MINDED Podcast

MINDED powered by the CDA
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Experience the world of art, design, and culture through MINDED Podcast. Engage with groundbreaking artists, visionary designers, and cultural influencers, and delve into their creative processes. Expand your horizons, spark your imagination, and fuel your curiosity. New episodes every Tuesdays.

  1. Mathieu Lehanneur: The Secret Lives of Objects and the Power of Design

    12/15/2025

    Mathieu Lehanneur: The Secret Lives of Objects and the Power of Design

    Why do some objects feel alive? In this episode of MINDED, designer Mathieu Lehanneur reveals the emotional, scientific, and instinctive forces that shape his work. Known for blending art, technology, psychology, and poetry, Mathieu explains why he sees objects as “stem cells” carriers of energy, memory, and human connection. We explore: • The emotional energy hidden inside objects • Why touch is the first test of good design • His process of adding, then subtracting • Childhood experiences that shaped his creative sensitivity • Designing the 2024 Olympic Cauldron • Survivalism and design in an uncertain world • Why legacy doesn’t matter but opening tiny doors does This is a conversation about the invisible life of objects, the meaning of creativity, and how design shapes the way we feel, think, and interact with the world. Chapters: 00:30 — Becoming a designer 04:00 — The art of subtraction 07:00 — Objects as stem cells 11:00 — Why touch matters15:00 — Objects revealing themselves22:00 — Opening tiny doors 26:00 — Survivalist design 35:00 — Book + film recommendations If you loved this episode, check out: • Antoine Picon — Architecture & AI • Michèle Lamy — Art, Chaos & Creation • Yinka Ilori — Joy, Color & Memory Subscribe for weekly conversations with the world’s leading creative thinkers. #MathieuLehanneur #DesignPhilosophy #EmotionalDesign #MindedPodcast #CreativeProcess #IndustrialDesign #DesignThinking #ContemporaryDesign

    43 min
  2. How AI Is Rewriting Architecture - Antoine Picon Explains the Future of Cities

    11/24/2025

    How AI Is Rewriting Architecture - Antoine Picon Explains the Future of Cities

    Antoine Picon is Professor of the History of Architecture and Technology at Harvard Graduate School of Design and one of the field's most rigorous thinkers on the relationship between technology, urbanism, and human experience. In this conversation, he reframes the questions everyone asks about AI and architecture. Rather than debating whether machines will replace designers, Picon asks what AI reveals about what it means to be human. What separates embodied intelligence from computational thinking? Is creativity actually the defining human quality, or is it something else entirely? He discusses architectural intention, the difference between buildings and buildings marked by human purpose, and why the real challenge of smart cities isn't technical capability but clarity about what we actually want. This conversation examines whether machines can understand what makes a place livable, and why answering that question requires understanding ourselves first. Top Insights - AI will shift architecture from creating forms to curating options. - Smart cities introduce both efficiency and new urban fragilities. - Digital perception reshapes how we experience materiality and scale. - Ornament remains essential: it connects sensory experience with meaning. - The biggest challenge ahead is reconciling digital innovation with planetary limits. - Education is entering a 'cyborg phase' where human-machine authorship merges. - Cities must redefine their relationship between the artificial and the natural. Timestamp: 00:00 Introduction 00:58 How AI is changing architecture 03:00 AI-assisted design and machine suggestions 05:12 Intelligence vs intention 07:30 Human judgment in an AI-driven workflow 09:40 Smart cities and digital infrastructure 11:20 Urban fragility and system risks 14:40 The morality of data-driven cities 18:20 Education in the cyborg era 18:55 The return of ornament 20:15 From symbolism to texture 22:40 Digital materiality and perception 24:10 Technology, nature, and the Anthropocene 27:25 Lessons from the Enlightenment 30:05 Digital architecture and disrupted traditions 33:20 Why Florence cannot be replicated 35:10 Architecture, memory, and meaning 39:20 Intellectual influences on Picon 40:47 Book recommendations 43:00 Future guest recommendation 44:20 Closing reflections

