Design Podcasts To Expand Your Thinking and Widen Your Perception
I’ll admit, I was very late to jump on the podcast bandwagon. I recall seeing the symbols for podcasts occassionally as I surfed websites as a child but I never could quite figure out how to use them, or access them. With the advent of multiple OS’s flooding the market and the availability of countless apps and websites to access them, podcasts have become a very frequent presence in my life. Be it listening to a cooking podcast while cooking, or a fitness podcast while working out, there is absolutely no activity I engage in that doesnt have a podcast as my ambient sound. The range of podcasts have helped me become a better person, personally and professionally. Design podcasts, however, are the only podcasts (apart from ted, and self help podcasts) that I listen to with a seriousness I only ever adhered to during the best of my classes during college. With a design podcast, you’re bound to come out after it with a better understanding of who you are, your work, the substance in your work and the quality of your focus towards your work. Some of the most enriching podcasts that house a priceless wealth of knowledge are mentioned below.
Why: The Design Matters Podcast is the gold-standard of design podcasts. Being one of the first podcasts in the world, Debbie Millman has independedntly broadcasted this show for over 15 years. It has featured every designer worth their salt in a candid, disarming conversation discussing their highs and falls weaved into the story of their creative lifespans.
Why: TheFutur has risen as one of the strongest authorities on creative learning on youtube over the last few years. Chris Do shares bite-sized tips on his instagram on a daily basis which pack more substance than most design schools provide today. This podcast is a continuiation of those efforts. This is a serios podcast with information that will change the way a creative conducts their business, themselves and their own workflows.
Why: Dribbble’s official podcast explores the most interesting design news and gives tips for designers to create their best work. Meg Lewis hosts their podcast that primes any designer with information and latest releases per week. This is the equivalent of a health shot for your deisgn news’ requirements.
Why: I cannot thank Kawal Oberoi enough for creating this podcast. This is something that the Indian Design Industry needed so desparately, especially the students bring churned out like a cookie cutter mould in the current scenario. It is a series of candid conversations with designers, exploring some of their most labour-intensive projects and the projects they’re passionate about. The range of the conversations covers topics from personal design-related grievances to professional insights. These are literal design classrooms and not a podcast anyone should be sleeping on.
Why: A venture by InVisionApp, this podcast delivers remarkable insights from some of the most renowned designers that can help creatives to transform their practise and build better products. Hosted by Aarron Walter and Eli Woolery. They share best practices that have been tried and tested by professionals for more than a decade for the listener to choose from and fit into their own workflows.
Why: Hosted by Tom Ross, Ian Barnard, Dustin Lee and Lisa Glanz, each of who have found tremndous success in their design fields, this is one of the most honest podcasts out there. There is such a mine of actionable tips for designers on this podcast, I think this is one of the few podcasts that is light on the mind and yet manages to teach you so much. A real fun-filled podcast, this one.
Why: This is a podcast with more than a 1000 episodes that interview designers and entrepreneurs alike. It is a daily talk show for creatives that goes beyond their craft and analyses the art of deriving happiness from work. It has evolved into a network of designers that host workshops, talks, events and provide resources.
Why: Hosted by Ian Paget, this podcast extensively delves into the science behind creating successful and efficient brand identity systems and logo design. Paget inteviews graphic designers who have created highly successful identities that make a brand thrive to understand the parameters that led to their decisions. It also covers design tips on acquiring clients, setting prices for oneself, portfolio mistakes, online branding amongst countless other topics.
Why: A podcast where Manav Madan interviews design leaders, mentors, influencers and evangelists to talk to them about their design journey, how to be a better designer and the future of design in India. This is a relatively new podcast but its is India-centric and helps understand the markets closer to home. It is primarily a podcast that explores the world of User Experience Design.
Why: This is a weekly podcast that aids designers in building a thriving creative practise. hosted by Andy J. Pizza, they feature industry giants such as Aaron Draplin and Joseph-Gordon Levitt to share the hacks and tricks theyve learnt over their professional journeys. This is a goldmine for all kinds of designers to learn about the inner workings of the design industry.
Note: These are all available on Google Podcasts, Spotify and Apple Podcasts as well.