Interior designers and lighting specialists agree it’s best to have more than one light source in a room, a mix that might include overhead, accent, and task lights for a layered approach to illumination. Umbra’s two new compact LED smart lamps – CUP and CONO – are both designed to fill in the roles for task and ambient lighting with a slew of technological options that far exceed mere mood lighting.

Color adjustable LED bulbs and lamps have become increasingly popular for their ability to bathe rooms in mood-enhancing spectrums with the swipe of an app or tap of a lamp. This is especially true amongst Gen Z; weaned on gamer and influencer culture, and content-creation groups that regularly use colorful LED-illumination as a backdrop for TikTok and YouTube videos.

Nanoleaf’s various modular wall mountable kits have been popular for producing that effect, and now they’ve partnered with Umbra to launch two lights, each equipped with the ability to create over 16-million colors and dimmable from 100% brightness down to a barely-on 1% luminescence, with Nanoleaf’s mobile App at the heart of the user experience.

The CUP Smart Lamp designed by Paul Loebach lives up to its moniker in shape and purpose, a small desk/bedside lamp rated to glow up to a 320 lumens with 16+ million achievable colors for up to 25,000 hours of use (or 8-10 years). While washing the room in reds and blues might be a welcome mood setting option, we’re more thankful of the lamps tunable range of white light, allowing to tune normal white light from warm to cool.

The lamp + storage solution operates using a built-in USB-A cable, making it suited as a desk companion when connected to a laptop or desktop. There’s also a USB-A charging port for recharging devices, ideal for anyone who prefers to keep their phone at arm’s length a their desk or bedside.

The second Umbra smart light is a bit smaller, but more flexible in its application. The CONO Portable Smart Lamp is essentially a wireless rechargeable light shaped like a cone with an X-shaped base. This form allows the CONO to be stationed facing upward or set onto its side. Additionally, the X-shaped base makes for a secure grip while carrying the small light around.

Umbra collaborated with Quebec based ALLSTUDIO to produce the playfully-shaped CONO. Equipped with the same Nanoleaf LEDs within, the portable lamp is also capable of producing a gamut of 16+ million colors like the CUP. Output is a bit more modest, rated for a maximum of 130 lumens (approximately 9 Watts), so think of this as a secondary or tertiary addition that can be placed onto shelves, as uplighting near plants, or outdoor socializing during the evening.

The CONO houses a rechargeable lithium-Ion battery that glows up to five hours via USB-C, and is rated for a lifespan of around the ballpark of 25,000 hours (or 8-10 years).

Both Umbra’s CONO and CUP smart lamps support the Matter standard, which enables them to pair with smartphone and tablet devices for wireless operation and easy smart home ecosystem integration. And because both lights are built around the Nanoleaf App and/or a Smart Home Ecosystem, it allows these lights a range of features well beyond on and off: lighting designed around our Circadian rhythms, holiday-themed lighting scenes, custom scheduling and remote access when connected to a smart home system like Google Home, Apple Home, Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and a Thread Border router’s mesh network.

The CONO is available for pre-order in either Grey or Sierra for $95, and you can sign up to get notified for the CUP’s availability here.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

One of our favorite ways to discover emerging designers and their unique ideas is through the A’ Design Award & Competition. Every year, the contest showcases new talents from all over the world, sharing designs we haven’t seen elsewhere. The 2023-2034 edition is currently open for applications, but you’ll have to hurry, as the competition is already in its late application phase. Submissions are accepted until February 28, 2024 and the winners will be announced April 15, 2024.

Unlike other design competitions, the A’ Design Award & Competition has many categories that designers can submit their projects under. There are over 100 categories, including special design categories like the Good Architecture Design Award and the Good Product Design Award. During the judging process, you’ll receive valuable feedback from industry experts and media on your design, whether it’s a concept, prototype, or finished product. The winners receive an extensive prize package, including a unique trophy, inclusion in world design rankings, extensive PR and publicity in design media outlets, and even the option to sell their winning design.

Feeling inspired to enter the competition? The deadline is fast approaching, so be sure to apply today!

Below, we share some of our favorite winning designs from last year in the Furniture Design category, though you can see all the winners here. Check back in April 2024 when we’ll also share the winning designs from this year’s contest!

