Thinking Through Design

Adam Fromme

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Design is all around us, but how designers think through their work is often a mystery. Understanding that process can fuel our own curiosity and creativity. Adam Fromme hosts Thinking through Design as a series of long-format discussions to reveal the designer's mindset and realize its value.

١٦ يوليو

A Student Spotlight on Industrial Design with Sophie Chu (#37)

Sophie Chu sits down with host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. “You have to be really mindful of what you make, because you don’t always have to create more just for the sake of creating more. You should create because it’s needed and because it’s going to do good in the world.” Sophie Chu In this Student Spotlight episode, fourth-year industrial design student Sophie Chu reflects on her journey through Ohio State’s Department of Design, from discovering industrial design as an unexpected path to developing a Capstone project centered on sustainability and circular systems. Sophie discusses how extensive field research in Franklinton, Ohio led her team to identify barriers that prevent small businesses from adopting sustainable practices, inspiring her project, Local Loops, which connects business waste with artists to create public installations that make sustainability visible within the community. We also talk about how industrial design extends beyond products into systems and services, the value of collaborative studio culture, and how her second major in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies broadened her perspective on inclusive design. The conversation concludes by touching on ethics, curiosity, and why designers should create only what is truly needed to improve people’s lives. This episode is part of the Student Spotlight mini-series. During the summer, we sit down with students at Ohio State DESIGN, giving them a chance to share their experiences and talk about the ideas that inspire them. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts. Click here to view the episode transcript.
٧ يوليو

A Student Spotlight on Interior Design with Marley Labishak (#36)

Marley Labishak sits down with host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. “The self doubt is very real, but know that, especially now, it might be very important to get over that and really nail down our purpose and the necessity of the designer.” Marley Labishak In this Student Spotlight episode, third-year interior design student Marley Labishak reflects on her journey from planning a career in dentistry to discovering a passion for designing spaces that shape how people think, feel and connect. Marley discusses how the first year in Design Foundations challenged her assumptions about design, strengthened her interest in interior design and taught her to think intentionally about the relationship between people and the built environment. She shares her most memorable projects, including an innovative modular system for sustainable furniture reuse, that reinforced her interests in thoughtful, human-centered design. The second half of our conversation explores Marley’s growing passion for designing spaces that improve quality of life. She walks us through a recent wellness center project for older adults that focused on lifelong learning through culinary and maker spaces, explaining how research into aging deepened her empathy and revealed how seemingly small design decisions can impact everyday experiences. We also discuss the value of curiosity, collaboration, supportive faculty relationships and the responsibility designers have to create spaces that respond thoughtfully to an increasingly complex world. This episode is part of the Student Spotlight mini-series. During the summer, we sit down with students at Ohio State DESIGN, giving them a chance to share their experiences and talk about the ideas that inspire them. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts. Click here to view episode transcript.
٣٠ يونيو

A Student Spotlight on Design Research and Development with Borami Kang (#35)

Borami Kang sits down with host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. “It’s all about people and all about understanding people…what they do, what they need, and what they experience through the things we make. And that means to be a good designer you have to be a good person.” Borami Kang In this Student Spotlight episode, MFA candidate Borami Kang shares her journey from more than a decade in professional design leadership to studying Design Research and Development at Ohio State. After years working in branding, startups, and client-facing design roles, Borami discusses how returning to school shifted her focus from solving other people’s problems to asking her own research questions. Her thesis explores how generative AI is changing design education, examining how students, educators, researchers, and practicing designers perceive and use AI in creative work. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for designers, she argues that design education should help students critically evaluate AI as one tool within a broader research and design process. Borami shares how reflection, evidence gathering, and intentional experimentation have shaped both her teaching and research. She also offers practical advice for graduate students about embracing failure, protecting time for deep thinking, and treating everyday observations as opportunities for research. We also discuss how design education can prepare students to navigate emerging technologies while remaining grounded in human understanding, thoughtful decision making, and meaningful communication. This episode is part of the Student Spotlight mini-series. During the summer, we sit down with students at Ohio State DESIGN, giving them a chance to share their experiences and talk about the ideas that inspire them. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts. Click here to view the episode transcript.
٢٣ يونيو

