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In this sixth and final episode of season 5 of Design Futures, I talk with Taneisha Lugo, a principal product designer at Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform, where she designs interactive features including mini games, short form content, and experiences tied to major properties like the NBA and the Olympics. Taneisha has previously worked at companies including Instagram, BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and 2communiqué, and her work has been recognized by the Albany Ad Club, Adweek, and the Webby Awards. She is a 2014 graduate of The College of Saint Rose.  We trace Taneisha’s path from studying fine arts to discovering graphic design and ultimately building a career in digital product design. She reflects on balancing school with real world agency work, and how early exposure to social media campaigns and app design introduced her to UI and UX as distinct but increasingly connected disciplines. Much of the conversation centers on her evolution from visual designer to product designer, and what that role actually means today. Taneisha walks through how product design brings together user flows, visual systems, prototyping, and collaboration within cross functional teams made up of design, engineering, and product leads. She shares how her role has expanded to include leadership, mentorship, and guiding projects from early ideation through launch and iteration. She discusses the challenge of creating intuitive, engaging experiences for TV interfaces, where users interact through a remote and where innovation often means designing without clear precedents. We wrap up with talk of New York City walks, bakery research, shortbread cookies, and the realities of balancing work, life, and creative growth. Time to grab a coffee and a pastry, and have a listen.   Show Links Taneisha’s Portfolio LinkedIn Profile Peacock NBCUniversal BuzzFeed HuffPost 2communiqué The College of Saint Rose NBA Olympics Adweek The Webby Awards   The Intro Music • • Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode 5, I talk with Alex Terry, the Global Social Creative Innovation Lead at Motorola, who develops large-scale digital and social campaigns for global audiences. Alex’s work spans brand, advertising, and social media innovation, and includes campaigns connected to Super Bowl 59 as well as work for brands such as Rocket Mortgage, Walgreens Health, 92 Shoes, and Sky Zone. Alex is also an entrepreneur who launched Wisher, a grain-free vodka made from beets, and previously founded EM + ME, a pet and party supply company. He is a 2012 graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design. We start at the beginning, tracing Alex’s creative path from growing up in Texas and initially considering architecture at Texas A&M before realizing that math heavy blueprints were not quite the right fit. A high school animation teacher encouraged him to explore Ringling, and a quickly assembled portfolio ultimately led him to join the inaugural advertising design class. Much of the conversation centers on how Alex combines creativity, business thinking, and experimentation across multiple industries. At Ringling he gravitated toward advertising as a natural bridge between art and business, reflecting the influence of both sides of his family. He also shares memories from his time as a student, including foundational design exercises and some very unexpected extracurricular activities. One of those activities involved bringing real life Quidditch to campus. What started as a playful student club quickly grew into something much bigger, eventually leading Alex to serve as chairman of the board for the International Quidditch Association. The story is a perfect example of how curiosity, community, and a willingness to experiment can turn into a global phenomenon. We also talk about his current work leading social innovation at Motorola, how modern campaigns move fluidly across platforms, and why creative careers often look less like a straight line and more like a series of experiments. Alex shares insights on entrepreneurship, brand storytelling, and the value of staying open to unexpected opportunities. It’s time for the wisdom and magic of episode 5.   Show Links Alex’s Portfolio LinkedIn Profile Instagram Profile EM + ME EM + ME (Instagram) Motorola Wisher Vodka International Quidditch Association Ringling College of Art and Design Super Bowl   The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode of Design Futures, I talk with Alyssa Varsanyi, a UX/UI designer, formerly of Oomph, where they worked on high performance digital solutions for mission driven organizations including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Environmental Education Foundation, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Columbia Health, and Massachusetts Legal Help. In 2024, they were named a Person to Watch by Graphic Design USA. Alyssa holds a Master of Professional Studies in UX Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art and is a 2018 graduate of The College of Saint Rose. We trace Alyssa’s creative beginnings, from Microsoft Paint experiments and Neopets HTML hacks to becoming a tour guide for the Saint Rose art department and fully embracing what they call “graphic design bootcamp.” They reflect on how critique culture, interdisciplinary thinking, and following threads between subjects, including a geology inspired typeface project, shaped their design philosophy. Much of the conversation centers on their pivot from print focused graphic design to UX