LISTEN
Each 45-minute episode of this limited podcast series features a Chicago designer who works 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.