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Why do some objects feel alive? In this episode of MINDED, designer Mathieu Lehanneur reveals the emotional, scientific, and instinctive forces that shape his work. Known for blending art, technology, psychology, and poetry, Mathieu explains why he sees objects as “stem cells” carriers of energy, memory, and human connection. We explore: • The emotional energy hidden inside objects • Why touch is the first test of good design • His process of adding, then subtracting • Childhood experiences that shaped his creative sensitivity • Designing the 2024 Olympic Cauldron • Survivalism and design in an uncertain world • Why legacy doesn’t matter but opening tiny doors does This is a conversation about the invisible life of objects, the meaning of creativity, and how design shapes the way we feel, think, and interact with the world. Chapters: 00:30 — Becoming a designer 04:00 — The art of subtraction 07:00 — Objects as stem cells 11:00 — Why touch matters15:00 — Objects revealing themselves22:00 — Opening tiny doors 26:00 — Survivalist design 35:00 — Book + film recommendations If you loved this episode, check out: • Antoine Picon — Architecture & AI • Michèle Lamy — Art, Chaos & Creation • Yinka Ilori — Joy, Color & Memory Subscribe for weekly conversations with the world’s leading creative thinkers. #MathieuLehanneur #DesignPhilosophy #EmotionalDesign #MindedPodcast #CreativeProcess #IndustrialDesign #DesignThinking #ContemporaryDesign

Antoine Picon is Professor of the History of Architecture and Technology at Harvard Graduate School of Design and one of the field's most rigorous thinkers on the relationship between technology, urbanism, and human experience. In this conversation, he reframes the questions everyone asks about AI and architecture. Rather than debating whether machines will replace designers, Picon asks what AI reveals about what it means to be human. What separates embodied intelligence from computational thinking? Is creativity actually the defining human quality, or is it something else entirely? He discusses architectural intention, the difference between buildings and buildings marked by human purpose, and why the real challenge of smart cities isn't technical capability but clarity about what we actually want. This conversation examines whether machines can understand what makes a place livable, and why answering that question requires understanding ourselves first. Top Insights - AI will shift architecture from creating forms to curating options. - Smart cities introduce both efficiency and new urban fragilities. - Digital perception reshapes how we experience materiality and scale. - Ornament remains essential: it connects sensory experience with meaning. - The biggest challenge ahead is reconciling digital innovation with planetary limits. - Education is entering a 'cyborg phase' where human-machine authorship merges. - Cities must redefine their relationship between the artificial and the natural. Timestamp: 00:00 Introduction 00:58 How AI is changing architecture 03:00 AI-assisted design and machine suggestions 05:12 Intelligence vs intention 07:30 Human judgment in an AI-driven workflow 09:40 Smart cities and digital infrastructure 11:20 Urban fragility and system risks 14:40 The morality of data-driven cities 18:20 Education in the cyborg era 18:55 The return of ornament 20:15 From symbolism to texture 22:40 Digital materiality and perception 24:10 Technology, nature, and the Anthropocene 27:25 Lessons from the Enlightenment 30:05 Digital architecture and disrupted traditions 33:20 Why Florence cannot be replicated 35:10 Architecture, memory, and meaning 39:20 Intellectual influences on Picon 40:47 Book recommendations 43:00 Future guest recommendation 44:20 Closing reflections

