Chats [ARCHIVED]

Today, we have the privilege of hosting the multi-faceted, multi-pierced, and multi-tattooed designer, Justin Dauer. Over the past few years, Justin has established himself as a sought-after speaker at culture and design conferences worldwide, captivating audiences at events such as UXPA, AIGA, and Design Week. Now, he is about to share his invaluable insights in a new book specifically crafted for the creative community. Drawing from his extensive experience and diverse expertise, Justin delves into a wide range of topics that resonate deeply with designers and creatives alike. From nurturing people-first workplace cultures and effective leadership to fostering creativity and establishing meaningful connections, Justin's book covers it all. During our interview, Justin will guide us through various thought-provoking subjects. He will enlighten us on the importance of identifying and following our ""North Star,"" harnessing its guiding force to bring forth our best work. Furthermore, we will explore how design can significantly impact company culture, shaping environments that foster collaboration and innovation. Justin will also challenge the notion of rigid career paths and shed light on the pitfalls of striving for ""thought leader"" status in the design industry. Instead, he will inspire us to embrace evolution and continuous learning, leveraging humility as a core value to remain students of our craft. Drawing upon his own experiences spanning over 25 years in the industry, Justin will provide valuable insights into his transformation from a dot-com era designer to the influential figure he is today. We will unravel how these experiences have influenced the perspectives he shares in his book and discover the synergies between his concepts and the development of his new company, Anomali. Beyond his forthcoming book, Justin's contributions have been recognized by reputable publications such as Forbes magazine, Medium's ""Forge"" publication, Aquent, CEO World Magazine, and A List Apart. Through this interview, we have the privilege of tapping into his vast knowledge and gaining invaluable wisdom from a seasoned design professional. Join us on the Design Atlas Podcast as we delve into Justin Dauer's fascinating journey and explore the transformative power of design, fulfillment, and company culture. Prepare to be inspired and enlightened by his unique perspectives, leaving you with profound insights that will help shape your own creative path. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit ⁠www.designatlaspod.com⁠. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram ⁠@designatlaspod⁠, tweet us ⁠@designatlaspod⁠, or send us an email at ⁠hello@designatlaspod.com⁠.  Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved. ©2023 Design Atlas Media.

Design Atlas recently had the pleasure of hosting an exceptional guest, Shiz Aoki, who has revolutionized the way scientists communicate their research visually. With a deep-rooted belief in the power of simple and easily understood visuals, Shiz has carved out a remarkable career that transcends the confines of traditional design. Having spent seven years at National Geographic as a leader in Science Illustration, Shiz's expertise and passion for visual storytelling became the catalyst for a groundbreaking idea. Realizing the limitations faced by scientists in creating compelling illustrations due to a lack of accessible tools, Shiz set out to bridge the gap. This led to the founding of a firm that catered to the visualization needs of textbooks, biotechs, and research journals. However, the demand for their services grew at an unprecedented pace, highlighting a critical need for accessible and user-friendly platforms tailored specifically for life sciences. Inspired by this realization, Shiz embarked on a journey to democratize scientific illustration, leading to the creation of BioRender. BioRender is a remarkable platform that empowers scientists to effortlessly create and share beautiful, professional scientific figures. With over 2 million scientists benefitting from the platform's capabilities, it has become an invaluable resource for visually communicating groundbreaking research. Join us as we delve into Shiz Aoki's unique perspective, exploring their experiences in designing a platform meant for design but not necessarily for designers. We'll uncover the challenges they faced and the triumphs they achieved while navigating the intersection of art, science, and technology. Furthermore, we'll gain invaluable insights into their time as an illustrator for National Geographic, immersing ourselves in the captivating world of visual storytelling and the impact it can have on scientific communication. Whether you're a designer seeking inspiration outside the conventional boundaries of design or someone passionate about the intersection of creativity and science, this episode of Design Atlas is a must-listen. Shiz Aoki's journey will leave you inspired, and their invaluable lessons will provide guidance for those looking to break through in non-traditional design career paths. Tune in to the Design Atlas Podcast and embark on a captivating exploration of design's transformative power and its boundless potential to shape the world we live in. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit ⁠⁠www.designatlaspod.com⁠⁠. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram ⁠⁠@designatlaspod⁠⁠, tweet us ⁠⁠@designatlaspod⁠⁠, or send us an email at ⁠⁠hello@designatlaspod.com⁠⁠.  Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved. ©2023 Design Atlas Media.

