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 Portfolio
• Twitter Profile
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• CBS Sports HQ
• Rolling Loud Festival
• Replit
• Figma
• Ringling College of Art & Design
• Super Bowl (2019)
• Web3
• Meme Coins
• NFT
  

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 Portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• VML
• Publix
• Hallmark
• Stop-Motion Animation
• Eglin Air Force Base
• Ringling 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 Portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Macmillan Publishers
• The College of Saint Rose
• St. Martin’s Press
• St. Martins Press Instagram
• Chip Kidd Instagram
• Haruki Murakami
• Synesthesia

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 Portfolio
• LinkedIn Profile
• Instagram Profile
• Responsible Business Initiative for Justice
• After Effects
• Boston
• Massachusetts College of Art & Design

The Intro Music

• Synergistic Effect by morgantj (copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.)