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Design Of Podcast

Design Of Podcast

By: with host Justin Ahrens
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About this listen

 The Design Of isn’t a podcast about graphic design. It’s about the intentional design of how we live, lead, create—and pursue what matters most. Hosted by brand strategist and storyteller Justin Ahrens, The Design Of explores the moments, decisions, and values that shape how people find purpose, navigate change, and create meaningful impact in their lives and work. Through powerful, human-centered conversations with startup founders, bestselling authors, artists, teachers, business leaders, everyday innovators, and even Olympic medalists and an Oscar winner—each episode reveals what it really takes to build a life (and legacy) with intention. Whether you’re leading a business, building a brand, making art, or simply trying to live more intentionally, The Design Of invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters. Brought to you—intentionally and with purpose—by Rule29 and O’Neil Printing. 07d1f150-18b2-11f0-ad84-11f0a7387296All rights reserved Economics
Episodes
  • 10 Episode 73: Sarah Kissko Hersh - The Design Of: Getting Unstuck

    10 Episode 73: Sarah Kissko Hersh - The Design Of: Getting Unstuck
    Dec 18 2025
    What if great communication isn’t about saying more, but saying what actually matters? Sarah Kissko Hersh has spent more than two decades inside agencies, brands, and leadership rooms where words carry weight. She grew up in Indiana, built her career in Chicago and New York, and learned early that clarity, not polish, is what moves people forward. Along the way, she worked across architecture, design, travel, luxury, and global firms, often stepping into messy moments where teams felt stuck and leaders felt unsure of what to say next. What started as a traditional PR career slowly evolved into something deeper. Sarah saw how often people were promoted into leadership without being taught how to manage. How communication broke down not because of bad intentions, but because of fear, burnout, and lack of direction. And how simple, honest language could reset entire teams. Today, Sarah is the founder of Type A, a communications and leadership consultancy based outside New York City. Her work focuses on helping people get unstuck, communicate directly without losing kindness, and lead with clarity in moments that matter. In this conversation, Sarah and Justin talk about what PR really is and what it is not. Why simple stories still win. How bad managers can teach you just as much as good ones. Why constraints often unlock better ideas. And how platforms like LinkedIn are less about self-promotion and more about learning to name what you already know. For leaders, creatives, and communicators, this episode is about making work feel lighter without making it shallow. About learning while you laugh. And about remembering that the most effective communication is deeply human. What You’ll Learn + Clarity beats complexity. Simple, honest language builds trust faster than polished noise. + PR is about truth, not spin. Good communication starts with what’s real. + Leadership is learned. Managing people requires skills most of us were never taught. + Fear keeps teams stuck. Naming it is often the first step forward. + Constraints spark creativity. Less can actually lead to better ideas. Why It Matters Sarah’s perspective reminds us that communication is not a soft skill. It is leadership in action. Whether you manage a team, tell stories for a living, or simply want to be understood at work, this episode shows how clarity, humor, and care can change the way people listen and respond. Listen Now If this conversation made you laugh, think, or see your work a little differently, share it with someone who leads, writes, or communicates for a living. Follow Design Of wherever you listen, and keep building work that helps people understand what truly matters.
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    49 mins
  • 10 Episode 72: Gordon Kaye - The Design Of Legacy and Clarity

    10 Episode 72: Gordon Kaye - The Design Of Legacy and Clarity
    Nov 30 2025
    What if the most powerful kind of creativity isn’t about making things beautiful, but making them clear? Gordon Kaye never planned to work in design. He studied law, built a career in New York, and handled media and trademark cases before joining NBC as counsel, reviewing everything from late-night jokes to broadcast standards. But when his father’s health declined, he stepped away from law to take over the family publication, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), a magazine his father had launched in the 1960s to celebrate the people behind design, not just the work itself. What began as a rescue mission became a lifelong calling. Gordon brought his legal mind and curiosity for communication to a creative field that thrives on clarity. Over the decades, he’s evolved GDUSA into more than a design magazine, it’s a respected voice for how ideas move through business, marketing, and culture. In our conversation, Gordon and Justin talk about what design can teach every leader: how to communicate simply, lead with empathy, and build trust through the way we share information. They discuss how his outsider’s view helped him see design not as decoration, but as direction. And how clarity, when done well, can turn creative thinking into real influence. For business and marketing leaders, this episode is about more than design. It’s about the responsibility of communication. About how we help people see what matters. And how legacy, when guided by purpose, can evolve without losing its truth. What You’ll Learn + Clarity earns influence. The best ideas don’t need to shout—they need to be understood. + Every message is designed. The way you shape words, visuals, or decisions defines how people respond. + Legacy means evolution. True leadership honors the past while adapting to what’s next. + Trust is the real deliverable. In every field, communication rooted in honesty connects. + Purpose over polish. Simplicity, empathy, and meaning will always outperform noise. Why It Matters Gordon’s journey, from NBC’s legal floors to the heart of the design community, proves that communication is leadership. You don’t have to be a designer to think like one. You just have to care about how people understand you. Listen Now If this episode helps you think differently about how you lead, share it with someone who shapes communication where you work. Follow Design Of wherever you listen, and keep building teams, messages, and brands that people can trust.
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    44 mins
  • 10 Episode 71: TBD - The Design of People-First Events

    10 Episode 71: TBD - The Design of People-First Events
    Nov 19 2025
    What happens when you stop chasing views and start designing for belonging? When the world went online, most virtual events started to feel the same, flat, distant, and forgettable. But not for Rachel Elnar, Heather Lynn, and David Carr-Berry. Together, they built some of Adobe’s most loved digital experiences: Creative Jams and The Perfect Match, a 1970s-style design game show complete with music, lights, wigs, and real connection. These weren’t webinars. They were living, breathing events that made thousands of creatives feel seen. Each brought something vital: Rachel’s heart for community, David’s director’s eye for rhythm and flow, and Heather’s producer’s instinct for care and calm. Their shared secret? Treat every audience like a room full of humans. When layoffs hit, they took that shared language and built something new: Together By Design—a creative studio helping others build programs with purpose, host events with empathy, and grow communities that last. This is a conversation about saying yes to collaboration, honoring craft, and leading with care in a digital world that often forgets what connection really means. In This Episode + What makes a live event feel alive, and how to design for it + The small touches that make an audience feel seen + Why systems and empathy are equally important behind the scenes + The difference between an audience and a community (and why it matters) + A behind-the-scenes story of a live show gone wrong, and what it taught them + Why joy and structure are the true foundation of creative work Guests Rachel Elnar is a creative producer, designer, and founder of Together By Design. She previously led Adobe’s Creative Jam program, helping thousands of designers connect and grow. Heather Lynn is a digital events producer and educator who helps speakers and teams show up with confidence, presence, and calm. David Carr-Berry is a director who sees live production as choreography for people, story, and emotion, and loves when the unexpected brings beauty. Key Takeaways + Design events for belonging, not performance + The most powerful tool in live work is empathy + Systems create space for spontaneity and joy + Building community requires care before, during, and after the show + When you respect your audience, they’ll keep showing up The Heart of It At its heart, this episode is about something bigger than events. It’s about presence. About noticing the people on the other side of the screen. Because when we create with care, whether it’s a meeting, a mural, or a moment—we remind the world what it feels like to be together.
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    47 mins
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