Friends Sofa by Roberta Rampazzo

Photo: Andrew Castaneda

Resolution Lounge Chair by Shaobo Liu

Photo: Ryoukan Abe

Overlap Sofa by Tomoki Doi

Photo: Yu Ren

Perspective Of Light Multifunctional Side Table by Yu Ren

Photo: Marjan Sabzali

Stoniture Sofa by Abbas Sufi Nejad

Photo: Yu Ren

Pac Man Side Table With Lights by Yu Ren

Photo: Jing Cyuan Tang

Tai Side Table by Sunriu Design

Photo: Tugce Sonmez Evin

Berliner Multifunctional Pouf by Tugce Sonmez Evin

Photo: Elena Prokhorova

Plump Modular Seating by Elena Prokhorova

Photo: MCA Estúdio

Sertao Side Table by Gabriela Campos

Photo: RISD

Seat Urchin Rocking Chair by Yue Zhuo

To learn more about the 2023-2024 competition or the A’ Design Award & competition, visit adesignaward.com.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.

Construction elements, such as brick, concrete, metal mesh, and lines of color-coded wires, aren’t typically viewed as aesthetic materials, but architecture firm Superlimão made them the highlight of this modern day office. The construction company, Escritório da Engenharia in São Paulo, tasked Superlimão to design a space that was adaptable to hybrid work routines, for both in-person and remote work. In creating the new headquarters, the studio gave prominence to these industrial elements, maintaining the rawness of the materials but using them in eye-catching ways that create surprising corners everywhere you turn.

The office features an event space for lectures and external events. Bleacher style seating creates a casual environment for guests and employees. Behind it sits a podcast recording studio clad in terracotta bricks with front row seats to all events.

Superlimão placed booths, lounges, and break rooms around the perimeter of the building with the intention that these spaces for short-term stays wouldn’t be occupied for very long because the sunlight and heat here are very prevalent. This also allows for circulation to flow and because these areas aren’t closed off, natural lighting is able to stream through to create a more pleasant work environment.

A view of Pico do Jaraguá, the highest point of São Paulo, can also be enjoyed by all.

Mesh metal screens used in the concreting of slabs are found throughout the office, atypical of how they are usually hidden.

A corner office is made flexible and adaptable for different work needs with a sliding privacy screen that can be opened up fully when conferences are not in session, allowing natural light to flow through.

Breezeway blocks add a geometric, graphic pattern to this privacy booth in the same way wallpaper does. Outside, the patch of exposed wiring seen through a glass floor is another nod to the typical scenes found in construction.

Pots of plants line the ceiling, ferns and trees pop out from their industrial backgrounds, and a “tunnel” of flower beds act as a natural brise soleil by filtering the light.

Photography by Israel Gollino.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.

Do you identify as an avid hiker rather than someone who just likes to occasionally get out into nature? Someone who savors the journey even more than the eventual destination, preparing for the worst while expecting the best hike? Those distinctions have traditionally demarcated the lines between gear chosen by avid adventurers versus recreational exercisers. But that line is increasingly being blurred. Just as trails evolve, so too has the segment of outdoor wear, with brands like adidas TERREX utilizing new technologies and material science to engineer lighter and more comfortable hiking gear unburdened by the past’s definitions of what a hiker is and what they should wear.

Interior of TERREX PDX, the brand’s lone retail outpost dedicated solely to the outdoor gear brand. The center display showcases a TERREX jacket under simulated rain conditions. Photo: Gregory Han

TERREX forgoes a heavier outsole for a lighter, yet aggressively patterned Continental™ Rubber, a layer that would later withstand the sharp basalt shards of an Oregonian trail we’d be invited to test our pair upon. Their durability was also matched by a confident amount of grip even while climbing onto and over wet rocks.

We recently ventured up north to Portland, Oregon to meet with adidas TERREX’s Elisa Schaller, Director of Product/Brand Outdoor, North America at the brand’s one and only semi-permanent pop-up shop dedicated to TERREX, a space committed to community outreach as it is a concerted effort in merchandising. Once there, we were invited to chat with Schaller about TERREX’s evolving approach to designing hiking clothing and footwear with inclusivity and sustainability at the forefront, alongside talk about design attributes of the brand’s newest adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 Low GTX before setting out to test those very same shoes across a section of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Touring the footwear section within the TERREX PDX pop-up, guided by adidas TERREX’s Elisa Schaller, Director of Product/Brand Outdoor, North America.

The Free Hiker 2 Low GTX is in name and spirit the mid-top adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 with a little less up top. Which explains why slipping into a pair delivered the same instant gratifying comfort as its slightly taller counterpart, our current favorite hiking shoe for sub-10 mile distances. Schaller credits the Free Hiker 2 Low GTX’s easy fit to the spacious toe box, gusseted tongue, and smooth collar lining that together facilitates sliding on a pair and eliminating the need to unlace and wiggle the foot into place.