In this conversation, Los Angeles–based designer Jamie Bush goes deep on the fingerprints of his work: calibrated proportion, playful scale shifts, and layered vignettes that bring warmth without relying on trends. He shares how a studio can stay curious across typologies and geographies - from historic restorations to a New Orleans hotel with deco and jazz-age notes - while keeping budgets honest and craft purposeful. Founder of Jamie Bush + Co., Jamie has led projects across the U.S. and abroad, from LA to London and Finland, as well as rural retreats in Canada and Santa Fe. Trained in architecture, he frames interiors as cultural legacy: spaces that should feel right today and still feel right decades from now. Rather than chasing novelty, he prioritizes proportion, material integrity, and the long view of stewardship. 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction 01:20 — Current State of the Los Angeles Design Community 07:30 — Working Across Geographies: London, Finland, Canada, Santa Fe 10:21 — Proportion as Fingerprint: Bush’s Design Philosophy 13:30 — Working Across Diverse Styles and Typologies 18:43 — Creative Inheritance from East Coast Family 20:45 — Discovering Architecture at Tulane University 23:13 — Projects Now Take 5–7 Years (vs. Historical 2–2.5 Years) 26:30 — Designing for Stewardship: The Silvertop Lesson 28:48 — Investment Value vs. Artistic Vision 31:04 — Budget Honesty: $800 vs. $2,400 per Square Foot 34:42 — Team Exposure to Clients and Long-Term Relationships 35:26 — Control vs. Growth: The Delegation Challenge 37:50 — Why Staying in One Aesthetic Lane Feels Pathological 39:36 — Bread-and-Butter Projects Fund Passion Experiments 40:40 — Creative Courage Increases With Age 44:58 — Father Ronald Bush and Family Pride 48:20 — The Best Compliment: Clients Copying Published Work 50:16 — Recommendation: Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino 51:35 — Recommendation: The Diplomat 52:07 — Future Guest Recommendation: Max Lamb 💡 Key Topics Discussed Proportion, composition, and scale as design fingerprints Designing for longevity and future stewards Budget honesty: where craft matters and where it doesn’t Studio growth enabling creative risk through financial stability Working across geographies and historical precedents Why “playing safe rarely makes something enduring” The financial structure of passion projects vs. profitable work Historic restoration: John Lautner’s Silvertop House New Orleans hotel with 1930s deco and jazz-age influences How creative courage increases with age and experience 💬 Standout Quotes “Proportion is the fingerprint.” “To stay in one lane is sort of pathological to me. I’ll wither up and die to do the same thing over and over.” “Playing safe rarely makes something enduring.” “The best homes are multi-generational homes that are passed down or stand the test of time.” “Something that might cost $800 a square foot might cost $2,400 a square foot to do it extraordinarily well.” “I feel very comfortable going out on the limb and challenging a client in a playful way. I don’t care. I’m not fazed by those things.” 👤 About Jamie Bush Jamie Bush is an interior designer with 30 years of practice in Los Angeles. Trained in architecture at Tulane University, he founded Jamie Bush + Co., working across typologies from historic restorations to hospitality to residential retreats. His philosophy prioritizes proportion over style, stewardship over trends, and long-horizon thinking over short-term aesthetics. Bush’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest’s AD100. 🌐 Website: jamiebush.com

Will Meyer and Gray Davis, co-founders of Meyer Davis, share their design philosophy centered on "sense of place" and reveal how they create timeless luxury hospitality spaces for Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Del Vue Hotels. In this inspiring conversation, Will and Gray discuss their research-driven approach to balancing brand DNA with local culture, working with artisans and craftsmen worldwide, and why they choose timeless design over trends. From their recent projects in Dubrovnik, Sardinia, Mexico, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, discover how they became "humble interpreters" of place. 🎯 KEY TOPICS: - Sense of place in hospitality design - Research-driven design methodology - Balancing luxury brands with local authenticity - Working with local artisans and craftsmen - Timeless design vs. trendy design - Four Seasons & Mandarin Oriental projects - Design partnership and collaboration - Materials that age beautifully - Trust-based client relationships - The creative process in design

Design legends George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg join host Yuri Xavier on Minded Podcast for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about creativity, curiosity, and what it means to stay original in an industry speeding toward sameness. They unpack why design is following fashion’s destructive fast cycle, how curiosity and imperfection fuel their process, and why generosity - not ego -is the real legacy of good design. From Milan Design Week to Buddhist philosophy, empathy, and mentorship, this episode reveals how two of the world’s most influential designers continue to evolve with purpose after four decades shaping culture and craft.

