Design Deep Dive: A Design Psychology Podcast

A heartfelt thank you to listeners for a great first season of Design Deep Dive! In this episode, I discuss what's ahead for the podcast, as well as announcing a brief pause before launching Season 2. Be sure to catch up on Season 1 episodes in the meantime, and stay tuned for more engaging, inspiring conversations!Chapters00:00 Introduction to Design Deep Dive01:12 Understanding Design Psychology02:36 Looking Ahead to Season Two Connect with Dr. Za:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/⁠⁠⁠Book a Design Psychology Consult Call: ⁠⁠⁠https://designwithdrza.com/place

Can our past experiences of place influence our present relationship to home? In this episode of Design Deep Dive, I offer a 15-minute guided visualization exercise to connect with a favorite place in childhood or another period of your life.Through engaging in this reflective practice, you can reveal important aspects of home or place that can support you at your current stage of life. Dive into the magic of your imagination and lived experiences with this simple, yet powerful meditation to clarify your relationship to place. In this episode: Guided meditation to connect with a favorite past placeSuggested practices for integrating these insights into your understanding of relationship to placeThe reality of home carrying different emotional meanings for different peopleThe potential for past memories of place to facilitate action towards aligning with a supportive home spaceChapters00:00 Exploring Design Psychology and Its Importance04:14 Guided Meditation: Journey to Your Favorite Place19:41 Reflecting on Your Experience and Next Steps Connect with Dr. Za:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/⁠⁠Book a Design Psychology Consult Call: ⁠⁠https://designwithdrza.com/place

How do we create spaces that reflect our authentic selves, especially during periods of transition in life? In this episode of Design Deep Dive, I chat with June Reese, a creative strategist, experience architect, and designer, about navigating our emotional connections to place, authenticity, and designing spaces that feel true to who we are.June shares her unique journey as a designer and the process of creating her NAACP-nominated book Iconic Home, celebrating Black designers and providing accessible ways to engage with interior design. We also discuss June’s experience of engaging in the design psychology process, the importance of mentorship and community in the design industry, her evolving professional identity, and the power of creating a home that supports your current phase of life.In this episode:Navigating working with design clients and supporting their emotional needsEmbracing one's unique journey and allowing your home to reflect thatThe importance of being true to yourself in making design choicesThe potential for collaboration between psychologists and designers to enhance our understanding of how we relate to spacesConnect with June:Website: ⁠⁠https://junereese.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thejunereese__⁠⁠Book: Iconic HomeHouse of June InteriorsBlack Interior Designers, Inc.Connect with Dr. Za:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/⁠⁠Book a Design Psychology Consult Call: ⁠⁠https://suzan-ahmed.clientsecure.me

How does our personality influence the design choices we make? In this episode of Design Deep Dive, I chat with Sophia Trinh, an artist based in Seattle, WA, about personality, social-emotional needs, and designing spaces that reflect and support our authentic selves.Sophia shares her journey of self-discovery through her art and engaging in the design psychology process. We discuss navigating cultural influences in creating a comfortable home, the importance of communicating our needs when sharing space with others, the power of space to enhance creativity, and why understanding one's personality is essential for creating a home that truly supports us.In this episode:The value of personality assessment in creating spaces that reflect identity and emotional needsHow to navigate different social and other personality needs in shared spacesThe importance of allowing our environments to evolve as we doThe role of design psychology in helping us align our internal world with our external environmentConnect with Sophia:Website: ⁠https://sophiatrinh.com⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/philosophiatrinh⁠Connect with Dr. Za:Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/⁠Book a Design Psychology Consult Call: ⁠https://suzan-ahmed.clientsecure.me