These are hiking shoes you can slide into with the same ease as trail runners or running shoes, with a satisfying degree of support and grip for both wet and arid conditions. Hikers with wider feet probably hope TERREX will add width options, but as a wide-footed hiker myself, I can attest there’s enough toe box inside for a degree of breathing room without the loss of stability.

If the Free Hiker 2 Low GTX seems a bit too easy going in nature, rest assured, it’s rugged enough for most hiking enthusiasts venturing out for a day hike in all varieties of conditions. Schaller points out a Gore-Tex membrane and abrasion-resistant mesh upper are designed to keep these hiking shoes dry without sacrificing the more nimble feel some hikers are requiring of their footwear. Surprisingly, in comparison to its mid-top counterpart, these low cut models felt a little heavier. “I’m surprised you were able to notice such a minute difference in weight. But yes, they’re a little heavier because the Gore-Tex abrasion-resistant mesh adds a little more weight.” Weight differences aside, these low cut hikers felt considerably more fleet footed than the generations of heavier hiking boots I laced into while traversing Sequoia, Sedona, and sections of the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail).

Arguably the most integral part of the TERREX Free Hiker 2 in either iteration, mid and low, is the inclusion of Adidas’ proprietary BOOST midsole, the white expanded thermoplastic polyurethane section that gives the brand’s shoes its characteristically airy, yet stable foot feel. It’s also the one section of the shoe warranting some concern, noting an all-white exposed thermoplastic is prone to invite structural and aesthetic wear if pushed into harsher conditions. Schaller says TERREX is aware of the concern and is already testing numerous protective applications that retain the midsole’s properties. She also notes the brand is exploring alternative ecologically sustainable materials to further improve the lifecycle of what is inherently a product with a limited lifespan.

“We’re looking at developing materials to ‘close the loop’ while also retaining the durable properties required of outdoor wear. We also want to make recycling our shoes easier, but I cannot say whether that will be a year or several years from now due to the scale required for such an initiative.”

Material innovations like those woven directly into the TERREX Flooce Hooded Fleece Jacket are indicative of the brand’s efforts to make outdoor gear less burdensome to wear/carry over distances, while retaining temperature regulation comfort and protection from the elements. The versatile jacket is partially made with recycled materials, featuring a perforated second layer designed to retain heat when needed, and ventilate when hot, with a weave structure somewhat like popped bubble wrap in fabric form. The unique loop design uses specially treated yarn and knitting construction to keep the fleece from shedding microplastics with every wash.

adidas TERREX’s Elisa Schaller notes the brand’s partnership with National Geographic has proven immensely popular overseas in Asian markets like South Korea and Japan. Photo: Gregory Han

It is said it’s better to show than tell, thus adidas TERREX would later transport our small media group to a section of the Pacific Crest Trail equipped with their latest gear to allow us to test the Free Hiker 2 Low GTX across a trail offering a variety of wet, dry, slippery, and unstable sharp terrain. Our shoes would quickly no longer look this new traversing basalt and sodden dirt trails.

Hiking gear, especially footwear, has silently communicated whether you’re apt to venture across the creek, over the hills, and down into canyons. And until very recently, hiking boots emphasizing durability and weatherproof ruggedness – oftentimes at the expense of comfort – were the standard for those with more serious mileage intentions. The Free Hiker 2 Low GTX makes a convincing case it’s not inconceivable the best hiking shoes might be lightweight and low top, and certainly should feel as comfortable during the final leg back as the first step across the trailhead.

The adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 Low GTX hiking shoes retail for $180 at adidas.com.

All photos credited to Adidas TERREX except where noted.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Furniture design company Woo, who is based in Kyiv, Ukraine, enjoy every day with purpose and carry that vibe through into their interior objects. One of the most recent pieces that you could confuse for sculpture is the UMI Armchair. Designed by Rostislav Sorokovoy, that’s exactly what he wanted to create – an object that resembles a soft sculpture rather than a piece of furniture. The armchair’s shape and texture invite the user to interact with it in a genuine way, “like children do.”

UMI consists of two cylinders that form a horseshoe shape to create the seat and back of the armchair. Four chunky, cylindrical legs make for a stable base, and help form ergonomic proportions and a comfortable sitting position. Manufactured using a plywood frame, polyurethane foam, and textile upholstery, the finished design of UMI invites you to relax, read, or meditate – all playful interactions are welcome! Position a pair of armchairs next to each other for an even bigger sculptural statement.

