The Design Of Business | The Business of Design

Produced by Design Observer and hosted by Michael Bierut and Jessica Helfand, The Design Of Business | The Business of Design is a smart, conversational show that sits at the intersection of creative work and commercial reality. Bierut is a longtime partner at Pentagram and one of the most respected graphic designers working today, and Helfand is a designer, writer, and educator who brings a historian's eye to the conversation. Together they interview a wide range of guests, from founders and creative directors to novelists, architects, and marketers, about how design decisions shape the businesses they run and the culture around them. The episodes feel less like promotional interviews and more like thoughtful conversations between peers. Past guests have included the founders of Warby Parker, Glossier, Shinola, and Oatly, along with design leaders from Airbnb, Apple, and MoMA. The hosts ask the kinds of questions designers actually want answered: how does a visual identity survive a company's rapid growth, what happens when the founders stop agreeing about the brand, and why do some creative partnerships work while others fall apart. There's a dry wit that runs through the show, and both hosts are generous about sharing their own experiences. If you care about how design gets made in the real world, and the messy business decisions behind it, this one deserves a permanent spot in your feed.