LISTEN
Each 45-minute episode of this limited podcast series features one of ten Chicago designers who work with, in, or for community to discuss how their practice has changed since the global pandemic in March 2020. Interviews were conducted by Nicolette Stosur-Bassett and recorded on Zoom in March-April 2021; the podcast was launched at the Designing for: community event with AIGA Chicago in June. The Designing For podcast was funded by a community engagement grant from AIGA Chicago and Do It Better Design.
LYNDON VALICENTI
Designing for: ambiguity
Lyndon talks about her work helping mission-driven clients transition their systems in response to remote work, and a recent project advancing play equity.
ALVIN SCHEXNIDER
Designing for: equity
Alvin talks about creating the Racial DeckEquity card set and redesigning services for IL state employees and citizens during the pandemic.
PAOLA AGUIRRE
Designing for: resilience
Paola talks about organizing food distribution and mutual aid during COVID, and making outdoor dining guidelines accessible to restaurant owners with City Open Workshop.
JASON KUNESH
Designing for: all Chicagoans
Jason talks about launching a new brand mark for Chicago two weeks before lockdown and the responsibilities of overseeing accessibility design for city health services during a global pandemic.
ERIN HUIZENGA
Designing for: learning
Erin talks about transitioning her business to a flexible, remote culture in response to COVID and designing curriculum to coach civic leaders as part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge.
ERIC HOTCHKISS
Designing for: the people
Eric talks about his practice of culturally-relative product design and leading virtual design interventions to improve public safety on Chicago’s west side.
MARY FOYDER
Designing for: compassion
Mary talks about work-from-home parenting during the pandemic and holding space for designers’ mental health as the former VP of AIGA Chicago’s community engagement committee.
DAVE PABELLON
Designing for: solidarity
Dave talks about supporting undergraduate design students engaged in remote learning and using the anti-racist design justice index to take action against systemic racism.
RACHAEL SMITH
Designing for: public joy
Rachael talks about pivoting her new business in March 2020 and experimenting with digital mapping tools to design placemaking experiences safely from a distance.
CRAIG STEVENSON
Designing for: connection
Craig talks about using Zoom to facilitate public art activations in communities of color and his mission to remain transformational, instead of transactional, during the pandemic.