To learn more about the Umi Armchair, visit woo.furniture.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

We don’t have to tell you headphones have evolved well beyond mere audio devices. They’re now appreciated as much for their fashionability as their aural capabilities. It makes sense – worn over the head or around your neck, they’re pretty conspicuous. And who wants to wear something that detracts from your style while commuting or walking about? That explains why luxury audio brands like Bowers & Wilkins commit to refreshing color options as much as specs, as is the case with the newly unveiled Px8 noise cancelling wireless headphone dressed in a sophisticated colorway of Royal Burgundy Nappa leather and gold detailing.

We haven’t had experience yet with the Px8, but noting our affinity for the previous Px7 S2, we’re not going out on a limb believing the brand’s 2023 flagship wireless headphone will deliver anything less than optimal clarity, prime choices in materials, and long-wearing comfort characteristics of its predecessor.

The Px8 houses six microphones to improve the headphone’s noise cancellation and voice call performance.

In fact – and unsurprisingly – Bowers & Wilkins states the Px8 is engineered to “surpasses the high bar set by the Px7 S2.” This upgraded performance is credited to the Px8’s angled 40mm Carbon Cone drive units based upon technologies derived from the audio brand’s reference-quality loudspeakers. Throw in Bowers & Wilkins-developed DSP (Digital Signal Processing), the secret sauce that seasons these cans to deliver its specific 24-bit high-resolution B&W flavored sound, and the Px8s should sound as indulgent as they look/feel.

This new Royal Burgundy and Gold finish joins two other black or tan color options. What all three Px8 models share is their single cast-aluminum arm structure, arcing down to the ears, then punctuated by a diamond-cut bright edge across each elliptical logo plate. The combination of materials and colors make these Px8 headphones one of the more sophisticated headphone options from an aesthetic standpoint, perhaps snapping away the “crown” we anointed its more affordable sibling with.

The ear cups are outfitted with memory foam cushions, and the headband should rest comfortably thanks to its soft, luxurious Nappa leather.

The British brand has also upgraded all of their Px8 headphones on the inside, updating the headphone’s acoustic personality, turning up response while reducing distortion throughout the frequency range for more natural sounding playback.

Bower & Wilkins Px8 is available in Black, Tan, and Royal Burgundy for $699, joining a special McLaren and 007 editions (+$100 premium).

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Outdoor furniture doesn’t need to be upholstered to be stylish and comfortable. Normann Copenhagen’s Vig outdoor furniture collection is adaptably designed to complement any space with timeless appeal and exceptional functionality, while stripping the extras away.

Offering a range of stackable pieces, Vig gives you endless possibilities to create inviting, flexible seating areas with a small storage footprint. From dining chairs to lounge chairs, chaise lounges, benches, barstools, and tables in various sizes, the family offers a robust selection that’s sure to suit a variety of your outdoor settings needs and preferences.

Crafted from double powder coated steel, Vig’s pieces are available with or without Robinia (Black Locust) wood. Renowned for its strength, durability, and weather resistance, it requires minimal maintenance while holding on to its natural beauty. The combination of steel and Robinia wood is an elegant blend of materials, further enhancing the collection’s aesthetic appeal. No matter which finish you choose, Vig is an ideal choice for creating great outdoor spaces with a look you’ll love.

Vig Barstool

Vig Armchair

Vig Armchair

Vig Armchair

Vig Chair

Vig Chair

Vig Chair

Vig Chaise Lounge

dark green outdoor bench outside

Hotel Normann

To learn more about the Vig Outdoor Furniture Collection, visit normann-copenhagen.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

1. Nike + Adidas Shoe Boom Boxes by cutonce

Are you team checks or stripes? When it comes to these boom boxes, I can’t decide because they’re both equally so good! I came across @cutonceobjects a while back on Instagram and I think they make the coolest items! While I don’t believe I’m “hip” enough to own one of these, I can only imagine it would be such a conversation piece among my friends if it were to ever grace my entertainment space. (They also made an incredible Rolex wall clock that I’m in awe of!)

As cooler weather approaches, so does the rain, and I’ve been on the hunt to replace my very old umbrella. At the top of my list is Para Para’s animated umbrellas because they are so fun and playful! I especially love their new artist series with renowned illustrator Malika Favre and Erchen Chang, the Creative Director of the iconic BAO restaurants. The childlike act of spinning my umbrella in the rain has become a longstanding habit of mine, and these animating umbrellas give a new surprising element to it! I know if I saw these walking around the street, they’d definitely spark my curiosity and bring a smile to my face.