A Student Spotlight on Digital Animation and Interactive Media with Jorge Alberto Vega Rivera (#34)

Jorge Alberto Vega Rivera sits down with host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. “Design has a commitment to humanity. Even while design works with engineering…science…media…in the end it is about being human.” Jorge Alberto Vega Rivera In this Student Spotlight episode, MFA student Jorge Alberto Vega Rivera reflects on his journey from the University of Cauca in Colombia to Ohio State as a Fulbright scholar. We explore how his background as a design professor and animation practitioner shaped his research in Digital Animation and Interactive Media. Alberto discusses creating an immersive VR thesis project that transforms family memories and oral histories into interactive digital environments, blending ethnographic research, storytelling, motion capture and virtual reality design. We trace how he collected and compared family recollections, translated them across multiple media formats, and ultimately developed a framework for designing what he calls “immersive mementos.” During our conversation, he shares insights about returning to the classroom as a student after more than a decade of teaching, collaborating with younger classmates, and balancing technical experimentation with deeply personal storytelling. And we conclude with a thoughtful reflection on design’s broader responsibility to not simply to create new technologies, but to help people remain connected to what makes them human. This episode is part of the Student Spotlight mini-series. During the summer, we sit down with students at Ohio State DESIGN, giving them a chance to share their experiences and talk about the ideas that inspire them. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts. Click here to view the episode transcript.
١٦ يونيو

A Student Spotlight on Design Research and Development with Kahmin Ong (#33)

Kahmin Ong sits down with host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. “You never know what you are truly interested in if you don’t try it out, then it’s easy to sift out what you don’t like doing.” Kahmin Ong In this Student Spotlight episode, Kahmin Ong reflects on a journey from studying industrial design at National University of Singapore to pursuing an MFA in Design Research and Development at Ohio State. Inspired by mentors including Brian Stone and Liz Sanders, Kahmin discusses how an early interest in design research and assistive technology evolved into her thesis, Co-Designing Across the Gaps: Visualizing System Complexities and Stakeholder Perspectives in U.S. Wheelchair Service Delivery. Our conversation explores the value of reaching beyond disciplinary boundaries, building relationships across the university and learning directly from clinicians, wheelchair users, caregivers and adaptive athletes. Through participatory design and systems visualization, Kahmin’s research reveals hidden challenges within healthcare processes while imagining more accessible futures. Along the way, she shares lessons about curiosity, mentorship and the importance of saying yes to unexpected opportunities. The episode offers listeners an insightful look at how design research can illuminate complexity, amplify lived experiences, and create meaningful connections across disciplines. This episode is part of the Student Spotlight mini-series. During the summer, we sit down with students at Ohio State DESIGN, giving them a chance to share their experiences and talk about the ideas that inspire them. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts. Click here to view episode transcript.
٩ يونيو

A Student Spotlight on Industrial Design with Aliina Lange (#32)

Aliina Lange sits down with host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. “You really need to advocate for yourself and your ideas, because the only way new ideas get through is if you can advocate why they matter.” Aliina Lange In this Student Spotlight episode, fourth-year industrial design student Aliina Lange reflects on her journey through the design program while sharing the story behind her capstone (one of four student projects) developed in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Inspired by firsthand observations at Alum Creek State Park, Aliina identified discarded fishing line as a significant environmental challenge and designed both a practical waste-management tool and a conservation mascot campaign aimed at encouraging responsible behavior among anglers. Beyond the project itself, Aliina discusses discovering industrial design almost by chance, learning to embrace uncertainty in Design Foundations, developing a research-driven design process rooted in empathy and observation, and the role that faculty mentors and a close-knit cohort played in her growth as a designer. Our conversation explores the value of collaboration, the importance of advocating for ideas, and why Aliina believes design’s greatest responsibility is helping people through thoughtful interventions that create meaningful change. This episode is part of the Student Spotlight mini-series. During the summer, we sit down with students at Ohio State DESIGN, giving them a chance to share their experiences and talk about the ideas that inspire them. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts. Click here to view episode transcript.
٣ يونيو

A Student Spotlight on Interior Design with Aya Rikabi (#31)

Aya Rikabi sits down with host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. “Humans are social, so we need these intentional places of gathering to allow people to really talk to each other. There are people that you pass by every day, but you don’t really ever say “hi” though. So, how does design flip the script?” Aya Rikabi In this Student Spotlight episode, fourth-year interior design student Aya Rikabi reflects on her experience in Ohio State’s design program and the ideas that shaped her capstone project, Our Village. Designed for a former fire station in Franklinton, Ohio, the project proposes a community and resource center for single parents that brings together local organizations, support services, and gathering spaces under one roof. Aya discusses how interviews, surveys, and co-design methods helped inform the project, and how feedback from community members influenced decisions about programming, spatial organization, and atmosphere. The conversation also explores her path into design, the role of mentorship and collaboration throughout her education, and the realities of studio culture, from late nights in the studio to the excitement of critiques. Throughout the episode, Aya shares the importance of community, both as a theme in her work and as a source of support during her time as a student. Looking ahead, she shares that one of design’s most important responsibilities is creating opportunities for people to connect, build empathy, and engage more meaningfully with one another. This episode is part of the Student Spotlight mini-series. During the summer, we sit down with students at Ohio State DESIGN, giving them a chance to share their experiences and talk about the ideas that inspire them. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts.View episode transcript.
٢٨ مايو

The Tension between Attention and Manipulation with Jeff Haase (#30)

Jeff Haase returns to the studio to join host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. “We’ve stopped learning how to be engaged emotionally…other than our own emotions” Jeff Haase This episode is an expansive conversation on persuasion, process, and the evolving role of design in an AI-driven world. Returning as one of the podcast’s earliest guests, Jeff Haase reflects on a recent experimental collaborative studio that challenged students to explore propaganda, conspiracy theory, social media algorithms and generative AI as frameworks for understanding how influence is constructed and distributed. Rather than treating design as neutral problem solving, the discussion positions designers as active participants in shaping attention, narrative and belief. Their conversation examines the ethical tension embedded in persuasive communication, asking where the line exists between advocacy, manipulation and storytelling. Jeff shares how students used AI tools, fictitious social media identities and rapid content generation to explore environmental activism, educational equity and financial inequality, resulting in a broader reflection on how contemporary platforms reward both alliance-building and agitation. Beneath the provocative experiments is a deeper meditation on the nature of creativity itself. Throughout the episode, the conversation connects these digital explorations back to broader questions of craft, curiosity and design process. Adam and Jeff discuss the importance of reflection in an increasingly accelerated culture, the value of discomfort within creative practice, and why meaningful design requires designers to move beyond disciplinary boundaries. The episode also marks Jeff’s retirement and closes with his call for designers to remain deeply curious, ethically aware and open to the unexpected connections that fuel innovation. Jeff Haase is a retiring Associate Professor in the Department of Design at The Ohio State University, where he has taught full-time since 1999. He is known for his innovative restaurant designs, notably shaping several influential Columbus venues. His multifaceted career spans award-winning work across healthcare, hospitality, and corporate sectors, while his academic focus has centered on redefining spatial representation and the evolving relationship between design, technology, and creative process. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts.

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Design is all around us, but how designers think through their work is often a mystery. Understanding that process can fuel our own curiosity and creativity. Adam Fromme hosts Thinking through Design as a series of long-format discussions to reveal the designer's mindset and realize its value.

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Adam Fromme
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Thinking Through Design