game designer, Atlantic writer, and philosopher of the ordinary, on the small stuff that makes life delightful
Mark Havens
Co-author of WAIL, The Visual Language of Prestige Records
Authors of WAIL
Episode: Chris Entwisle and Mark Havens: authors of WAIL on the constraints that led to timeless designs for Prestige Records

Hosts

Eli Woolery
Host of Design Better with a focus on design culture, collaboration, and cross-disciplinary work.
Aarron Walter
Co-host of Design Better, guiding conversations on design leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the craft of building design systems.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Insightful every time

    Each episode brings real world perspective useful to your design practice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D'urville
    United States2 months ago
  • Ads

    Great podcast but waaaaaayyy too many adds that are way too long. Stop selling out and focus on content.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    NVSF95
    United States2 years ago
  • More industrial design

    A real design podcast like we all need. Only wish there was more episodes on product / industrial design! SCAD episode was amazing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kev_paris_88
    United States2 years ago
  • Great interview

    Inspiring and full of energy, culture, curiosity and very easy to follow up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Agheor
    Italy2 years ago
  • Not anymore

    Used to be a great show. Now hidden behind a 7$/month paywall. The “free” shows are now 20 minutes long, including 8 minutes of ads and announcements to cconvert listeners into subscribers. Not worth it anymore.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    highway84revisited
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Design Better is a beacon of inspiration for anyone passionate about the intersection of design, technology, and creativity!
A well-curated lineup of guests and thoughtful questions that spark new ideas.
Listeners appreciate the depth and accessibility, and the long-form conversations that go beyond surface-level insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#14
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#25
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#30
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#27
Germany/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#30
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#37
Italy/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Blaine Billingsley: OpenAI designer on the collaboration problem AI hasn't solved yet
Q: Why does he value simplicity in design principles?
He believes principles should be concrete tools that guide actions rather than vague rules; without specificity, teams cannot align on decisions, making the principles less useful.
Blaine Billingsley: OpenAI designer on the collaboration problem AI hasn't solved yet
Q: What is his advice for working with pushy PMs?
He suggests meeting pushy stakeholders halfway by supporting their vision first, then progressively introducing your own ideas, which often leads to better collaboration and outcomes.
Blaine Billingsley: OpenAI designer on the collaboration problem AI hasn't solved yet
Q: How did Blaine's early interests shape his approach to design at OpenAI?
Blaine explains that a fascination with people, decision-making, and interdisciplinary study shaped a practical, human-centered design lens that values simple storytelling and clear communication over abstract metrics.
Federico Casalegno: Samsung EVP and MIT Design Lab founder on what 20,000 years of human creativity means for design today
Q: How do you manage cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary teams at Samsung to keep a shared mission clear?
He describes using artifacts and quick prototypes as focal points for alignment, ensuring teams across Europe, the US, and Korea stay synchronized through open communication, regular workshops, and a clear mission to guide decisions.
Federico Casalegno: Samsung EVP and MIT Design Lab founder on what 20,000 years of human creativity means for design today
Q: What moment convinced you that being a social scientist made you a better designer?
Federico explains that his sociology PhD and early work on social communication through media and technology trained him to see human behavior as the core driver of design, leading to a career where cross-disciplinary insight informs product strategy and user experience.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About Design Better

What is Design Better about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Design Better features in-depth conversations with leaders at the intersection of design, technology, and creativity. Episodes frequently center on design culture, practical design leadership, and how design collaborates with engineering, product, and business strategy. Notable angles include design ethics, long-term thinking, and the evolving role of AI in design and product work. A recurring strength is bringing high-profile designers and thinkers (authors, professors, founders) into long-form, thoughtful discussions that balance theory with actionable insights. The show often reveals pragmatic approaches to collaboration, team dynamics, and building sustainable design practice across industries. A standout aspect is its ability to connec... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Design Better?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Design Better:

1. Design Matters with Debbie Millman
2. Creative Confidence Podcast
3. Monocle on Design
4. The Futur with Chris Do
5. Worklife with Molly Graham

How many episodes of Design Better are there?

Design Better launched 9 years ago and published 262 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Design Better?

Recent guests on Design Better include:

1. Blaine Billingsley
2. Mack Paul
3. Federico Casalegno
4. Clay Parker Jones
5. Angel Steger
6. Jeffery Hammoud
7. Eric Ries
8. Ian Bogost

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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