Design Matters

In his third Design Matters interview, writer Seth Godin riffs on his 20th book—“The Practice”—a milestone text exploring creativity and the sheer power of doing the work and putting it out into the world.

In his extraordinary journey, Thomas Page McBee traversed trauma and wound up in the ring at Madison Square Garden, brimming with a host of wisdoms on gender, identity, feminism and masculinity.

From a life-changing letterpress moment to early viral fame and the current COVID crossroads, Gemma O’Brien remains a master of illustrious letterforms.

Malcolm Gladwell discusses his book "Talking to Strangers”—and how we default to truth … but not necessarily the whole truth.

Soccer star Abby Wambach and author Glennon Doyle discuss their striking first meeting, falling in love as pen pals, addiction and sobriety, and the art of speaking out and speaking up.

Tiffany Shlain completely unplugs from technology one day a week—and week after week, it completely refuels her creative well. Here, she reveals how the rest of us can take our own Tech Shabbat.

Writer, director and actress Miranda July discusses the surreality of releasing a surreal movie in an even more surreal time—and the eternal magic of kissing, cakes and clothes.

Debbie talks to performance poet Sarah Kay about teaching people to write.

On this archive edition of Design Matters with Debbie Millman, Debbie talks to Priya Parker about meetings and gatherings and why so many of them don’t work.

On this archive episode cartoonist Lynda Barry talks to Debbie about learning how to draw, and the damaging effects of one’s own opinion.

On this episode, Jacqueline Novogratz talks about her long career fighting poverty around the world.

On this episode Claire Danes talks to Debbie about her long career, and what she learned about spies from playing one.

On this episode, artist Bisa Butler talks to Debbie about her career, and about how making a quilted portrait of her grandmother led to an artistic breakthrough.

On this episode, Debbie talks to Michael R. Jackson about his latest musical, which is about a gay man trying to write a musical.

On this episode Debbie talks to Fanny Singer about her career writing about art and food, and about cooking in the time of Coronavirus.

Debbie talks with Maurice Cherry about his education and career, and about why the profession of graphic design has been so slow to acknowledge Black designers. “Black people were barely free 100 years ago so certainly they weren’t thinking about being graphic designers.”

On this episode Debbie talks to Gabrielle Hamilton about her career as a chef, and as a late-blooming writer.

Debbie talks to Pepsi's Chief Design Officer, Mauro Porcini.

Debbie talks with V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) about her abusive father and how feminism has shaped her career.

Debbie talks to Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter about their program for redesigning our politics.

Debbie talks with Kathryn Gallagher about her young career as an actor/singer/songwriter and about trauma on and off the stage.

Debbie talks to the design duo of Alex Bec and Will Hudson of It’s Nice That about their close friendship, long collaboration, and about what they’ve learned along the way.

Debbie talks to Ina Mayhew about her career designing for movies and tv shows, and about how the virus may change the very nature of her profession.

Debbie talks to author Cheryl Strayed about her childhood, her career, and about the value of taking a very long hike.

Debbie talks with Tea Uglow, creative director for Google's Creative Lab in Sydney Australia, about experimental digital projects that are pushing the boundaries of tech and art.

Debbie Millman talks with writer Lisa Taddeo about sex and desire.

Last week Barry Blitt was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in journalism for editorial cartooning. Debbie to him about where his ideas come from.

On this episode Debbie talk with Ira Glass about his career in radio and podcasting and about the making of "This American Life".

Debbie talks with artist Marilyn Minter about bringing her skills to the political arena, the ups and downs of her career, and the use of sexual imagery in her work.

Debbie talks to therapist and author Esther Perel about marriage, polyamory, and adultery.

On this episode, Debbie talks to David Cay Johnston about the fun of investigative journalism.

Debbie talks to Elizabeth about the journey of her extraordinary life and about how death makes us think about what we truly value.

On this episode Debbie talks to Robert Wong, the Executive Creative Director of Google Creative Lab.

This episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman was recorded live at WNYC’s Green Space as part of a celebration of 15 years of the podcast.

This episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman was recorded live at WNYC's Green Space and features actor and poet Amber Tamblyn.

A conversation with Lucy Wainwright Roche about her musical family, her career as a singer-songwriter, and her musical tastes.

A conversation with Chanel Miller about rape culture. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault that is disturbing and may be triggering to some readers and listeners. To reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline—available 24/7—call 800.656.4673.

A conversation with designer Tosh Hall about how to work with established brands.

On this episode: a conversation with Chani Nicholas about her life in astrology.

On this episode Debbie talks to two designers about the history of user-friendly design and the importance of designing for feedback.

On this episode, Debbie talks to journalist Tatiana Schlossberg about what we can do, as individuals, about climate change.

A conversation with Jessica Hische about her career, especially after having kids.

On this episode, a conversation with Lawrence Azerrad about the design of the Concorde.

On this episode, some coming of age stories Debbie had during 2019.

On this eipsode, Debbie talks to Thomas Page McBee about masculinity, from the point of view of a trans man.

On this episode Debbie talks to Tiffany Shlain about cell phones have taken over our lives.

On this episode Debbie talks to music impresario and restaurateur Michael Dorf.

On this episode, a conversation with artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon about getting started creatively.

A conversation with poet Saeed Jones about his memoir and about memory.

On this episode a conversation with Malcolm Gladwell about why it is so easy to be fooled by dishonest people.