Juliana Vasconcelos: "I Spent 3 Days in Paris Just Thinking to Design Milan's Most Immersive Installation" Brazilian architect Juliana Lima Vasconcelos reveals how 3 days of silent led to creating one of Milan Design Week 2024's most immersive installations the Lavazza coffee experience. In this episode, Juliana discusses: - The 3-part experiential journey using pregnancy sounds and coffee textures - Why she uses meditation as a design strategy - How Brazilian materials transformed her career - Winning the CDA Award for Best Commercial Interior - Her approach to sustainable materials and AI in design - Growing up with a pianist grandmother and studying classical music - Strategic project selection and brand collaborations Juliana Lima Vasconcelos is a Brazilian architect and interior designer based between Belo Horizonte, Paris, and London. She's been recognized by Architectural Digest Italy as bringing "Made in Brazil to the world." 🎧 LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minded-podcast/id1431518294 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JxKVhZ46mHTZ7eZ0STgHW Website: https://www.mindedpodcast.com/ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 02:15 The Lavazza Installation: Concept & Process 08:30 What is Experiential Design? 12:45 Working with Maria Cristina Didero & Timeline 18:20 Career Turning Point: Architecture to Installations 24:10 Winning the CDA Award 28:35 Sustainable Materials & Future of Design 35:50 AI in the Design Studio 40:15 Growing Up in Brazil & Musical Influence 46:20 Recommendations: Books, Films, Future Guests #JulianaVasconcelos #MilanDesignWeek #ExperientialDesign #Architecture #InteriorDesign #BrazilianDesign #Lavazza #DesignPodcast #MINDEDPodcast #SustainableDesign #CDAawards

What does it take to design entire worlds for Marvel's Fantastic Four and Loki? How do you translate a script into an immersive cinematic environment? What makes retro-futuristic design work? Is perfectionism helping or hurting your creative process? How do you balance art with the logistics of massive productions? What's AI's real impact on creative innovation? In this episode of Minded Podcast, production designer Kasra Farahani answers all of this and more. Host Yuri Xavier explores the craft, philosophy, and discipline behind some of cinema's most iconic universes - from Marvel's grandest stages to the emotional power of worldbuilding that feels authentically real.

Rivian’s Chief Design Officer Jeff Hamoud joins MINDED host Yuri Xavier to talk about the principles behind Rivian’s inviting brand identity and why empathy and usability matter as much as technology. From gear tunnels and flat floors to playful UI touches, Jeff explains how constraints inspire better design. He also shares his journey from Jeep to Rivian, and his take on what will define the next era of EV adoption.

In this episode of MINDED, artist and designer Yinka Ilori opens up about the tension between public persona and personal reality. Known as the “Architect of Joy,” Ilori shares how grief, migration, and early affirmation shaped his purpose. From building a studio that feels like a storybook to navigating the emotional complexity of design, he offers a rare glimpse into the heart of creative work. We also talk about: AI’s role in art and inclusion Why childhood memories still inform his work How he balances vulnerability with visibility A powerful conversation on creativity, emotion, and staying grounded in a noisy world.

CREATIVITY BELONGS TO THOSE WHO THINK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS Don’t just consume—engage. Subscribe to our newsletter. https://newsletter.mindedpodcast.com/subscribe Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5JxKVhZ46mHTZ7eZ0STgHW Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minded-podcast/id1431518294 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@createurs_design_association?sub_confirmation=1 EP - 112 In this deeply personal conversation, artist and designer Richard Malone reflects on queerness, class, identity, and building a creative life on his own terms. From rural Ireland to the Royal Academy and The Met, Malone opens up about the systems he’s rejected, the mentors who shaped him, and the ideas that continue to drive his art, fashion, and sculpture. A fearless voice in contemporary culture, he challenges the commercialization of creativity and invites us to rethink what it means to belong. 00:00 - Intro & guest welcome 00:14 - Richard on being an artist first, then designer 01:00 - Distinction between art and design process 03:00 - Creative process & rejection of references 06:30 - Class dynamics & privilege in London design scene 09:00 - Fashion industry doesn't know what to do with him 12:00 - Embracing a unique voice despite pressure 15:30 - Social & class diversity in fashion 17:00 - Memories of growing up in rural Ireland 21:30 - Storytelling, gender, and creative lineage 26:00 - The role of trust in Richard's collaborations 30:00 - Major moments: MoMA, Met, Royal Academy 36:00 - Support from institutions & art schools 40:00 - Influence of his grandmother & Eileen Gray project 47:00 - Saying no, finding the right path, future vision 50:00 - The value of time, space, and purpose in creative work 52:00 - Book, film, and guest recommendations