In today's episode we meet with Falak Khoja, a graduating senior from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City. We discuss the process of becoming a design students, and how getting a design degree can really help prepare anyone interested in pursuing a design profession.  If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com. Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved. ©2022 Design Atlas Media.

In today's episode we meet with Chalsey Falk, founder of the illustration and graphic design studio Full Mood. Coming from a graphic design education and 6 years working in in-house and at agencies for public health, product design, and advertising, we learn from her what takes to start your own design business and how to overcome your biggest fears.  To learn more about Full Mood agency, visit the website over a www.fullmood.co.  If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com. Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved. ©2022 Design Atlas Media.

In today’s episode we will meet with Mi Cao (Zaho) a master’s student currently studying at the Hochschule München in Munich Germany. Mi’s story is super inspirational – and we will dive deep into why she chose the design path and how creative industries like the fashion industry helped inspire her to create a freer and more just world with her design work. In our chat today, we talk about trying to break free from old and unsustainable patterns that we as designers face and instead try to think outside of the box. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com.  Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved. ©2022 Design Atlas Media.

In today’s episode, we sit down with creative director Michelle Wintersteen who runs her own business called MKW Creative Co. MKW Creative Co. is a full-stack branding and social media marketing company helping its clients grow. Based out of sunny-side San Diego California, Michelle’s chat today hits so many points and is relatable to anyone who’s working in the design industry or even just getting started. Learn more about Michelle Website: mkwcreative.co  Instagram: instagram.com/mkwcreative.co Podcast: Kiss My Aesthetic  Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/kissmyaesthetic Tik-tok: Tiktok.com/@mkwcreative.co Resources: mkwcreative.co/links If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com. Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved. ©2022 Design Atlas Media.

In today’s chat, we meet Eric Haïdara, Design Director at Skalar, a digital product incubation company located in Oslo Norway. Eric grew up in the depths of France and has worked in numerous companies in a variety of international settings. Eric will walk you through his career journey thus far, and will also share some tips on how to get started in the field of interaction and digital design. Eric is also an avid photographer, featuring work with a minimalist and constructive style, and has traveled the world and taken photos in unique and inspirational settings. To see a collection of his photography work, visit his website, https://www.stratosferik.com/.  Eric’s Favorite Podcasts: Hidden Brain You’re wrong about 99% invisible Eric Inspirational Websites:  Inside Intercom Sidebar.io Invision If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit ⁠www.designatlaspod.com⁠. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram ⁠@designatlaspod⁠, tweet us ⁠@designatlaspod⁠, or send us an email at ⁠hello@designatlaspod.com⁠.  Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved. ©2022 Design Atlas Media.

In today’s chat we meet up with graphic designer Chase Moening, about what life was like graduating in the spring of 2020 during a pandemic. We also chat about how he overcame the challenges of landing a design job shortly after completing university during such uncertain and vulnerable times facing our world. To learn more about Chase, checkout his website portfolio chasemoening.com. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com. Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved.

Are you just getting started in product design? In this episode Megan and Jens go over some of their beginner mistakes and things to avoid to create a professional interface design.   If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com.   Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved.

Are you the typical designer who has tried over and over again to create a personal brand identity? Or maybe you're just starting out looking for that first design job and feel a brand will let you stand out from the competition? Whatever you situation, we've got you covered. In this episode, we talk about the pros and cons to creating a personal brand identity, and identifying when it's time to have a personal brand. We also give you some tips on what to showcase, and how to discover yourself in the branding process. As always don't forget to a leave us a review. We really appreciate it. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com. Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved.

