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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes256Founded9 years ago
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DesignArtsTechnology

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Artwork for Design Better

Latest Episodes

Like a lot of parents, Eli struggled over the years to get his kids more into reading and away from screens. He wasn’t necessarily on the search for a technological solution, but then an interesting device came our way: the Yoto Player, a screen-free... more

This is a special bonus episode, an interview with Rivian’s Chief Design Officer, Jeff Hammoud. We’ve got all the audio here, but it’s worth heading over to our Youtube channel at dbtr.co/youtube to watch the video.

We recorded this one live in Miam... more

Fifteen years ago, Eric Ries handed a generation of founders a playbook. When Eli was in a Palo Alto-based startup accelerator in 2011, The Lean Startup felt like the only book anyone in that ecosystem was talking about. It was in the middle of a wil... more

A few years ago, Ian Bogost wrote what he thought was a throwaway Atlantic piece about how electric vehicles would finally kill the manual transmission. It went off like a bomb — and the reaction told him people weren’t mourning a car part. They were... more

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Recent Guests

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
Chris Entwisle
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
Niyati Gupta
Senior Product Designer at Netflix, previously at Google/Autodesk/Meta
Netflix
Episode: 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
Mike Schnaidt
Creative Director at Fast Company; author of Creative Endurance
Fast Company
Episode: Mike Schnaidt: Fast Company Creative Director on typography, creative endurance, and designing for the long haul
Dorrian Porter
Founder/CEO of Vestaboard, creator of Vestaboard Note
Vestaboard
Episode: Bonus Episode: Dorrian Porter returns with the Vestaboard Note
Tina Roth Eisenberg
Founder of Creative Mornings; Swiss Miss; Friends Work Here; Tattly
Creative Mornings; Swiss Miss; Friends Work Here; Tattly
Episode: Tina Roth Eisenberg: Creative Mornings founder on building communities that run on trust

Hosts

Eli Woolery
Host of Design Better; Design Better (The Curiosity Department)
Aarron Walter
Co-host of Design Better; Host of Design Better

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • 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 Statesa year 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
  • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Design Better is a beacon of inspiration for anyone passionate about the intersection of design, technology, and creativity! Whether you're a seasoned design professional or simply curious about the world of design, each episode promises to spark your creativity. I can’t recommend this show enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andieo1997
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the high-caliber guests and in-depth, thoughtful questions.
Audience notes strong value in practical takeaways and real-world design workflows.
Some feedback highlights ads and paywalls as a drawback for free listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#13
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#228
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#6
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#9
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#146
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#187
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Eric Ries: Lean Startup author on why good companies go bad, and why good design is critical to success
Q: Have your views on the Lean Startup methodology changed over the last 15 years?
Eric Ries explains that while the core principles have held up, he has refined how he communicates them and emphasizes enduring commitments that enable speed, rather than blaming speed itself for problems. He notes the ideas have instead evolved into a broader, bridging approach across disciplines like design, engineering, and management.
Chris Entwisle and Mark Havens: authors of WAIL on the constraints that led to timeless designs for Prestige Records
Q: Take us behind the scenes. Who are the characters that are creating these covers? Who are they? What's their background?
The designers were a mix of young artists, photographers, and graphic designers in 1950s New York, many working for hire and coming from fine art backgrounds; Reid Miles was a standout who bridged commercial art and more painterly, cross-disciplinary approaches, with others like Hannon and Young contributing distinct visual voices.
Ian Bogost: Game designer, Atlantic writer, and philosopher of the ordinary, on the small stuff that makes life delightful
Q: What would that change be if designers had a magic wand to improve software design for better, more gratifying experiences?
Increase curiosity and widen the scope of phenomena designers consider; treat as a core practice to notice and value the subtle, everyday signals in interactions, not just KPIs or outcomes.
Tina Roth Eisenberg: Creative Mornings founder on building communities that run on trust
Q: What practical advice would you give someone looking to start a Creative Mornings in their city?
Go to creativemornings.com, click start a chapter (it's a thorough process), and once you're hosting a city you receive comprehensive resources and join a global network that supports you.
Tina Roth Eisenberg: Creative Mornings founder on building communities that run on trust
Q: What are the core criteria you look for when selecting speakers for Creative Mornings?
Speakers should model a creative, brave life and show that taking risks is possible, sharing examples of people who push boundaries and build things that seem a little crazy but inspiring.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Design Better

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

Design-focused conversations blend practical design methods with technology and creativity. Episodes frequently explore collaboration, design thinking, and the role of AI as a creative partner, often linking studio practice to product, platform, and organizational design. Guests range from researchers and educators to industry leaders and creatives, sharing actionable tips for teams, leadership, pricing psychology, and building meaningful, human-centered experiences. A notable throughline is learning to balance structure with experimentation, maintain psychological safety in groups, and keep a curious, growth-minded mindset at the center of design work. The show often features cross-disciplinary guests who illuminate how design thinking can... 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. Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
4. Monocle on Design
5. HBR IdeaCast

How many episodes of Design Better are there?

Design Better launched 9 years ago and published 256 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Design Better?

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What guests have appeared on Design Better?

Recent guests on Design Better include:

1. Jeffery Hammoud
2. Eric Ries
3. Ian Bogost
4. Mark Havens
5. Chris Entwisle
6. Niyati Gupta
7. Mike Schnaidt
8. Dorrian Porter

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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