If I ever visit London, I’ll be planning my trip solely around the Colourscape Music Festival – and I’ll probably spend the whole day there. This immersive experience intertwines music with color and light, which is right up my alley of interest. What’s neat is each Colourscape has a different quality and function. As you navigate through the interconnected chambers, you’ll discover an entirely new perspective on the intensity and subtlety of color along with different musicians sprinkled throughout to make the experience even more magical. Unfortunately, this year’s event has already passed, but I’ll be keeping my eye out for the next one.

Material’s second drop for their ‘Object Collection’ are these versatile Resting Stones and they come in 3 beautiful sea glass colors! Designed to be displayed and to elevate your daily rituals, they’re perfect as a jewelry catch-all or to simply sit on your countertop as a decor piece. With the holiday season coming up, they’d make for a great gift since they are so many different uses for them. They come in sets of 2, so you can gift it by the set or split them up into two!

5. Lulu Pots x happihuman

Fun fact: I love entering giveaways on Instagram and I love winning them even more! It’s such a great way to discover new products while supporting the businesses hosting them. A few months ago, I won a collaboration giveaway by Lulu Pots and happihuman and I was so excited. I love that happihuman candles are made from high-quality, eco-friendly materials, and they use a wooden wick, which produces less smoke. Plus, it creates the most comforting, homey feeling when you hear its subtle crackling — it’s like sitting by a fireplace! For this collab, the candles were poured into Lulu Pots’ handmade ceramics, with each one featuring its own unique folds and curves. Since then, I’ve continued following Lulu Pots’ journey and I’ve loved seeing all of her creations. She’s developed her own signature in ceramics and it’s been really cool to see!

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

As the Social Media Consultant, Maivy is always dreaming up new ideas to curate content. If she’s not glued to her phone, she’s probably at the dog park with her pup Koda, training at the gym, or trying the latest food/drink trends! See the BTS of her life over on Instagram.

Bonn-based industrial designer Benjamin Großjohann loves vinyl records, and perhaps the realm of the mechanical even more so (he cites a love of BMX bikes as an overarching passion influencing his work). Together, these interests would feed a compulsion within the German designer to create a “beautiful product made of real metal” eventually resulting in an audio device “by collectors, for collectors” that’s so slim, you can literally toss it into a backpack: the Coturn CT-01 portable turntable.

The CT-01’s solid anodized aluminum body, integrated glass top, and sleek integrated tone arm tipped with an Audio-Technica Stylus AT 3600 needle, measuring a mere 12.5 x 5 x 1 inches when folded up into its travel form. Imagine a form factor similar to the largest iPad Pro, but a little chunkier and cut in half, and you’ve got something akin to the CT-01 in feel and heft.

Every Coturn record player is handcrafted in the specially equipped workshop in Bonn, with 3D-printed components and hand-assembled electronics coming together into a form factor that’s not pocketable, but also backpack-friendly in dimension.

The design’s niftiest feature is its retracting tone arm, a part that hides away flush along the rest of the turntable’s body. A simple press of the CT-01’s small indentation along its tone arm and the part springs back out with a graceful upward motion – ready to put needle onto record.

A glass touchscreen control display keeps the entire setup minimalist and modern, with a fully integrated preamp and USB-C rechargeable battery hidden within its oblong housing. The turntable operates up to 16 hours per charge, plenty for several listening session before requiring the USB-C recharge. Bluetooth aptX connectivity allows connectivity with wireless speakers; a headphone jack allows for more private listening sessions for one, while an RCA output makes analog speaker connections a possibility for those who prefer to keep it old school.

Großjohann says he relied upon the tried and true process of drawing sketches and building physical prototypes rather than solely relying upon 3D models to visualize, and then eventually realize, his CT-01 into existence.

“A turntable is one of the most complicated things you can build. Because everything comes together here: electronics, mechanics, and design – all these elements have to mesh,” says Großjohann. “Of course, I already have some ideas and experience, but actually I still lacked a degree in mechanical engineering.”

The Coturn CT-1 is available in a variety of colors, but the The COTURN X TA-KU edition in pink is the most rare, limited to 20 players worldwide and includes the Australian artist’s double LP SONGS TO COME HOME TO in white vinyl.

Industrial designer Benjamin Großjohann holding his creation, the Coturn CT-1 turntable.

The Coturn CT-01 turntable is available in blue, green, gray, black, and a very limited edition white edition, starting at $483 (available for pre-order domestically over at Turntable Lab).