strategy. Alyssa talks candidly about feeling stuck while working at a pharmaceutical company, enrolling in graduate school during the pandemic, and discovering a deep love for research, user interviews, affinity mapping, and design strategy. We dig into their MICA thesis project, a theater companion app built through field research in New York City, and how learning to choose the right methodology became one of their most valuable skills. We also explore their UX work on projects involving suicide prevention and legal aid platforms, designing for users in vulnerable, high stress situations and advocating for accessibility and clarity above aesthetics. Alyssa shares how research, empathy, and strategy guide their process, and why staying curious is the most important trait a designer can cultivate. We wrap up with Broadway soundtracks, true crime podcasts, Pokémon Go, mini cans of Dr Pepper, and a memorable no shirt user interview story that reinforces the importance of boundaries in research. Time to get dressed, grab a seltzer or a mini Dr Pepper, and have a listen.   Show Links Alyssa’s Portfolio LinkedIn Profile American Foundation for Suicide Prevention National Environmental Education Foundation Roger Williams Park Zoo Massachusetts Legal Help The College of Saint Rose Graphic Design USA Adobe Dreamweaver Figma UX Strategy by Jaime Levy Neopets Pokémon Go Boop! The Musical   The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this third episode of season 5, I talk with Brett Lindstrom, founder and head of creative at Fish and Chips, a Web3 and crypto-focused creative agency and 2011 graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design. Brett’s career spans an unusually wide spectrum: former head of design at CBS Sports Fantasy Sports, former creative director at Citibank, creator of the Rolling Loud brand, Billboard-charting songwriter, crypto advocate, and podcast host. We trace Brett’s path from growing up in Key West to discovering design as a way to make sense of—and influence—the world. He reflects on his time at Ringling, the role of painting and graffiti in shaping his creative voice, and the importance of student-led projects, late-night conversations, and grassroots experimentation outside the classroom. Much of the conversation focuses on Brett’s belief that design sits at the center of culture, technology, and business. He walks through major career milestones, including branding and strategy work for CBS Sports HQ during the 2019 Super Bowl, the origins and explosive growth of Rolling Loud, and how moments of instability and risk helped sharpen his perspective as both a designer and entrepreneur. We also dig into Brett’s work in Web3 and crypto, including NFT-based projects like Zombie Cupcakes, where game design, mental health, and digital economies intersect. He shares candid thoughts on AI, the future of design, why understanding business is no longer optional, and what it takes to build brands, systems, and communities in emerging tech spaces. Take a break, play a video game, and then come back ready to listen to us rap about design. Show Links Brett’s PortfolioTwitter ProfileLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileCBS Sports HQRolling Loud FestivalReplitFigmaRingling College of Art & DesignSuper Bowl (2019)Web3Meme CoinsNFT  The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this second episode of season 5, I talk with Casey Ligon, an associate creative director at VML, where she concepts, builds, and animates content for major brands including Wendy’s, Nintendo, Disney, and Netflix. Casey is also a lettering artist, food stylist, chalk muralist, photographer, and prolific maker of tactile images. Casey is a 2012 graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design. We trace Casey’s creative origin story, from growing up with craft-heavy Klutz books to initially pursuing dentistry before realizing that drawing, making, and experimenting felt far more natural than chemistry labs. She talks candidly about transferring into art school, navigating Ringling’s advertising program, and learning how presentation, storytelling, and confidence became essential tools in her professional life. Much of the conversation centers on Casey’s unconventional career path and how self-initiated work—especially daily Instagram posts—became a living portfolio. She shares the story of landing an agency role by printing her Instagram feed, asking a company to invent a job for her, and then building a career around the kind of tactile, lettering-driven work she wanted to be known for. We dig into the realities of large-scale production, from food styling and stop-motion animation to whiteboard murals, chalk art, and in-camera brand work. Casey walks through projects for Wendy’s, Disney, Publix, and Netflix, explaining how patience, craft, and hands-on experimentation play a central role in her process. Time to fix yourself a charcuterie board and have a listen.   