Best Designer Peter Allan Podcasts (2025)

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Ep#48: Why Playing It Safe Is the Real Risk - A Dark Optimist’s Call to Action 1:01:09

14d ago1:01:09

1:01:09

What if the only real safety lies in continuous change and standing still is the true danger? In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Ralph H. Groce III, author of We Have Nothing to Lose: A Dark Optimist’s Call to Action. Drawing on personal stories, leadership insights, and a message forged in adversity, Ralph challenges us to …

1
Ep#47: The Productivity Crisis: What We’re Getting Wrong and How to Fix It 53:01

19d ago53:01

53:01

Productivity is a hot topic in news headlines, boardrooms, and everyday conversations. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter unpack the productivity crisis. In this episode, you will • Understand why productivity isn't just an individual performance problem • Learn the contributing factors that stall productivity • Discover practical strategi…

1
Ep#46: The Power of Dumb Thinking - The Dumbify Framework with David Carson 1:13:04

28d ago1:13:04

1:13:04

In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter delve into the concept of 'Dumbify' with guest David Carson. Discover how embracing 'dumb' ideas can lead to breakthrough innovations. Learn about David's journey building successful companies, and how a simple dinner conversation sparked the idea of 'Dumbify.' In this episode, you will: • Understand the …

1
Ep#45: Where Human-Centered Design Meets Systems Thinking 1:07:01

2M ago1:07:01

1:07:01

The inspiration for this podcast came from a question posed by Ian Scott, a longtime listener and friend of the podcast. Ian asked, "What's your view on human-centered systems thinking?" In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the intersection of human-centered design and systems thinking. In this episode, you will • Understand how thes…

1
Ep#44: Design Thinking in Action - The SWAT Approach to Business Transformation 1:05:47

2M ago1:05:47

1:05:47

When Fonterra - a dairy cooperative in Aotearoa New Zealand - faced a critical workforce shortage, the usual ways of working weren't going to deliver the outcomes they needed. Enter the SWAT approach to business transformation - a fit-for-purpose, multi-disciplinary way to tackle critical business challenges. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer P…

1
Ep#43: Collaboration Fatigue - How to Fix the Most Overrated Buzzword in Business 59:50

5M ago59:50

59:50

Has collaboration become a catch-all solution, losing the focus and impact it was meant to deliver? In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter unpack why collaboration often feels more like a burden than a boost. They explore how overuse and misuse have turned it into an overrated buzzword and what teams can do to bring intention and effectivenes…

1
Ep#42: The Manager's Guide to Coaching, Driving Performance One Conversation at a Time 55:58

6M ago55:58

55:58

In this episode of the Design Thinker Podcast, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Dr John Bennett, a leading scholar-practitioner, executive coach, and professor at the McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte. John, author of The Manager’s Guide to Coaching for Change, brings nearly three decades of experience in helping lea…

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Mentoring in Motion with Emonee LaRussa 30:36

6M ago30:36

30:36

Teresa Au chats with motion graphics designer and director Emonee LaRussa, known for her inventive lyric videos for artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Kanye West, and Lil Nas X. Emonee shares her experience as a woman of color in the digital arts, and why it’s so important to her to share her expertise, resources, and connections. Plus, Teresa finds…

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Ep#41: What Can Skydiving Teach Us About Leadership? 56:52

6M ago56:52

56:52

In this episode, Peter steps into the spotlight, recounting how his skydiving experiences shaped his perspective on courage, self-talk, goal-setting, and teamwork. As Peter Peter reflects on this skydiving journey, he draws parallels between skydiving and working in organizations. In this episode, you will • discover the power of visualization for …

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Living Life Colorfully with Jason Naylor (Live at MAX) 24:32

6M ago24:32

24:32

Teresa Au chats with artist and creative director Jason Naylor live at Adobe MAX 2024. They talk about the power of yes, betting on yourself, and what it means to open your heart. Plus Jason shares the personal messages behind his extremely colorful murals, how he found his style, and why he doesn’t seek out inspiration. What you’ll hear in this ep…

1
Ep#40: How Lessons from Design School Helped Me Drive Results in the Corporate World 55:51

6M ago55:51

55:51

In this episode, Dr. Dani shares her nontraditional career path from aspiring law student to graphic designer to leading corporate transformations. A two-time university dropout, Dani discovered design while on the path to law school, which led her to attend design school and hone her passion for designing solutions. She explains how the lessons fr…

1
Cracking the Code with Allan Peters 29:36

6M ago29:36

29:36

Teresa Au chats with Allan Peters of Peters Design Company. He’s a brand mark expert, the author of Logos That Last, and the guy who blew up on Instagram Reels reimagining classic logos like Citibank, UPS, and Gatorade. They talk about Allan’s strategic path to launching his own firm, how asking what he wants has led to some of his biggest jobs, an…

