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This Is A Prototype

Doug Powell
Design Leadership
Design
Design Education
Social Impact
Free Center
AIGA
Education
Human-Centered Design
Community Building
Indigenous Design
Graphic Design
Diversity In Design
Design Thinking
Sustainability
Cultural Representation
Covid-19
Empathy In Design
Human-Computer Interaction
Hartford
Community Leadership

We are in the midst of an unprecedented time in the history of the design profession. Businesses are investing in design at rates never before seen—building scaled design teams of hundreds and even thousands of designers, and hiring design leaders into executive roles giving them influence and access at the highest levels. As an executive design leader myself, I’m fascinated by the experience of d... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes28Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusinessArtsDesign

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Artwork for This Is A Prototype

Latest Episodes

One of the core principles of my leadership courses and coaching engagements is that, as design leaders, we are always agents of change in complex, scaled organizations, always challenging entrenched ways of working and cultural norms, especially in ... more

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The practice of civic design is increasingly in the spotlight in the U.S. as dramatic cuts to federal agency staffing and funding resulted in the abrupt elimination of thousands of design jobs earlier this year.

My guest this episode is Ashleigh Ax... more

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On this episode, host Doug Powell is joined by Sara Cantor and George Aye, co-founders of Chicago-based Greater Good Studio, a design firm dedicated to the public sector, taking a people-centered approach to their work with non-profits, philanthropic... more

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On August 28, I hosted a webinar on Building Diverse Design Teams in which I spoke to some of the top leaders in design about the importance of building a more diverse, equitable and representative profession—and what we as individual leaders can do ... more

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Recent Guests

Ashleigh Axios
Founder of Public Servants and former creative director in the Obama White House.
Public Servants
Episode: S3•E4 Ashleigh Axios
Tysonn Betts
Executive design leader, former VP of design at Procter and Gamble
Procter and Gamble
Episode: Special Edition: Building Diverse Design Teams, Part 2
Debbie Millman
AIGA medalist, chair of the masters and branding program at School of Visual Arts, host of Design Matters
School of Visual Arts
Episode: Special Edition: Building Diverse Design Teams, Part 2
Oen Hammonds
Distinguished design executive at IBM, educator, and advisory council member for Diversify by Design
IBM
Episode: Special Edition: Building Diverse Design Teams, Part 1
Shawn Williams
Footwear designer at Vans, former social worker, and advisory council member for Diversify by Design
Vans
Episode: Special Edition: Building Diverse Design Teams, Part 1
Ellen McGirt
Editor-in-Chief of Design Observer and Host of Design of Business, Business of Design Podcast
Design Observer
Episode: Special Edition: Building Diverse Design Teams, Part 1
Omari Souza
Designer, educator, and community activist.
University of North Texas
Episode: 2025 State of Black Design Conference
Chanda Smith Baker
Founder and CEO of Smith Baker, an experienced executive leader and public speaker focusing on philanthropy, business, and community.
Smith Baker
Episode: 2025 State of Black Design Conference
Kevin Bethune
A design leader and author with a remarkably divergent background that spans engineering, business, and design.
Dreams Design and Life, MIT Press
Episode: S2•E10 Kevin Bethune

Host

Doug Powell
Host with extensive experience in design leadership, facilitating conversations among fellow design leaders about their journeys and insights into the design profession.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 19 ratings
  • Must listen!

    Very thought provoking. Doug chooses speakers with a lot of wisdom and insight. I don’t necessarily come from a “design” background but took a lot from this talks. Would highly recommend giving it a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StarryEyedFool
    United States2 years ago
  • Design Transformation

    Get ready for what promises to be a great experience. Doug has been on this journey for over 30 years in the design business and he’s been through transformation many times over. However, none of us have seen anything quite like what’s on the horizon for AI. Indeed, this is going to be very different, and design has an important role to play in this transformation. I’m looking forward to hearing what Doug and his guests have to say about the fast approaching transformation of design in the age o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The X-Mentor
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The content resonates even with newcomers to the design field, expanding understanding beyond traditional professional boundaries.
There is a strong emphasis on the importance of diversity and representation in design leadership, which listeners appreciate.
Listeners commend the depth of insight provided by guests and host Doug Powell, describing discussions as incredibly thought-provoking.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#127
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#212
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#112
Germany/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#5
Austria/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#83
Austria/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#86
South Korea/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

This Is A Prototype: S1•E9 Ann Willoughby & Mauro Porcini (plus State of Black Design Conference)
Q: What would you tell a rising design leader, an aspiring leader out there?
Find a mentor or a sponsor and build your network of people and stay curious.
ThIs A Prototype: S1•E10 Doreen Lorenzo & Mbiyimoh Ghogomu (plus Pearl)
Q: How are you passing that forward? What are the ways that you're doing that for other people?
Doreen shared her commitment to mentoring individuals and opening doors for students at UT, while Mbiyimoh emphasized the importance of being intentional with those seeking guidance.
S2•E5 Jonathan Hanahan
Q: How did the students respond to that project?
Students felt empowered and were able to express their ideas more freely when not constrained by writing the code themselves.
S2•E5 Jonathan Hanahan
Q: What is the big idea here, and what possibilities will it open up for you as an educator and for your students?
The program focuses on interdisciplinary solutions to complex issues in technology and social innovation, aiming to equip students with both design thinking and practical skills.
S2•E7 Daniela Marzavan
Q: Any guidance, any advice for design leaders embedded in challenging environments?
Don't compromise on your values and maintain your inner freedom as it is essential for creativity and innovation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Is A Prototype

What is This Is A Prototype about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focuses on the evolving role of design professionals as they transition into leadership positions within organizations. It tackles the challenges that come with this shift, such as navigating undefined roles and the absence of clear guidance for success. The conversation typically features design leaders sharing their diverse experiences and insights, reflecting on their career journeys and the best practices in leadership in the design sector today. Notably, it emphasizes the impact of design in various industries, making it appealing to listeners who are interested in the intersection of creativity and business leadership.

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1. Design Better
2. On with Kara Swisher

How many episodes of This Is A Prototype are there?

This Is A Prototype launched 2 years ago and published 28 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on This Is A Prototype?

Recent guests on This Is A Prototype include:

1. Ashleigh Axios
2. Tysonn Betts
3. Debbie Millman
4. Oen Hammonds
5. Shawn Williams
6. Ellen McGirt
7. Omari Souza
8. Chanda Smith Baker

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