AIGA Design Podcast

AIGA has been the professional association for design in the United States since 1914, and their podcast brings that institutional knowledge to an audio format. The show explores the design discipline, profession, and industry through conversations that tend to go deeper on identity, mindset, and design's role in society than most design podcasts bother to. Hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello guide the conversations with a thoughtful, unhurried approach. The current 2024-2025 season carries the theme "Design and Performance," which gives the episodes a cohesive thread while still allowing for wide-ranging conversations. Past episodes have covered design education, community engagement, branding strategy, and the intersection of design with business and innovation. The bimonthly release schedule means episodes don't come out frequently, but each one feels substantial and well-considered. What distinguishes this podcast from others in the design space is its institutional perspective. AIGA has relationships with designers, educators, and organizations across the entire profession, and the guest roster reflects that breadth. You'll hear from people working in community-focused design, social impact work, and design education alongside more traditional creative directors and brand strategists. The conversations tend to focus on the bigger picture of what it means to be a designer in the world, rather than getting into specific tools or techniques. It's less practical than some shows on this list, but it fills an important role in connecting designers to the broader cultural and professional context of their work. If you care about where the design profession is headed and what values should guide it, AIGA's podcast is a thoughtful companion.