Design Observer

@designobserver.com

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The best conversations in design — expert-led, multidisciplinary, and for the curious mind. Essays, podcasts, and events that inspire and connect. https://designobserver.com/

Graphic promoting the Design Observer Job Board, featuring a Junior Designer opening at Brooklyn Public Library in Brooklyn, New York. Text encourages viewers to explore more opportunities at DesignObserver.com/jobs.
Design Observer branded graphic of a ripple effect two water droplets in brown and black with lime green text that read DO20 Radical Collaboration The Design Observer 20
Debbie Millman speaks in an audiogram video, sharing a personal reflection on what Pride means to her. A waveform moves across the screen, set against a neutral background with her headshot and captions visible.
Debbie Millman speaking to Design Observer during a podcast interview. She discusses how many brands are capitulating to racist political sentiment in the U.S., calling it both a constitutional and capitalist crisis. The background is a headshot of Debbie with captions overlayed.
Video clip of director Jon M. Chu speaking onstage at the Great Place to Work For All Summit. He discusses the art of collaboration, how each film is like building a new company, and what it takes to establish a creative culture where great work can thrive.
Audi clip of director Jon M. Chu speaking onstage with Ellen McGirt at the Great Place to Work Summit, 2025. He reflects on embracing his identity as an Asian American filmmaker, fatherhood, and how those experiences reshaped his storytelling.
Design Observer is calling for essays, opinion pieces, and creative responses on AI image-making and its cultural consequences. What happens when AI mimics the magic of Studio Ghibli? White text against blue background above a Studio Ghibli version of the popular Distracted Boyfriend Meme.
Clip of Tony saying: And I think being truthful to yourself is the best thing that you can do. You never want to sell yourself out because it’s something you’ll never get back. And and I do think that through design, we’re able to actually bring authenticity to the surface and make that the thing, the value that organizations are looking for in their talent. Someone told me the other day, you seem like you’re the product. I’m like, yeah, I kind of am. I’m the product in many ways. And so just like a product, who’s my market? Who am I targeting? Who do I best serve? Who can I create greatest value for? These are things that I have to decide on in order to bring my full self into a role. I hope that makes sense.
Green background with white text that reads: Yes, “the dark side of forest development” was “always there.” And today, it’s compounded by climate crisis, fascism, and other perils of our own making that uproot trees from the soil and people from their lands. But all hope is not lost, Handel says. He sees bright spots in our past that can light our path forward. In an excerpt from the interview with Dan Handel by Delaney Rebernik
Pull quote on a light purple background with white text: ‘What we are actually trying to do here in Community Pass is connect together all the different actors required to make digital transactions happen, so that smallholder farmers can access banking, sell and buy goods, go to school, and have a form of identification.’ – Tara Nathan
Tara Nathan of Mastercard discusses why there’s no 'silver bullet' app to solve poverty and the importance of digital ecosystems for empowering smallholder farmers in the latest episode of the Design of Business podcast.
Headshot of Architect & urbanist Michael Eliason in black and white against a purple background with white text that reads The Design of Business the Business of Design.
White and orange text on a black background featuring a quote from Lee Moreau, host of Design As, a podcast by Design Observer.