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Every single thing that surrounds us and inhabits our environment has been designed by someone. Today, Clever – one of our favorite podcasts – is celebrating 200 episodes of sharing these creative visionaries who shape our world and culture. Sustaining a platform for so long deserves acknowledgement, so we spoke with host Amy Devers about how Clever came to be, how it’s changed, and what the future of the podcast might look like.

In 2016, after many run-ins with one another at design events, Design Milk founder Jaime Derringer and furniture designer and fabricator Devers collaborated to create Clever as an independent side project. It would be too simple to say that Clever is a podcast about design, because what it’s really doing is reminding listeners that these visionaries, problem-solvers, critical thinkers, rebels, and aesthetes are also human. The conversations are candid and revealing, pulling back the curtain to reveal those responsible for the things that help to shape our lives by adding meaning and connection to the world around us.

“I had grown disenchanted with the narrative around design that a lot of lifestyle TV shows were putting forward,” said Devers. “It felt like a flattened, incomplete picture that was missing all the juicy stuff that made design truly fascinating and powerful. I was on a mission to create stories that offered a deeper perspective and served to help expand our collective understanding of design.”

In the past 200 episodes, Clever has grown and matured from the early days of having to rely on “gimmicky” conversation tricks to have guests reveal themselves beyond their latest project. As the podcast grew, the conversations naturally turned more real, deeper, and philosophical.

Amy Devers + Lisa Congdon

I asked Devers if she noticed a thread connecting the creative professionals featured, and she shared at least one pattern that’s emerged. “So many creative professionals had NO IDEA when they were younger that design as a career was an option. Of course the (super detrimental) stereotype of the “starving artist” was prevalent, but the possibility of becoming a sound designer, architect, or industrial designer just wasn’t available. Many of my guests stumbled into their callings by accidentally discovering a class in college or by way of an eccentric aunt or uncle. (Bless those aunts and uncles, they are doing important work!)” She added, “Imagine the world if all children grew up knowing that every single human-made thing is designed? And that there are many creative paths, careers, and fields of study that are available. I think a much broader set of opportunities should be revealed to them earlier on, and we’d have a lot more diversity in the design pipeline.”

Amy Devers + Paula Scher

In 2019, Derringer decided to step away from co-hosting Clever, giving way to a deeper one-on-one style of conversation. “I focused more on active listening and less on moving the conversation forward. I still prep questions in advance, but the interviews, more often than not, veer into uncharted territory and that is where I love to be,” Devers shared. “But I also want to stress that Jaime’s influence is still very much alive here at Clever. When it was time for her to leave Clever to explore different horizons, we both knew it, and the separation felt necessary, healthy, and promising for both of us.  Plus, she’ll text me anytime she comes across a person she thinks would make for a great interview.”

Amy Devers + Bryan Costello

After so many episodes, Devers is still as excited as ever abut Clever. “Creative people are infinitely fascinating. I fall a little bit in love with my guest [almost] every single time. Every time I dive into the research I get energized by the sheer ingenuity and grit of the person I’m about to speak to. And, I make a point of keeping the conversation trained on their personal story so it never devolves into just a sales pitch of their book or latest project. It’s a simple metric: I lose interest when someone is trying to sell me something, and I gain interest when someone is trying to tell me something. Sharing bravely, being vulnerable, self-reflective, and transparent about the challenges as well as the triumphs, detailing actual lived-experiences and honest perspectives is the magic formula and it’s intoxicating!”

TEDxRISD

Looking ahead at the next 200 episodes, Devers would love to do more live shows to create special experiences. “I imagine intimate gatherings in spectacular locations, (think architecturally and/or historically significant Airbnbs, under a full moon in the Catskills, in a pop-up art installation or museum gallery) where the conducive atmosphere and the warmth of the collective can be felt in the chemistry of the conversation. Anyone want to join me in something like that?”

While the host names Prince, Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse, Zaha Hadid, and Virgil Abloh as guests she would have loved to feature, Devers looks forward to the chance to hopefully interview Emory Douglas, Es Devlin, Roman Mars, Ira Glass, Neri Oxman, and Sonya Clark should the opportunities arise.

Emerging Designers Showcase, LaunchPad

A recent favorite Clever episode is 199: Twenty Thousand Hertz’s Dallas Taylor on Sound, Silence, and Stories. The sound designer has a powerful story that’s very human behind his creative journey. Listen to this episode and 199 others at cleverpodcast.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.