The Mic NYCxDESIGN and SURROUND

How might designers be more mindful of the waste their practices generate and envision a healthier more sustainable garment industry? In this episode of The Mic, Debbie Millman is joined by Sarah Nsikak of La Réunion, and María Elena Pombo of Fragmentario to discuss their personal explorations with textiles and environmentally mindful work. Their conversations touch on the use of deadstock fabric in making heirloom pieces, how avocado seeds can be used to naturally dye fabric and how "sustainability" can be more than just a buzzword.

What happens when a designer pushes the boundaries of creative expectations and ventures into artistic territory? In this episode of The Mic, Debbie Millman is joined by Chen Chen and Kai Williams, and Giovanni Valdeavillano of Studio POA to explore how designers who work with traditional materials like clay, metal, and wood can turn an utilitarian object into something extraordinary. Tune in to hear about how Chen and Kai collaborate in the studio with a sense of humor, how Gio’s parents inspired him to explore craft and furniture making, and find out how Studio POA got its name.

We're thrilled to introduce you to Ask the Appliance Experts, a new show from AjMadison Pro on the SURROUND podcast network.

Ask the Appliance Experts tackles the ins and outs of appliances, making an often confusing and highly technical topic approachable and, dare we say, even fun. AjMadison Pro’s in-house experts Amy Chernoff, VP of Marketing, and Jessica Petrino-Ball, Editorial Director, are on hand as hosts, interviewing high-level interior and kitchen designers, renovation pros and other leaders in the field. Interior designers, builders, and design enthusiasts of all kinds are invited to tune in as we uncover the latest and greatest in the realm of appliances, and how to implement cutting-edge tools, tricks and technology in residential homes and professional projects alike.  

Check it out on surroundpodcasts.com and follow the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Our personal collections tell stories about our identities, our values, and the memories we hold dear. On this episode of The Mic, host Debbie Millman interviews Alexandra Cunnigham-Cameron, Curator of Contemporary Design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and Tione Trice, founder at Of the Cloth, to dive into objects, curation, and material culture. Tune in for a rich conversation exploring how objects connect us with others, why collecting can be a form of personal and generational archiving, and which objects define the New York experience.

On this episode of The Mic, host Debbie Millman interviews product designer Kickie Chudikova and interior designer Sara Bengur in front of a live audience of New York City creatives for this special season opener. From the vibrant colors of Kickie's childhood kitchen in Slovakia, to Sara's advice on which direction your bed should face according to the Vastu tradition, join us for a jam-packed episode all about nature's influence on the design process.
 
This live recording of The Mic was part of a special celebration of Caesarstone and NYCxDESIGN's initiative, the IMPACTxDESIGN competition. Kickie Chudikova's winning design, Spiral of Life, is an undulating, experimental seating installation manufactured using Caesarstone quartz, now on view in DUMBO's Pedestrian Plaza.

On May 13 during the Festival, NYCxDESIGN teamed up with the Kohler Experience Center by Best Plumbing Supply to host the first-ever live recording of NYCxDESIGN’s The Mic podcast with special talk series “The Responsibility of Design”. Hosted by Debbie Millman with Michael Chen, Principal of Michael K. Chen Architecture and Co-Founder of Design Advocates, and Walei Sabry, Digital Accessibility of NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the third episode focuses on issues around inclusive design and innovative design strategies that can reshape the way we navigate our city.