How do we navigate our identity and healing journeys in a new place? How can we relate to our spaces as sacred tools for alchemy and growth? In this episode of Design Deep Dive, I chat with Nicky Macaluso, a somatic therapist and multidimensional healer, to explore the deeper connections between space, identity, privilege, and healing.Nicky shares his relocation journey from New York to Hawai’i, how living in a new place has impacted his personal and professional work, navigating privilege and sacredness as he relates to this new environment, and what home means for him.Content Warning: Brief mention of suicide in guest's bio at beginning of episode (1:48-1:50)In this episode:The role of the environment in understanding our identity and other relationshipsHow new environments can create an opportunity for deep healing and transformationThe importance of acknowledging privilege in relation to new cultural spacesThe power of design psychology to help us explore our inner and outer environmentsConnect with Nicky:Website: ⁠https://resilientrelief.comEmail: namacaluso@gmail.com Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nicky.mac.somaticsConversation with Ghylian BellConnect with Dr. Za:Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/⁠Book a Design Psychology Consult Call: ⁠https://suzan-ahmed.clientsecure.me

When we think of interior design, we often focus on aesthetics—but what about the psychological needs that shape how a space truly feels? In this episode of Design Deep Dive, I chat with Dr. Sarah Seung-McFarland, a licensed psychologist specializing in design and fashion psychology, to explore the deeper connections between space, identity, and well-being.Dr. Sarah shares her journey from counseling psychology to design psychology, how she integrates environmental autobiographies into her interior design work, and why understanding emotional connections to space is essential for creating a home that truly supports us.In this episode:The role of design psychology in creating spaces that reflect identity and emotional needsHow environmental autobiographies help uncover past, present, and future relationships to placeWhy a home’s emotional impact is just as important as its visual appealThe future of design psychology and the importance of interdisciplinary collaborationConnect with Dr. Sara:Website: https://trulery.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/trulery_/Connect with Dr. Za:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/Book a Design Psychology Consult Call: https://suzan-ahmed.clientsecure.me

How do our spaces shape our emotions, behaviors, and well-being? In this episode of Design Deep Dive, Dr. Za welcomes Dr. Klarissa Castro, founder of Design Shrink Studios, to explore the emerging field of design psychology.Dr. Castro blends her background as a clinical therapist with her passion for interior design, helping individuals create spaces that reflect their identity, history, and emotional needs. Through her work in residential and commercial design, she applies a trauma-informed approach to ensure that spaces are not only aesthetically pleasing but also psychologically supportive.In this episode: How design psychology integrates therapy and interior design The importance of a trauma-informed approach when creating spaces How our past environments shape our sense of home The process of spatial case conceptualization to design emotionally supportive spaces Why collaboration between designers and psychologists is essential for holistic designConnect with Dr. Castro:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designshrink_studios/Website: https://www.designshrinkstudios.com/Connect with Dr. Za:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/Book a Design Psychology Consult Call: https://suzan-ahmed.clientsecure.me

How do the spaces we live and work in shape our emotions, relationships, and overall well-being? In this debut episode of Design Deep Dive, host Dr. Suzan Ahmed (Dr. Za)—a clinical psychologist, integrative coach, yoga teacher, and design psychologist—introduces the concept of design psychology and its impact on our lives.Dr. Za shares her journey from psychotherapy to design psychology, speaking about how lighting, color, furniture, and even scent influence our mental and emotional states. She explores how our unconscious relationship with space affects our sense of security and personal growth, and how design psychology can be used to create environments that truly support our well-being.In this episode: The foundations of design psychology and its role in shaping our environments How space influences mental health, self-expression, and personal growth The connection between home, memory, and identity What a design psychology consultation looks like and who can benefit from it How this field bridges the gap between psychology, architecture, and interior designConnect with Dr. Za:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/Book a Design Psychology Consult Call: https://suzan-ahmed.clientsecure.me

Welcome to Design Deep Dive, where we explore the many ways we relate to our environments and place, from our homes to our hometowns, from the built environment to our planet. By deeply understanding our relationship to place, we can create a more conscious relationship to these spaces and the world around us. Each episode, I interview guests to discuss various topics across the spectrum of design and psychology, as well as share my own experiences with place. When we can awaken to our relationship to place, we can work towards designing a more inclusive, safe, and just world. Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designwithdr.za/