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Design Of Podcast

Design Of Podcast

By: with host Justin Ahrens
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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
  • S11 Episode 78: Dena Blevins - The Design Of Making Things That Matter

    S11 Episode 78: Dena Blevins - The Design Of Making Things That Matter
    Jun 24 2026
    After helping lead creative and innovation efforts for global brands including Starbucks and Hydro Flask, Dena Blevins found herself asking a different question: What happens when you stop building for some of the world's most recognized brands and start building something that feels deeply personal? In this episode of Design Of, Dena shares her journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship and the launch of Frank, a company inspired by the messy, funny, difficult, and beautiful realities of everyday life. At Frank, the mission is simple: create products inspired by what life throws at us and what's happening in the world around us. Sometimes that means diving into difficult topics. Sometimes it means finding humor in uncomfortable moments. And sometimes it means offering a proud middle finger and an undeniably frank point of view. Through a growing collection of bandanas, scarves, cocktail napkins, and thoughtful products, Frank gives people a way to wear, share, celebrate, mourn, laugh, support, and express what they're feeling. Or not. The choice is theirs. What makes this conversation compelling isn't the products. It's the story behind them. "I love that I can put something out there that hopefully resonates with others as well." — Dena Blevins After years helping shape stories for global brands, Dena found herself building a company rooted in that belief. We explore how leadership evolves over time, how personal experiences often become the foundation for meaningful businesses, and why some of the most impactful ideas begin not with a market opportunity but with a human one. Along the way, we talk about entrepreneurship, reinvention, grief, humor, purpose, storytelling, and what it means to create work that reflects who you are, not just what you do. And perhaps the biggest takeaway is this: The most meaningful businesses don't just create products. They create connection. In This Episode, We Explore • Dena's journey from global creative leadership at Starbucks and Hydro Flask to entrepreneurship • The story behind Frank and why she started it • Building a business rooted in honesty, humor, and humanity • How personal experiences can become meaningful products and opportunities • Why storytelling remains one of the most powerful business tools • The relationship between purpose, creativity, and entrepreneurship • What it means to redefine success in a new chapter of life Key Takeaways • Experience often reveals what matters most • Great businesses begin with real human needs • Stories create connection when they are relatable, honest, and human • Humor can help people navigate difficult conversations • Purpose and business can strengthen one another • New chapters require courage, curiosity, and conviction About Dena Dena Blevins is an entrepreneur, storyteller, and former global creative leader whose career includes leadership roles with Starbucks and Hydro Flask. She is the founder of Frank, a brand that creates bold, honest products inspired by real life and the world around us. Through bandanas, scarves, cocktail napkins, and storytelling, Frank helps people express themselves with humor, humanity, and an unapologetically frank point of view.
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    39 mins
  • S11 Episode 77: Nancy O'Connor - The Design Of Figuring It Out on Stage

    S11 Episode 77: Nancy O'Connor - The Design Of Figuring It Out on Stage
    May 16 2026
    Nancy O’Connor is building a comedy career the old-fashioned way. By bombing, writing, trying again, living with her 91-year-old great aunt, and realizing almost everything in life can become material if you are paying attention. In this episode of Design Of, Nancy talks about growing up in a big Irish Catholic family where getting heard at the dinner table was basically a competitive sport. She shares how her dad’s full-body laugh shaped her sense of humor, why open mics are both terrifying and useful, and how living with her great aunt has become part roommate story, part sitcom, part writing lab. It’s funny, but there’s something real underneath it. Nancy is not pretending the path is clear. She is working it out in real time. Corporate jobs, comedy classes, silent open mics, family stories, dating in New York, and a 90+ year-old roommate who may or may not be the best unpaid writing partner in Brooklyn. And if nothing else, here’s your takeaway: + Pay attention to your life. That’s the material. + Even the weird parts. Especially the weird parts. + Because if Nancy can turn living with a 91-year-old roommate and arguing at the dinner table into a comedy career… you’re probably sitting on something too. + You just have to be willing to write it down. In This Episode, We Explore + What it takes to build a stand-up career one open mic at a time + How growing up in a big family teaches you timing, volume, and survival + Why bombing is awful, helpful, and somehow part of the job + How Nancy’s dad became both comedy influence and recurring material + Why the best stories usually come from real life, not perfect conditions + How to keep going when the room is silent and karaoke is apparently next Key Takeaways + A loud dinner table can be better training than a classroom + Sometimes the safest career path is the one that feels least alive + Your family may be your first audience and your most dangerous source material + Good comedy starts with paying attention + Bombing does not mean stop. It means rewrite About Nancy: Nancy O’Connor is a New York City-based stand-up comedian who is building her career through writing, performing, producing shows, and finding material in the everyday moments most people miss. Her comedy draws from family, dating, Catholic guilt, corporate life, and the strange gift of living with her 91-year-old great aunt. She has also been featured in Artists of New York in an episode titled “Comedy Over Corporate.”
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    47 mins
  • S11 Episode 76: Rhyon Nicole Brown - The Design Of Who Gets to Tell the Story

    S11 Episode 76: Rhyon Nicole Brown - The Design Of Who Gets to Tell the Story
    Apr 30 2026
    What happens when a triple threat talent decides it’s not enough to perform in the system, and starts building a new one? In this episode of Design Of, I sit down with Rhyon, an actor, singer, and entrepreneur who is stepping into a new role. Not just as a performer, but as a creator and builder through her company, Rhume. Rhyon has spent years in the entertainment industry, building a career across film, television, and music. She knows what it takes to show up, deliver, and succeed in spaces that are competitive and often limiting. But success inside the system raised a bigger question for her. What if the system itself needs to change? Through Rhume, Rhyon is working to rethink how media is created and shared. Not just more content, but better ownership. More intentional storytelling. More opportunity for voices that don’t always get a seat at the table. This conversation is about that shift. From being cast to creating. From performing to producing. From participating to building. It’s about what it takes to carry multiple identities. The pressure of being known for one thing while feeling called to something more. And the discipline required to actually build it. Because building your own platform sounds exciting. Until you realize you’re responsible for everything. Why You Should Listen + If you’ve ever felt like you’ve outgrown the role you’re in, this episode will hit. + If you’re navigating multiple paths and trying to make them make sense, this will feel familiar. + And if you care about where media is going, and who gets to shape it, this conversation matters. Rhyon isn’t waiting for permission anymore. She’s building something new with Rhume. In This Episode, We Explore + What it really means to be a triple threat in today’s world + The shift from performer to entrepreneur and builder + Why Rhume exists and what it aims to change in media + The limitations of traditional entertainment systems + How to move from being selected to self-directed + The tension of evolving your identity in public + What it takes to build something from the ground up + The responsibility that comes with owning your voice Key Takeaways + Talent gets you in the room. Ownership changes the room + You can succeed in a system and still decide to outgrow it + Building something new requires clarity, not just ambition + Multi-dimensional careers are harder, but more honest + Media is shifting toward creators who own their platforms + The future belongs to those willing to rethink the structure, not just the output Whether you’re building something new, refining what already exists, or simply paying closer attention to where you are… this conversation is for you. Take a few minutes and sit with it. About Rhyon: Rhyon is an actor, singer, and entrepreneur whose work spans film, television, and music. Starting her career at a young age, she built a strong foundation in performance before expanding into business and media. She is the founder of Rhume, a company focused on rethinking how stories are created, shared, and owned.
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    43 mins
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