Show Links Casey’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileVMLPublixHallmarkStop-Motion AnimationEglin Air Force BaseRingling College of Art & Design  The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode, I talk with Soleil Paz, a 2018 graduate of The College of Saint Rose and an associate designer at Macmillan Publishers who specializes in book cover design for non-fiction, social justice, and popular science titles. We trace the origins of Soleil’s creativity, from drawing to survive summer math workbooks to discovering typography through early computer graphics classes, and how those early experiences led to a focused interest in book design. Soleil talks about choosing Saint Rose, navigating design school with a clear professional goal, and persistently networking her way into an internship at St. Martin’s Press. We dig into the realities of designing book covers: editorial pitches, author expectations, tight timelines, and the importance of making a cover an “instant read.” Soleil shares stories behind several meaningful projects, including designing for themes of synesthesia and racial injustice, as well as her thesis project The Other Side, an interactive book that visualized the randomness and inequities of the immigration process. We wrap up with talk printing techniques like LithoFoil, discuss daily routines in publishing, and end with Soleil’s most important advice for emerging designers: build relationships and keep them alive. Enjoy the story. Show Links Soleil’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileMacmillan PublishersThe College of Saint RoseSt. Martin’s PressSt. Martins Press InstagramChip Kidd InstagramHaruki MurakamiSynesthesia  The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Hey future and current designers, it’s been a minute, but I’m back with Season 5 of Design Futures. Starting in January you’ll hear all new stories from former students. In this season I talk to designers that are probably the most diverse in terms of their experiences. On one end of the spectrum there’s a designer who makes type and image with food, among other non-traditional materials and on the other end I talk to designers who work with NFTs and virtual reality. All my guests have amazing careers in the areas of advertising, branding, publishing, packaging design, streaming services, and UX Design. It’s time to go back to the Future of Design. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast to catch up on the first four seasons of Design Futures. Thanks for listening —Chris

In episode 10, the last episode of season four, I talk with Jonny Ouellette, the co-founder and creative director of the motion design firm, Kill 2 Birds and 2002 graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art & Design. We talk about our interactions in the graphic design program at MassArt and our passion for making type move on screen. Jonny shares stories of his client work that involve some of the most watched series and movies in recent years and I dig into our design collaboration on some DVD intros for Aspect Magazine. He also discusses taking that entrepreneurial leap of faith with a friend to start Kill 2 Birds. Additionally, Jonny educates me on some of the industry-specific terminology, like key art, upfonts, MOGRTs, and lower thirds. This episode is full of amazing motion graphics, so be sure to check out the video on Youtube. Let’s do this one more time. Enjoy the show.   Show Links Jonny’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileResponsible Business Initiative for JusticeAfter EffectsBostonMassachusetts College of Art & Design  The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode nine of season four I interview Ringling College of Art & Design graduate and Director of Product Design at BILL, Greg Tariff. We discuss his appreciation for design’s role in the business world and how to navigate a career in Silicon Valley. Greg talks about how his interest in cars led to an internship at General Motors, how networking in New York City led to an agency job in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and how a side project with some agency friends led to a career in product design. Greg also shares insights about working on start-up projects, advising start-up companies, and mentoring young designers. We also discuss collecting 1990s pop culture (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Shepard Fairey art. And of course we talk about the dogs — Shelby, Sookie, and Salem. If you are at all interested in design, business, networking, and dogs you’ll want to have a listen. Time to download episode nine and get to work. Show Links Greg’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileBillToyota SupraShepard FaireyTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesRingling College of Art & DesignThe Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In episode eight I interview 2015 graduate of Russell Sage College and Director of User Experience at Upside Collective, Krystal Hinckley. In our discussion Krystal shares details of working on large-scale websites for the state of New York, including the attorney general’s website that she spent two years working on. She also talks about scrolling through the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society photos for project research that ended with her adopting her third cat. We also discuss our time together at Sage which included a trip to Boston to visit design firms and the Boston Aquarium because that’s what you do when you go to school in Albany. Krystal shares her love of paragraph styles that she gained in high school that led to her interest in the organizing aspects of UX design. And of course we talk about home projects including stripping paint from stairs, putting up wallpaper, as well as getting excited about a new roof and gutters. Now that’s adulthood! Oh yea, cats are mentioned multiple times in this episode. So sit down with your favorite pet friend and have a listen.   