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Ep#39: Power of the Pause: Why Taking a Break Matters 1:00:29

7M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

In a world that glorifies busyness, breaks are dismissed as unimportant and a barrier to productivity. However, this isn't actually the case. In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter discuss the often overlooked but essential practice of pausing. They explore the power of micro, mini, and mighty pauses and discuss how intentional breaks can inc…

1
BONUS: Emma Orhun Live from Ottawa Design Club 21:12

7M ago21:12

21:12

Emma Orhun is a creative multi-tool: a content creator, graphic designer and walking science experiment. She has gone from being a software developer and creative technologist at Shopify to full-time freelance designer working with local and international brands. You can find her work on the bottom of Nike SB shoes and all over the internet. Combin…

1
Ep#38: What to do about perfectionism 47:09

7M ago47:09

47:09

Do you struggle with perfectionism? Is it holding you back? In this episode, Dr. Dani Chesson and Designer Peter Allan explore how perfectionism hinders progress and keeps us trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and share tips on how to break free from the trap. In this episode, you will • understand the difference between helpful and harmful perfectio…

1
Creating Spaces with Magdiel Lopez 29:14

7M ago29:14

29:14

Teresa Au chats with graphic designer Magdiel Lopez about all the spaces for creativity in his life, from his famous “A Poster A Day” project, to his personal artistic practice, to the buildings and offices that his firm transforms into art-filled, meaningful spaces. They also discuss how immigration shapes your thinking, mental health in the face …

1
Ep#37: Why your customer experience will fail if you ignore EX 52:23

7M ago52:23

52:23

We often focus on creating a seamless customer experience (CX), but what happens when we ignore employee experience (EX)? In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter dive into the often-overlooked connection between EX and CX, exploring why great customer experiences depend on happy, engaged employees. In this episode, you will: • understand the d…

1
BONUS: Welcoming Rejection with Liz Mosley and Chris Do 24:12

8M ago24:12

24:12

For this bonus episode, host Teresa Au shares a conversation between design superstar and In the Making guest Chris Do and graphic designer Liz Mosley. Liz candidly reveals how Chris’ (very polite!) refusal to appear on her podcast inspired her to take on a personal challenge of gaining 100 professional rejections in six months. The surprising resu…

1
Ep#36: What it Takes to Win in Customer Experience 59:35

8M ago59:35

59:35

Customer Experience (CX) is vital for businesses in the 21st century, but do we know what we mean when we say CX? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore CX. In this episode, you will • understand what CX is and what it is not • learn why CX is a vital aspect of business success • discover how to design and operationalize a winning CX…

1
Ep#35: The Anatomy of an Experience 50:47

8M ago50:47

50:47

Experience — a term that's become ubiquitous in business, but do we really know what we mean when we say Customer Experience, Employee Experience, Patient Experience, and the like? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the anatomy of an experience. In this episode, you will: • learn what is meant by experience • understand the macro a…

1
Radical Generosity with Tina Roth Eisenberg 30:13

8M ago30:13

30:13

Teresa Au talks to the legendary founder of Creative Mornings and design blogging pioneer Tina Roth Eisenberg, also known as swissmiss. They explore how Tina’s love of gathering and community both feeds her soul and has led to three thriving design businesses. Tina shares the next big idea from CreativeMornings, the importance of experiments, and w…

1
Ep# 34: Emotions: What are they good for anyway? 35:56

8M ago35:56

35:56

Emotions are central to the human experience, influencing every aspect of our personal, professional, and social lives. They are complex and multifaceted, shaping how we perceive and interact with the world. Research suggests that up to 95% of our decisions are driven by emotions, underscoring their powerful impact on our choices. In this episode, …

1
Capturing the Future with Emily Keegin 27:56

9M ago27:56

27:56

Teresa Au checks in with Instagram’s favorite photo director, Emily Keegin, about how photographers are doing these days. They look at how AI is just the latest technical breakthrough in the medium, what people can do that AI can’t, and the best way to think about trends. Plus, Emily shares tips for creators and solopreneurs to find and create grea…

1
Ep#33: Are You Ready for the BANI World? 1:01:35

9M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

Have you heard of BANI? Are you ready for it? The term VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) was coined in the 1980s to describe the context of the world. Four decades later, is this term still relevant? The term BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) was coined in 2020 to describe the current environment. In this epi…

1
Learn by Teaching with PiXimperfect’s Unmesh Dinda 24:37

9M ago24:37

24:37

Teresa Au talks with PiXimperfect’s Unmesh Dinda, who teaches Photoshop to over 6 millions followers via fun and accessible videos. They discuss Unmesh’s passion for teaching, his philosophy of progress over perfection, and the challenges of running a creative business. Plus, Teresa asks the hard questions to find out if Unmesh himself was created …