    5 sec
  3. Jamie Bush: Proportion as Fingerprint & Designing for Stewardship

    11/10/2025

    Jamie Bush: Proportion as Fingerprint & Designing for Stewardship

    In this conversation, Los Angeles–based designer Jamie Bush goes deep on the fingerprints of his work: calibrated proportion, playful scale shifts, and layered vignettes that bring warmth without relying on trends. He shares how a studio can stay curious across typologies and geographies - from historic restorations to a New Orleans hotel with deco and jazz-age notes - while keeping budgets honest and craft purposeful. Founder of Jamie Bush + Co., Jamie has led projects across the U.S. and abroad, from LA to London and Finland, as well as rural retreats in Canada and Santa Fe. Trained in architecture, he frames interiors as cultural legacy: spaces that should feel right today and still feel right decades from now. Rather than chasing novelty, he prioritizes proportion, material integrity, and the long view of stewardship. 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction 01:20 — Current State of the Los Angeles Design Community 07:30 — Working Across Geographies: London, Finland, Canada, Santa Fe 10:21 — Proportion as Fingerprint: Bush’s Design Philosophy 13:30 — Working Across Diverse Styles and Typologies 18:43 — Creative Inheritance from East Coast Family 20:45 — Discovering Architecture at Tulane University 23:13 — Projects Now Take 5–7 Years (vs. Historical 2–2.5 Years) 26:30 — Designing for Stewardship: The Silvertop Lesson 28:48 — Investment Value vs. Artistic Vision 31:04 — Budget Honesty: $800 vs. $2,400 per Square Foot 34:42 — Team Exposure to Clients and Long-Term Relationships 35:26 — Control vs. Growth: The Delegation Challenge 37:50 — Why Staying in One Aesthetic Lane Feels Pathological 39:36 — Bread-and-Butter Projects Fund Passion Experiments 40:40 — Creative Courage Increases With Age 44:58 — Father Ronald Bush and Family Pride 48:20 — The Best Compliment: Clients Copying Published Work 50:16 — Recommendation: Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino 51:35 — Recommendation: The Diplomat 52:07 — Future Guest Recommendation: Max Lamb 💡 Key Topics Discussed Proportion, composition, and scale as design fingerprints Designing for longevity and future stewards Budget honesty: where craft matters and where it doesn’t Studio growth enabling creative risk through financial stability Working across geographies and historical precedents Why “playing safe rarely makes something enduring” The financial structure of passion projects vs. profitable work Historic restoration: John Lautner’s Silvertop House New Orleans hotel with 1930s deco and jazz-age influences How creative courage increases with age and experience 💬 Standout Quotes “Proportion is the fingerprint.” “To stay in one lane is sort of pathological to me. I’ll wither up and die to do the same thing over and over.” “Playing safe rarely makes something enduring.” “The best homes are multi-generational homes that are passed down or stand the test of time.” “Something that might cost $800 a square foot might cost $2,400 a square foot to do it extraordinarily well.” “I feel very comfortable going out on the limb and challenging a client in a playful way. I don’t care. I’m not fazed by those things.” 👤 About Jamie Bush Jamie Bush is an interior designer with 30 years of practice in Los Angeles. Trained in architecture at Tulane University, he founded Jamie Bush + Co., working across typologies from historic restorations to hospitality to residential retreats. His philosophy prioritizes proportion over style, stewardship over trends, and long-horizon thinking over short-term aesthetics. Bush’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest’s AD100. 🌐 Website: jamiebush.com

    53 min
  4. Will Meyer & Gray Davis on Sense of Place, Timeless Design & Luxury Hospitality

    11/03/2025

    Will Meyer & Gray Davis on Sense of Place, Timeless Design & Luxury Hospitality

    Will Meyer and Gray Davis, co-founders of Meyer Davis, share their design philosophy centered on "sense of place" and reveal how they create timeless luxury hospitality spaces for Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Del Vue Hotels. In this inspiring conversation, Will and Gray discuss their research-driven approach to balancing brand DNA with local culture, working with artisans and craftsmen worldwide, and why they choose timeless design over trends. From their recent projects in Dubrovnik, Sardinia, Mexico, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, discover how they became "humble interpreters" of place. 🎯 KEY TOPICS: - Sense of place in hospitality design - Research-driven design methodology - Balancing luxury brands with local authenticity - Working with local artisans and craftsmen - Timeless design vs. trendy design - Four Seasons & Mandarin Oriental projects - Design partnership and collaboration - Materials that age beautifully - Trust-based client relationships - The creative process in design

    45 min
  5. George Yabu & Glenn Pushelberg on 45 Years of Design, Curiosity, and Creating Soulful Spaces

