We’re not ashamed to admit that, when we booked Debbie Millman for our show, we were a little intimidated. Not by Debbie herself, who always comes across as kind, smart, and thoughtful in the interviews she does for her own show, Design Matters. 

But just knowing that we were interviewing a pioneer in the podcasting space, someone who has been interviewing designers and creatives for over 15 years, and who spends a huge amount of time and effort researching each of her guests… that had us a little nervous.

That fretting turned out to be completely unwarranted, as Debbie is as gracious and entertaining a guest as she is an interviewer. In addition to her long-running podcast, Debbie is the President Emeritus of AIGA and chair and co-founder of the Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. 

We spoke with her about the role that teaching plays in her learning process, and covered a range of topics—from ethics in design to the differences between being a designer and an artist.

Takeaways:

• Learn why it’s important for design to be personal, even when you’re designing for other people.
• Hear how digital product designers can learn from other creative disciplines that have a long history.
• Find out how to stay in better “career shape,” whether you are a recent graduate or further in your career.