Design Of Podcast cover art

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 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
  • S11 Episode 75: John Pobojewski- The Design Of Across Disciplines

    S11 Episode 75: John Pobojewski- The Design Of Across Disciplines
    Apr 9 2026
    What happens when a creative leader realizes that style alone isn’t enough, and decides to build something rooted in idea, intention, and longevity instead? In this episode of Design Of, I sit down with John Pobojewski to explore the tension between style and substance, and what it really takes to create work that lasts. This is a conversation about design, yes—but more importantly, it’s about leadership, conviction, and the responsibility that comes with shaping brands in a world that moves fast but forgets even faster. John has spent his career helping organizations think more clearly about who they are and why they exist. Along the way, he’s seen what happens when brands chase trends, confuse motion with progress, or mistake aesthetic for meaning. His perspective is simple, but not easy: without a real idea, design becomes decoration, and decoration doesn’t endure. This episode is not about making things look better. It’s about making them matter. Key Takeaways “If there’s no idea behind it, it’s just style. And style doesn’t last.” Strong brands are built on clear ideas, not visual trends Design without meaning creates noise, not impact The best creative work simplifies, not complicates Longevity comes from conviction, not reaction Clients don’t need more options, they need clearer direction John’s perspective is a reminder that great design is not about decoration. It’s about decision-making. It’s about knowing what matters, and having the discipline to build around it. If you care about building a brand that lasts, not just one that looks good today, this conversation will stay with you. Listen now and rethink what your brand is really built on.
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    44 mins
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