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Design Matters with Debbie Millman

Design Matters Media
Design
Creativity
New York City
Design Matters
Art
Artificial Intelligence
Comedy
Mental Health
Cancer
Writing
Leadership
Organizational Transformation
Entrepreneurship
Games
Graphic Design
Education
Social Media
Fashion
Dog Cognition
Identity

Design Matters with Debbie Millman is one of the world’s very first podcasts. Broadcasting independently for over 15 years, the show is about how incredibly creative people design the arc of their lives.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes697Founded17 years ago
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DesignArts

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Artwork for Design Matters

Latest Episodes

Renowned portrait photographer Platon and acclaimed designer, editor, and filmmaker Scott Dadich have spent more than 25 years collaborating to create some of the most compelling imagery in contemporary culture. Part one of their conversation focuses... more

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Acclaimed costume designer Debra McGuire has helped shape some of television and film's most iconic looks, from Friends and The Morning Show to Anchorman and Idiocracy. She joins to discuss her remarkable journey through art, fashion, and Hollywood, ... more

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Craig Elimeliah—Chief Creative Officer of the global creative and technology agency Code and Theory—is a creative leader whose work has pushed the boundaries of design, technology, advertising, and culture. He joins to discuss his unconventional path... more

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Françoise Mouly—legendary longtime art editor of The New Yorker and co-founder of the groundbreaking comics magazine RAW—has helped transform the possibilities of comics, illustration, and visual storytelling. She joins to discuss her career shaping ... more

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Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Scott Dadich
Designer, editor, and filmmaker who has collaborated with Platon for more than 25 years
Episode: Platon & Scott Dadich Part One
Debra McGuire
Costume designer whose work includes Friends, The Morning Show, Anchorman, and Idiocracy
Episode: Debra McGuire
Craig Elimeliah
Chief Creative Officer of Code and Theory
Code and Theory
Episode: Craig Elimeliah
Françoise Mouly
Art editor and publisher; co-founder of Raw; longtime The New Yorker art director
The New Yorker; Raw
Episode: Françoise Mouly
Ada Limón
Poet
Poet Laureate of the United States (2022–2025)
Episode: Best of Design Matters: Ada Limón
Kim Hastreiter
Editor, Paper Magazine co-founder and longtime editor
Paper Magazine
Episode: Best of Design Matters: Kim Hastreiter
Lidia Yuknavitch
Writer and artist known for The Chronology of Water, Reading the Waves, and The Big M
Author
Episode: Best of Design Matters: Lidia Yuknavitch
Gloria Steinem
Award-winning journalist, author, and activist known for her work in women's rights and feminism.
Co-founder of Ms. Magazine
Episode: Best of Design Matters: Gloria Steinem
C. Thi Nguyen
Philosophy professor at the University of Utah; author of The Score, Games, Agency as Art
University of Utah
Episode: Best of Design Matters: C. Thi Nguyen

Host

Debbie Millman
Host of Design Matters, a long-running interviewer of designers, artists, and thinkers.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • On Ezra Klein Show

    “ I wear black because it’s easier and I don’t have to think about it too much.” It’s why the world is getting uglier, Debbie and yet you wear it well. Beautiful design is about solving problems. Black is your only answer because it’s easy and you don’t have to think about it.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JNLCIA
    United States22 days ago
  • smart conversations

    I love Debbie Millman, her interview style just feels so smart and old school.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    miller-josselyn
    United Statesa month ago
  • Disappointed

    There were a few good ones, but turned lackluster at best in my opinion. Very left sided and not very engaging or deep.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Benji K G
    United States7 months ago
  • Not engaging

    Initially was excited to follow this show. But after several tries, had to abandon the effort. Guests seemed intriguing, but missed opportunities by the host to be engaging. It felt like listening to paint dry.

    Unfollowed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SheSheOak
    United States10 months ago
  • Listen while I ride

    I’m a long-time listener and absolutely love your show. My husband and I take long motorcycle rides, and getting to binge your podcast along the way is such a treat. I always learn something new—it’s informative, engaging, and full of fresh perspectives. Thank you for all the time and effort you and your team put into making it so consistently great. I’m truly grateful for what you do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Uslover2001
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's preparation and thoughtful questioning.
Guests and topics are diverse and deeply insightful.
Shows are consistently high-quality with meaningful, actionable takeaways.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#2
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#73
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#2
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#47
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#167
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Platon & Scott Dadich Part One
Q: How do you pick yourself up when you're going through a hard time?
Platon draws perspective from people who have endured far greater hardship, and remembers that life moves through both winning and losing streaks.
Platon & Scott Dadich Part One
Q: What did growing up in such a close community teach you about people?
Platon says drawing and observing people in the village taught him to study the human condition, read body language, and look beyond appearances.
Craig Elimeliah
Q: What kind of advice would you give designers that are really looking to potentially future-proof their careers?
He recommends staying curious and not limiting a career to one specialty. Designers should understand behavior, context, data, and the broader possibilities of design, and learn to work with emerging tools.
Craig Elimeliah
Q: What are you most afraid of and what kind of regulations do you feel are most prudent for creative people to be thinking about when so many creative people are worried about jobs?
Elimeliah is optimistic about a creative renaissance, but worries that AI can generate hyper-real content that is difficult to distinguish from reality. He says safeguards and provenance tools are important to help people tell what is real.
Debra McGuire
Q: What did you bring to Friends, since you were so fresh and new in the business?
McGuire treated the television set like a painting, assigning each character a color field and palette so the group looked compelling together while supporting the writers' characterization.

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 Matters

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

Design Matters hosts long-form conversations with a rotating roster of leading designers, writers, artists, and thinkers who shape culture through creativity, storytelling, and design thinking. Episodes center on guests' creative journeys, craft, and the philosophies that guide their work, often blending memoir, process, and practical insights for a creative audience. Notable is the host's reputation for deep, thoughtful questions and for attracting high-profile guests across art, design, technology, and culture, making it a go-to for listeners seeking nuanced, human-centered conversations about making work and living creatively.

Where can I find podcast stats for Design Matters?

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How many listeners does Design Matters get?

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What are the audience demographics for Design Matters?

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How many subscribers and views does Design Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Design Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Design Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Design Matters:

1. Time Sensitive
2. Design Better
3. The Interview
4. Fresh Air
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of Design Matters are there?

Design Matters launched 17 years ago and published 697 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 Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Design Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Design Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Design Matters?

Recent guests on Design Matters include:

1. Scott Dadich
2. Debra McGuire
3. Craig Elimeliah
4. Françoise Mouly
5. Ada Limón
6. Kim Hastreiter
7. Lidia Yuknavitch
8. Gloria Steinem

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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