Show Links Krystal’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileUpside CollectiveThis Old HouseMohawk Hudson Humane SocietyDrupalRussell Sage College  The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode I talk with 2016 graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Rachel Suflita McKee, about her path from intern to art director at the Boston-based design studio, Pinkergreen. She talks about how the diversity of projects (Boston University Global Music Festival, Flex Rx, Flyte 70, The Bug Club, etc.) at a small studio is special and keeps her engaged with graphic design and the people she collaborates with on those projects. We also discuss a challenging design school assignment, about graphic design style, that had both of us considering some of the ethical questions involved in the creative process. We talk about the wonderful aspects of life outside of work like baking (so much butter), cooking (Bolognese), vacationing (in Maine), and of course yoga where goats climb on you as you try to stretch — it’s mostly about playing with goats. And finally, Rachel shares the wonderful news that she will be a new mom in March. Time to rest up people, episode seven is here now. Show Links Rachel’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfilePinkergreenBolognese recipeNY Goat YogaBoston’s South EndThe College of Saint RoseThe Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

Five, four, three, two, one… Happy New Year. In this first episode of 2024 Saint Rose alumni and technical UI designer, Nael Uppal, talks to me about starting a degree in his home country of Pakistan, continuing his education in Albany, NY, and completing his degree back home — it’s called a sandwich degree. Apparently that’s a term. Somewhere in the middle of this culinary delight is some work experience as well. Nael tells us about growing up in a creative family, including hanging out in museums with the older kids in his mom’s art classes. He explains in great detail and clarity the complexity of the development of web and mobile games and his current role at Revolving Games where he works on the user interface side of the process. Nael also talks about the very different experiences of going to school in two different parts of the world. And we learn a little bit of the history and culture of Pakistan. Winter break is over. Time to get listening to episode six of Design Futures. Show Links Nael’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileRevolving GamesSandwich DegreePartition of IndiaLahore, PakistanNational College of ArtsCollege of Saint RoseThe Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

As 2023 comes to a close, I interview Lindsay Agnew, 2010 graduate of the Ringling College of Art & Design and creative director at Panama Jack (She has since moved on to Entertainment Retail Enterprises). In this episode we discuss the trajectory of her career that started at Disney Imagineering working as an environmental graphics designer, where she focused on designing signage and way-finding systems for the Mouse. This in turn led her to working on similar projects for The Villages, a massive planned retirement community, sometimes referred to as the Disney for adults. And we talk about her role at Panama Jack designing packaging and apparel for the sun-care lifestyle brand. If you’re not already there, this episode will make you wish you were at the beach. Grab a cold one and the sunscreen, it’s time for episode five. Show Links Lindsay’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileDisney ImagineeringTest TrackThe VillagesPanama JackOrlando, FlWGSNRingling College of Art & DesignThe Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode, Stephanie Pepaj, 2019 graduate of the College of Saint Rose discusses her spontaneous decision, based on an over-heard conversation at a coffee shop, to go back to school to get her master’s degree in marketing from Queens University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Why not? It was the pandemic and she always wanted to live outside the U.S. While living in Belfast she worked for a digital agency, spent time traveling in Europe, and went swimming in ice-cold water. Apparently, that’s a thing. Currently, Stephanie is putting her education into practice with developing social media marketing campaigns for her food and beverage clients. We also talk about avoiding bears on hikes, her family restaurant in Cooperstown, NY, and her commitment to yoga. It’s time to set an intension to listen to episode four of Design Futures. Namaste.   Show Links Stephanie’s PortfolioLinkedIn ProfileInstagram ProfileQueen’s University BelfastYoga Benefits (Johns Hopkins)ToscanaCold Plunge Science (NPR)Best Lunch Recipes (Food Network)Later.comBelfast, NIThe College of Saint Rose  The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)

In this episode I chat with Lead Product Designer, Alex Gennette, at Netflix Games. We not only discuss his role in designing for the Netflix Games platform, but we also talk about board games and those tiny figurines that come with many multi-player adventure games. We nerd-out about non-linear content and a project in Alex’s portfolio that required him to design a system for livestream motion graphics. Alex also shares insights about being humble when designing for users. Of course we touch on his time at Ringling College of Art & Design, where he learned to write code for Flash animations just as Apple announced they would not support it on the iPhone and spending time at the beach, but only during the evening because he was too busy working on class assignments during the day. Game on people!   Show Links Alex’s PortfolioTwitter ProfileLinkedIn ProfileSony PlaystationNetflixPolaroidFigmaGloomhavenSan FranciscoRingling College of Art & Design  The Intro Music Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)