Photographer Yik Keat (YK) shares how creative discipline, rejection, and staying true to your voice helped him break through Singapore’s creative scene. From walking away from engineering to building a global audience, YK opens up about success, burnout, AI, and the power of showing up—before anyone believes in you. CREATIVITY BELONGS TO THOSE WHO THINK BEYOND THE OBVIOUSDon’t just consume—engage. Subscribe to our newsletter.https://newsletter.mindedpodcast.com/subscribe Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5JxKVhZ46mHTZ7eZ0STgHW Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minded-podcast/id1431518294 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@createurs_design_association?sub_confirmation=1

Step into the world of Achille Salvagni, one of the most celebrated architects and designers, as he shares his vision on design legacy, craftsmanship, and the emotional power of objects. In this episode of the MINDED Podcast, host Yuri Xavier explores Salvagni’s philosophy on beauty, creativity, and the timeless connection between history and modernity. Discover how Salvagni's work in luxury interiors, yacht design, and collectible furniture is shaping the future of high-end design. Learn about the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, how AI might influence creativity, and why true design is a balance of tradition and innovation. 🔹 Topics Covered: ✔️ Achille Salvagni’s approach to design legacy and luxury ✔️ The emotional connection between objects and history ✔️ Perfection vs. imperfection in Italian and Japanese design ✔️ AI’s impact on creativity and craftsmanship ✔️ The psychology behind collecting art and design piece CREATIVITY BELONGS TO THOSE WHO THINK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS Don’t just consume - engage. Subscribe to our newsletter. https://newsletter.mindedpodcast.com/subscribe Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5JxKVhZ46mHTZ7eZ0STgHW Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minded-podcast/id1431518294 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@createurs_design_association?sub_confirmation=1

How do we push the boundaries of digital art and AI while staying true to creative intuition? In this episode of MINDED Podcast, Maxim Zhestkov, a pioneering digital artist and sculptor, shares his journey of exploring unknown creative territories, breaking traditional molds, and embracing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and game design. 🎙️ Hosted by Yuri Xavier, this conversation dives deep into: 🔹 The evolution of digital art and AI’s role in creativity 🔹 Why breaking away from artistic "boxes" leads to true innovation 🔹 The intersection of gaming, architecture, and storytelling 🔹 Maxim’s philosophy on creativity, inspiration, and experimentation Zhestkov also reveals his latest projects, including his first-ever game, the influence of surrealism on his work, and why fun and awe are the two essential ingredients for creativity.

🎧 GaHee Park on MINDED Podcast | Art, Identity & Capturing Fleeting Moments What does it mean to capture a moment in art? In this episode of MINDED Podcast, GaHee Park shares her unique artistic process, from shaping surreal, intimate narratives to exploring identity, human connection, and the power of storytelling in her paintings. Topics Covered: ⏩ The inspiration behind her painting "Woman on a Beach at Dawn" ⏩ How GaHee Park crafts her art without models or references ⏩ The role of memory, light, and time in her creative process ⏩ How her upbringing in Korea influenced her perspective on life and art ⏩ Moving from New York to Montreal: How environment shapes artistic expression ⏩ The struggle between discipline and creative freedom in an artist’s life

Swiss-born artist Fabian Oefner joins the MINDED Podcast to explore the intersection of art and science, challenging conventional boundaries of creativity. From his disintegrating car series to high-speed photography that captures time in motion, Oefner’s work blends scientific precision with artistic expression. 🔹 Is there a difference between scientific documentation and creative expression? 🔹 How does art help us understand time, perception, and reality? 🔹 Can science itself be a form of artistic creation? Oefner discusses how visual storytelling makes science more accessible, the role of AI in redefining truth, and why artists and scientists are more alike than we think. 📌 Key Topics Covered: ✔️ The Role of Science in Artistic Creation ✔️ Blurring Boundaries Between Art & Scientific Discovery ✔️ How AI & Digital Media Challenge Our Perception of Reality ✔️ Exploring Time & Motion Through Photography