Designers Drink Samantha Fagan of Design It Please

Lee Brenner, formerly of frog Big Big Bomb, and Heyride, joins me to talk about how his creativity blossomed by growing up on a farm and what went wrong with technology and the US 2016 presidential election. We drank really strong margaritas.



Podcast episode notes at DesignersDrink.com!

What we drank: White Russians, dude, with Cafecito Coffee Liqueur.



One book every designer should read:

Shape of Design by Frank Chimero

Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovitch



Follow Lin on:

Dribbble

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Jess Warren of Hey Jess Graphic Design joins Sam to drink cider and discuss the digital nomad life, the necessity of risk, and that we all need to support each other a little bit more. Learn more at DesignersDrink.com!

In Part Two of a two part interview, Sam and Chris drink martinis and talk about Paula Scher, finding inspiration in chairs, a better agency model, and a lot more.

Designers Drink is a podcast with designers for designers, anyone interested in design, anyone who works with designers, and anyone who wants to be a designer. The purpose of this show is to make the design world a little smaller—to bring us together so we can know each other and learn from each other and be inspired by each other. If you or someone you know would be a great fit for an episode, email me.



Drew Warkentin from episode three said I had to interview his friend, Chris Cashdollar. I soon found out why when I got him on Skype and started asking him about his life. Even though he’s been VP of Design at Happy Cog and done work for Ben & Jerry’s, Harvard, Viacom, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Zappos.com, this guy is down-to-earth.

Chris and I talked for almost three hours, so I’m releasing this in two parts. In Part One, we make martinis and talk about the downfalls of responsive design, Zappos.com core values and how to create values for our own companies, and the best way to kickoff projects.

“If I get up every day with the optimism that I have the capacity for growth, then that’s success for me.” –Paula Scher

Episode 4 of Designers Drink: Chris Cashdollar Part 1

Chris lives in: Philly

Zappos.com Core Values:



* Deliver WOW Through Service

* Embrace and Drive Change

* Create Fun and A Little Weirdness

* Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded

* Pursue Growth and Learning

* Build Open and Honest Relations with Communication

* Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit

* Do More With Less

* Be Passionate and Determined

* Be Humble



What we drank: vodka martinis with Titos Vodka

Chris’ One Book (every designer should read): Agency by Rick Webb

Things you must know/have/watch:



* Good Kickoff Meetings

* The 20-second Gut Test

* Design Characteristics Worksheet (you can watch Chris talk through this worksheet in the talk below)

* Reevaluating the Role of your Client in the Design Process with Chris Cashdollar – HOW Interactive Design Conference



Find Chris Cashdollar on: Twitter, Instagram, and his website.

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Drew Warkentin and I met in a design group on Slack. Someone I knew was looking for a UX designer and Drew was recommended. When I asked to interview him for Designers Drink, he didn’t hesitate to say yes. (I’m always surprised when people say yes.)

This episode had several unfortunate turns, and I almost gave up on it. First, I accidentally deleted the first half of my track. After successfully re-recording all the bits I could remember and making up the ones I didn’t, I accidentally deleted the first half of Drew’s track! I thought briefly about impersonating him but decided against it. Instead, you get a summary of the first half. Sadly, it contained my favorite part of our talk. Drew explained to me his philosophy of how design is like farming. Look, Drew, Wendell Berry would probably agree with you!

“Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming? And always the answer is: “Love. They must do it for love.” Farmers farm for the love of farming. They love to watch and nurture the growth of plants. They love to live in the presence of animals. They love to work outdoors. They love the weather, maybe even when it is making them miserable. They love to live where they work and to work where they live. If the scale of their farming is small enough, they like to work in the company of their children and with the help of their children. They love the measure of independence that farm life can still provide. I have an idea that a lot of farmers have gone to a lot of trouble merely to be self-employed to live at least a part of their lives without a boss.”

― Wendell Berry, Bringing it to the Table: On Farming and Food

Episode 03 of Designers Drink: Drew Warkentin

The one where Sam deletes the first half. Also, Sam and Drew drink craft beer and talk about clients (because you can never talk about them enough), how design is like farming, and the truth behind creativity.

What we drank: Saint Archer’s Pale Ale & Live Oak Pale Lager

Drew’s One Book (every designer should read): Designing for Emotion

Find Drew Warkentin on: Website, Twitter, Dribbble

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