    10/27/2025

    George Yabu & Glenn Pushelberg on 45 Years of Design, Curiosity, and Creating Soulful Spaces

    Design legends George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg join host Yuri Xavier on Minded Podcast for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about creativity, curiosity, and what it means to stay original in an industry speeding toward sameness. They unpack why design is following fashion’s destructive fast cycle, how curiosity and imperfection fuel their process, and why generosity - not ego -is the real legacy of good design. From Milan Design Week to Buddhist philosophy, empathy, and mentorship, this episode reveals how two of the world’s most influential designers continue to evolve with purpose after four decades shaping culture and craft.

    51 min
  6. Juliana Lima Vasconcelos on Multisensory Design, Sustainability, & the Soul of Brazilian Creativity

    10/20/2025

    Juliana Lima Vasconcelos on Multisensory Design, Sustainability, & the Soul of Brazilian Creativity

    Juliana Vasconcelos: "I Spent 3 Days in Paris Just Thinking to Design Milan's Most Immersive Installation" Brazilian architect Juliana Lima Vasconcelos reveals how 3 days of silent led to creating one of Milan Design Week 2024's most immersive installations the Lavazza coffee experience. In this episode, Juliana discusses: - The 3-part experiential journey using pregnancy sounds and coffee textures - Why she uses meditation as a design strategy - How Brazilian materials transformed her career - Winning the CDA Award for Best Commercial Interior - Her approach to sustainable materials and AI in design - Growing up with a pianist grandmother and studying classical music - Strategic project selection and brand collaborations Juliana Lima Vasconcelos is a Brazilian architect and interior designer based between Belo Horizonte, Paris, and London. She's been recognized by Architectural Digest Italy as bringing "Made in Brazil to the world." 🎧 LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minded-podcast/id1431518294 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JxKVhZ46mHTZ7eZ0STgHW Website: https://www.mindedpodcast.com/ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 02:15 The Lavazza Installation: Concept & Process 08:30 What is Experiential Design? 12:45 Working with Maria Cristina Didero & Timeline 18:20 Career Turning Point: Architecture to Installations 24:10 Winning the CDA Award 28:35 Sustainable Materials & Future of Design 35:50 AI in the Design Studio 40:15 Growing Up in Brazil & Musical Influence 46:20 Recommendations: Books, Films, Future Guests #JulianaVasconcelos #MilanDesignWeek #ExperientialDesign #Architecture #InteriorDesign #BrazilianDesign #Lavazza #DesignPodcast #MINDEDPodcast #SustainableDesign #CDAawards

    44 min
  7. Inside Marvel's Fantastic Four: Kasra Farahani on Designing Worlds That Feel Real

    10/14/2025

    Inside Marvel's Fantastic Four: Kasra Farahani on Designing Worlds That Feel Real

    What does it take to design entire worlds for Marvel's Fantastic Four and Loki? How do you translate a script into an immersive cinematic environment? What makes retro-futuristic design work? Is perfectionism helping or hurting your creative process? How do you balance art with the logistics of massive productions? What's AI's real impact on creative innovation? In this episode of Minded Podcast, production designer Kasra Farahani answers all of this and more. Host Yuri Xavier explores the craft, philosophy, and discipline behind some of cinema's most iconic universes - from Marvel's grandest stages to the emotional power of worldbuilding that feels authentically real.

    32 min
  8. Jeff Hamoud (Rivian CDO) on EV Design, Empathy, and the Future of Driving

    10/07/2025

    Jeff Hamoud (Rivian CDO) on EV Design, Empathy, and the Future of Driving

    Rivian’s Chief Design Officer Jeff Hamoud joins MINDED host Yuri Xavier to talk about the principles behind Rivian’s inviting brand identity and why empathy and usability matter as much as technology. From gear tunnels and flat floors to playful UI touches, Jeff explains how constraints inspire better design. He also shares his journey from Jeep to Rivian, and his take on what will define the next era of EV adoption.

    48 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Experience the world of art, design, and culture through MINDED Podcast. Engage with groundbreaking artists, visionary designers, and cultural influencers, and delve into their creative processes. Expand your horizons, spark your imagination, and fuel your curiosity. New episodes every Tuesdays.

Information

  • Creator
    MINDED powered by the CDA
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    MINDED Podcast