Welcome to Valuable Conversations, a student-produced podcast from UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Today, MPA alumni Justin Beirold and PhD student Nai Kalema sit down with George Aye – Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Greater Good Studios. Greater Good Studios is a design consultancy in Chicago that advances people-centered social change. There is a reason why very few design studios focus exclusively on making the world a better place - it is because it’s really hard! And it’s even harder if you are willing to admit that many of the most reliable tools in the design toolbox either totally ignore or actually intensify issues of power and privilege. It is easy enough to talk about participatory design, community, and social justice, but to incorporate these lofty ideals into your day-to-day practice requires new methods, new metrics, and new ways of thinking that quickly lead you into uncharted territory. I highly recommend checking out some of George’s other talks online to learn more. In this conversation, we cover some of these questions and the personal side of how George got to where he is today.

We knew we wanted to interview George from the moment we heard him give a guest lecture in our MPA, and we really appreciate him taking the time to share his perspective with us.  So please enjoy our conversation with George Aye.

-Greater Good Studio: https://greatergoodstudio.com/

-Follow George on Twitter: https://twitter.com/georgeaye

Learn about our student hosts:

- Justin Beirold: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/justin-beirold

- Nai Kalema: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/nai-lee-kalema

Follow IIPP on Twitter: @IIPP_UCL https://twitter.com/IIPP_UCL

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/

Production and music by Justin Beirold

For all IIPP podcast related comments or feedback, please email justin.beirold.20@ucl.ac.uk