1
BONUS Creative Connection Live with Jack Watson and Dewey Saunders 19:23

10M ago19:23

19:23

For this bonus episode, host Teresa Au shares chats hosted by her Adobe colleagues Kladi Vergine and Elise Swopes. First we hear from Jack Watson, a brand designer, solopreneur, and social media star–all at just 21 years old. Jack shares how he discovered design tools, his foray into concert promotion, and how an international retailer found his wo…

1
Say Yes to Yes with Shantell Martin 28:10

10M ago28:10

28:10

Teresa Au chats with artist Shantell Martin about how not fitting in–growing up in London, going to art school, and living in Japan–forced her to really know herself and launched her creative career. Shantell’s trademark continuous line art represents her quest to understand what makes us each unique, and to find ways for us to connect to one anoth…

1
BONUS: Live from Adobe MAX London with Margot Bowman and Rachel Sale 21:03

11M ago21:03

21:03

For this bonus episode, host Teresa Au shares talks from Adobe MAX London, Adobe’s flagship event in Europe for learning and inspiration. First we hear from Rachel Sale, a UK-based illustrator who is currently an Adobe Creative Resident at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Rachel shares what it’s like to actually work in a museum, have access to…

1
The Thrill of Half-Baked Ideas with Kelli Anderson 27:42

11M ago27:42

27:42

Tell us a little bit about yourself so we know who we're serving and what you're looking for from In the Making: adobe.ly/itmsurvey Teresa Au chats with artist and designer Kelli Anderson on all the things transformation, from Kelli’s paper engineering work that turns paper into a record or a camera to the shifting revenue streams she’s embraced ov…

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Ep#32: Informed Consent: The Ethical Backbone of Design Research 51:11

11M ago51:11

51:11

What are the ethical obligations of design research? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the importance of informed consent when doing design research. From historical examples like the Tukaseegee experiments to contemporary design research, this episode explains why it is important for participants to fully understand their involve…

1
Ep#31: Reducing the Risk of Innovation with Discovery 45:16

11M ago45:16

45:16

What is discovery work? How does it help reduce risk and deliver better outcomes? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter dive into the "how-to" of discovery work to explain what it is, why it is important, and tips on how to get started. In this episode, you will • discover the importance of discovery work • learn how to get started with disco…

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Be Kind to Your Mind with Psychotherapist Sarah Ahmed 26:31

12M ago26:31

26:31

We want to hear from YOU, our listeners, so we put together a brief survey. We'd appreciate your thoughts: https://adobe.ly/itmsurvey To thank you for your feedback, we’re giving away two 12-month memberships to Creative Cloud (valued at $659.88 each). Enter for your chance to win one of the two Creative Cloud licenses by completing the survey form…

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Ep#30: A Human Centered View of Privacy Law 40:14

12M ago40:14

40:14

How might we use privacy law to build trust with customers? Often regulations are viewed as an obligation, something organizations need to comply with to stay out of legal trouble. However, what if regulations can be more than that? What if regulations can provide us a way to build trust and create better experiences for customers? In this episode,…

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Ep#29: Design Thinking is Dead...Or Is It? 38:27

12M ago38:27

38:27

Over the past several years, the relevance of design thinking has come under scrutiny. Is it a fad that has run its course? Is design thinking still useful? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter dive into these questions. In this episode, you will • explore how design thinking has evolved over the years • learn about what is working and what …

1
Empathy at Work with Michael Ventura 23:19

12M ago23:19

23:19

Teresa Au chats with author, speaker, and entrepreneur Michael Ventura about what empathy really is and how it can help your design work and your business. Michael describes applied empathy–the idea that empathy isn’t just putting yourself in someone else’s shoes–it’s about better understanding what it’s like to be someone else in their own shoes. …

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Ep#28: Navigating Organizational Tensions with Design Thinker Capabilities 1:02:01

1y ago1:02:01

1:02:01

Organizational tensions are inevitable and become increasingly complex as organizations scale. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter discuss the three most common organizational tensions and strategies for navigating them. In this episode, you will • discover the three most common organizational tensions that keep teams stuck • learn how to l…

1
Making Magic Happen with Vanessa Rivera 22:30

1y ago22:30

22:30

In the Making kicks off season two with Teresa Au interviewing Vanessa Rivera of The Life of AIVAX about her whimsical Photoshop art and how she balances a time-consuming creative career with a family as a working mom. Vanessa talks about creative tools that save her time in her work, how she and her family left their home to travel in Europe for a…