Design systems are the new hot topic amongst digital creatives. With tools like Figma disrupting the industry with its sleek new functionality, design systems are here to stay. But have you ever thought why you should use them? What are the benefits? And what are the potential setbacks to your workflow? In this episode, we uncover some of the basics of a design system and how it can help you save enormous amounts of time and bring clarity and focus to your everyday design challenges. As always don't forget to a leave us a review. We really appreciate it. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com. Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved.

Welcome to our first design chat, where we talk about the real-life issues and topics that designers face every day. In this episode we talk about what accessibility for design is, and some of our favorite plugins that help us build more inclusive and easier-to-use digital experiences. Most of the plugins mentioned in this episode work a variety of prototyping tools including Figma, Sketch, and adobe XD. To learn more about the plugins we talk about today check out the following websites: Stark - https://www.getstark.co/ Contrast - https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/748533339900865323/Contrast Color blind - https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/733343906244951586/Color-Blind SPELLL - https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/754026612866636376 VisualEyes - https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/740542057689267294/VisualEyes Colour Contrast Checker (Chrome Extension) - shorturl.at/anFU6 Webflow’s accessibility features - https://webflow.com/accessibility As always don't forget to a leave us a review. We really appreciate it. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit www.designatlaspod.com. To get in touch with us, DM us on Instagram @designatlaspod, tweet us @designatlaspod, or send us an email at hello@designatlaspod.com. Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Sound engineered and edited by Jens Bringsjord. All rights reserved.

Did you miss the adobe Max 2020 conference? Looking for some inspiration or quick recaps from the event? Have no fear, we've got you covered! In this episode both Megan and Jens discuss each of their top adobe sessions they attended during the conference. You'll hear from speakers such as Adam Morgan, Kelli Anderson, David Leopold, Sarah Hyndman, and Row Trevellyan. Enjoy! To watch the sessions mentioned in this episode, you can visit adobe.com/max. The session codes are as follows: 0D6307: Designing to Challenge Reality — A Conceptual Toolkit S6000: Planning Your Next Step in Your Creative Career S6008: Days to Hours, Hours to Minutes: Streamlining Your Creative Process S6117: A Type Safari Through East London S6812: Creating Change: Empowering Students to Make a Difference S6502: Making Innovation Accessible and Designing Inclusive Experiences If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas, please visit linktr.ee/DesignAtlas. To get in touch with us, send us a DM on Instagram @designatlaspod, Tweet us @designatlasFM, or send us an email at designatlasfm@gmail.com. Credits Scott Holmes. Awake, www.scottholmesmusic.com. Free Music Archive. 2019. Creative Commons. 4di. Metronome, (feat. gLiq). Free Music Archive. 2014. Creative Commons. BenJamin Banger. Church. Free Music Archive. 2017. Creative Commons. Blue Dot Sessions. True Blue Sky. Free Music Archive. 2019. Creative Commons. Blue Dot Sessions. Night Watch. Free Music Archive. 2019. Creative Commons. Ketsa. Delirium. Free Music Archive. 2019. Creative Commons. Yung Kartz. Too Grimy. Free Music Archive. 2019. Creative Commons. Neeva feat. Carol. Early Bird. Free Music Archive. 2015. Creative Commons. Blue Dot Sessions. Lovers Hollow. Free Music Archive. 2019. Creative Commons. Andew Codeman. Tired Traveler on the Way to Home. Free Music Archive. 2018. Creative Commons. Soundbites from Adobe Max Conference 2020. Visit adobe.com/max for more information. Soundbite from Nasa Apollo 11 Mission. Public Domain. Visit nasa.gov/connect/sounds for more information. Produced by Jens Bringsjord and Megan Luedke. Edited by Jens Bringsjord on October 25th, 2020 in Oslo, Norway.

Election season is upon us! Have you ever wondered about the brand identities of the Trump and Biden campaigns? What about way back when George Washington was running for president? Well, in this episode we uncover the various aspects of presidential campaigns that go all the way back to some of the founders of the nation. Listen as we discuss typefaces, logos, and website designs with a mix of historical flavour. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas check out linktr.ee/DesignAtlas. To get in touch with us, send us a DM on Instagram @designatlaspod, Tweet us @designatlasFM, or send us an email.

Don't let the pandemic scare you away from planning your time abroad! Today, we share our stories of planning, adjusting, and living abroad. We explain how we coped with homesickness, took brave steps by just "doing it" and keeping an open mind in all situations. Join us as we fly over to Europe and share our experiences with you. Maybe you'll even learn something that you can take with you on your time abroad!   If you enjoyed this podcast episode you might also enjoy the podcast "The Study Abroadcast". Megan was featured in an episode in January 2019. Check it out here: https://spoti.fi/2EmEnYS  If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas check out linktr.ee/DesignAtlas.   To get in touch with us, send us a DM on Instagram @designatlaspod, Tweet us @designatlasFM, or send us an email.   Spoiler alert: Megan got a cat! In this episode we mentioned Megan's popular instagram featuring her cat. Give her a follow @riz_the_space_kitten.

Are you trying to land your first design job but don't know where to begin? We've got you covered. Today, we talk about everything from networking to finding that first job, to remote interview tips, as well as tricks to stay positive even when rejection letters come in. We know you've got what it takes to land your first design job, and we're excited to share our journey to help you get there. If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas check out linktr.ee/DesignAtlas. To get in touch with us, send us a DM on Instagram @designatlaspod, Tweet us @designatlasFM, or send us an email.

Doesn’t it feel like there are literally millions of typefaces to choose from? In today’s episode, we’ll talk about the top five biggest mistakes we’ve seen non-designers make, and how they can be easily fixed. Of course, as designers, it’s up to us to let our non-designer friends know about the typography crimes they’re committing–but we’ll leave that for another episode. Happy listening (and typesetting). Jens’ favorite typeface: https://fonts.adobe.com/fonts/aktiv-grotesk Megan’s favorite typeface: https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Noto+Sans Here are some other resources to checkout if you’re a typeface lover like we are: Great places to find licensed and free typefaces: 1. Adobe Typekit https://fonts.adobe.com/ 2. Font Squirrel https://www.fontsquirrel.com/ 3. Google Fonts https://fonts.google.com/ Some other resources: 1. Google font pairing: https://bit.ly/30RbYRQ 2. Google featured collections: https://bit.ly/2WZTNIJ 3. Identity fonts with Font Squirrel Matcherator: https://bit.ly/39BWm96 Letterform Design: 1.Typograph Study Sheets: https://bit.ly/3jIN8MU 2. 36 Days of Type: https://bit.ly/3jAH9JQ 3. The Font that Never Sleeps: https://www.instagram.com/cooperblack.nyc/ If you’d like to support the show or to learn more about Design Atlas check out linktr.ee/DesignAtlas. To get in touch with us, send us a DM on Instagram @designatlaspod, Tweet us @designatlasFM, or send us an email.

In our first episode of Design Atlas, we talk about one of our favorite topics: international living while learning design. It’s through our diverse international exposure in the design industry that we both began seeing the impact design had on a cultural and global scale. As we introduce ourselves, we’ll take you on our journey from the beginning of our design career and how we got to where we are today. Learn how you can stay connected with Design Atlas by visiting linktr.ee/DesignAtlas. If you’d like to get in touch with us, send us a DM on Instagram @designatlaspod, Tweet us @designatlasFM, or send us an email.

Join us for our chats where we discuss everything design related as we work on our upcoming season for the Design Atlas Podcast. You’ll get insider tips from product design, to building a brand, to how to cope with just being a designer.