The Feeling Designer

4 Episodes

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Trust before tactics for co-design that sticks with Callan Rowe

2025-10-1301:05:05

Design consultant and researcher Callan Rowe joins Jessica Watson to unpack co-design that actually sticks: designing at the speed of trust, naming decision power, and moving from co-define to co-design to co-deliver. Cal traces a path from film and communication design to strategy and capability-building with VillageCo., sharing how to balance breadth vs depth, why “voice of …” projects are often research not co-design, and how strategy should make the useful feel exciting.

Designing for dignity, safety and belonging with Diletta Legowo

2025-10-1251:38

Designer and facilitator Diletta Legowo joins Jessica Watson to unpack how to design for “home”, the conditions that help people feel safe, dignified and empowered, across multicultural, power-aware collaborations. We explore facilitating yourself first, meeting people where they are, and why naming power and positionality matters. Bonus! Rituals that keep facilitators present (walks, yoga, meditation, retreats), and a provocation for designers to choose creation over consumption.

Somatic connection practises for designers with Celine Waters

2025-10-1257:37

Somatic embodiment coach and human-centred designer Celine Waters joins Jessica Watson to explore how body-based practices can transform design work in complex, trauma-touched contexts. Celine traces her path from biochemistry and computer science to service design, and we unpack the window of tolerance, safety, belonging and dignity as practical design inputs, and how facilitators can use centring, breath and invitational language to go slow to go fast.

A new design story for Australia with Jessica Watson

2025-10-1228:10

Your host, Jessica Watson, introduces The Feeling Designer Podcast, a podcast about empathy-led, place-based, co-designed practice. From London and Shanghai to TACSI, Jess unpacks the method and mindset behind designing for belonging, care and cultural respect, and why Australia needs a new design identity grounded in Country and community. Featuring lessons from brand strategy, experience masterplanning, social innovation and reflective practice. ❤️‍🔥 @jessicaclairewatsondesign

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