1
In the Making Returns April 17! 2:39

1y ago2:39

2:39

Season 2 is almost here! In the Making explores the challenges and rewards of working in the creator economy. Subscribe now to join host Teresa Au as she talks to creatives, soloprenuers, and experts to find out how they thrive at work–and how you can, too! Teresa Au (@tautastic) is an executive for community engagement at Adobe, where she focuses …

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EP#27: Context: The meaning at the center of everything 43:51

1y ago43:51

43:51

Context plays a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of the world. From everyday conversations to pondering the meaning of life, context is at the center of meaning-making. An action that might seem irrational can be perfectly reasonable when you understand the context. What does context mean for Design Thinkers? Why is it important to the pra…

1
EP#26: The Past, Present, and Future of Design Thinking 54:29

1y ago54:29

54:29

Design Thinking, where did it come from? How is it being used today? What will its purpose be in the future? Join Dr Dani and Designer Peter as they delve into the history of Design Thinking and explore its prospects. In this episode, you will • Learn about the roots of Design Thinking • Hear stories of how Design Thinking is being applied today • …

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EP#25: Design Thinking: What is it? How can it help? 35:59

1y ago35:59

35:59

What is Design Thinking? In this back-to-basics episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter define Design Thinking. In this episode, you will • learn about how Design Thinking is defined • understand why Design Thinking is important • hear examples of how Design Thinking can helpBy Dr. Dani Chesson and Designer Peter Allan

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Ep#24: Accepting the Inescapable Reality of Failure with Podcast Guest Chris Taylor 1:05:53

1y ago1:05:53

1:05:53

Do you struggle with accepting failure as an opportunity for growth? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Life and Business Coach Chris Taylor, author of the book Avoiding Propeller Blades. In this episode, you will • learn the power of accepting failure as an inevitability when trying something new • hear stories about how qui…

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EP#23: Oral, Visual, Written, Does How You Tell a Story Matter? 33:29

1+ y ago33:29

33:29

How do you know the best way to get others to resonate with the story you want to tell? In the final episode of our series on storytelling, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the three modes of storytelling; oral, visual, and written. In this episode, you will • learn about the three modes of storytelling • understand how to select the right mode f…

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Ep#22: The Tale of Grandma Sue and Other Stories We Share with Each Other 1:02:07

1+ y ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Storytelling is everywhere. It shapes the culture of our families, social groups, and organizations. In part two of our series on storytelling, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore how stories can motivate action in organizations. In this episode, you will • hear about how the stories we share shape culture • understand how stories inspire action • l…

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Ep#21: Shhh, Gertrude I'm Speaking - Reframing the Stories We Tell Oursevles 39:58

1+ y ago39:58

39:58

Ever wonder how the stories you tell yourself might be holding you back? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore how the stories we tell ourselves might be holding us back from designing solutions. In this episode, you will • hear examples of the stories we repeat to ourselves that keep us stuck • understand how to identify the stories …

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Ep#20: The Desirability Lens - Will anyone actually buy it? 58:43

1+ y ago58:43

58:43

The third of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the desirability lens. In this episode, you will be able to understand what desirability means and why it is important learn the techniques Design Thinkers use to identify desirability hear real-world examples of how to put desirability into practice So, …

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Ep#19: The Viability Lens - Is it more than just cabbage soup? 48:53

1+ y ago48:53

48:53

The second of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the viability lens. In this episode, you will be able to understand the key questions to consider when assessing a solution for viability learn how the viability lens contributes to better solutions hear real-world examples of applying the viability lens…

1
Impatience is a Virtue with Chris Do 32:34

1+ y ago32:34

32:34

Teresa Au chats with Emmy-winning design superstar Chris Do about his pivot from design to teaching, his education platform The Futur, and all the things he didn’t learn in design school. You’ll hear all about how Chris’ 2M+ social followers inspire his content, and Chris answers questions from design students. Plus, Chris opens up about why now is…

1
Ep#18: The Feasibility Lens: Is it something we can conceivably do? 40:06

1+ y ago40:06

40:06

The first of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the feasibility lens. Join Dr Dani and Designer Peter as they take an in-depth look at feasibility. In this episode, you will be able to • learn about the five components of feasibility • understand how ignoring feasibility can lead to impractical solutio…

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Notes from the Field with Aaron Draplin 31:31

1+ y ago31:31

31:31

Inspiration is on tap as Teresa Au speaks to graphic designer, entrepreneur, and author Aaron Draplin. Known as much for his warm and direct personality as for his signature thick lines design style and ample use of Pantone Orange 21, Aaron is beloved by designers everywhere. Aaron shares lessons gleaned from his midwestern upbringing, nearly 20 ye…

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Designer Peter Allan Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen