First Things First

Paul Lavoie founded Taxi in Montreal in 1992 with his partner Jane Hope.  The ad agency became widely known for its innovative work and soon grew an international reach working with a wide range of global brands. Lavoie left Taxi to devote his time to Beau Lake, a luxury paddleboard and lifestyle brand he co-owns that’s a modern interpretation and tribute to vintage wood power boats They have recently released an electric runabout boat that promises to revolutionize cottage life to be more quiet and sustainable. In this episode of First Things First, we talk about the effect of the wilderness on Paul’s outlook, the intersection of advertising and design, and designing a new logo for Canada. To learn more about Paul, visit beaulake.com   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be f

Pia Betton links design thinking to business. Originally from Denmark, Pia’s 20 year career spans brand development, corporate design, design research, innovation and communication. Her international client portfolio covers private companies from many different industries like Lego, Bosch, Bang & Olufsen, and Carlsberg. In this episode of First Things First, we talk about the challenge of growth, the challenge of change, and the challenge of Design Thinking. First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version of “Tweedlebugs” by Podington Bear from the album “Daydream.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Daydream/Tweed

Jessica Bellamy is an information designer. She tells visual stories using data and personal narratives. She started her design career working with nonprofits and community groups to create visuals that break down complex service and policy information. In 2015, she created a small design agency called GRIDS: The Grassroots Information Design Studio. She creates infographics for social change. In this episode, we talk about how design can be used as a tool to help fight for social justice and the problem with askholes. First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version of “get out” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusic

This episode of First Things First was recorded as part of our Live Magazine project at DesignThinkers, in Toronto. The interview is with Sid Lee creative director, Laura Stein and was done by Frontier Senior Designer, Tristan Marantos. To learn more about Live Magazine, visit frontier.is and look for Live Magazine in our media section. First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter This episode features an edited version of “Luminous” by Broke For Free from the album “Leaf.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Leaf/Broke_For_Free_-_Leaf_-_05_Luminous This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit magazine.frontier.is

Grace Hwang leads Design at Carrot, a technology company that helps people quit smoking. For 12 years, she lead healthcare focused projects around the world in her role at IDEO, a global innovation consultancy. IDEO is most famous for popularizing the term design thinking. Design thinking recognizes that design school teaches how to put people at the centre of what you do. Design lead companies are the ones that put people first with the understanding that what’s good for people is good for business. With Carrot, Grace is working to understand how better designed experiences can help change hard to break bad habits and behaviours. In this episode, Grace talks about Need Finding, Touchpoints, and Dairy Queen.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is   Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusic

Jessica Hische describes herself as a "Lettering artist, author, illustrator, letterpress printer, and type designer" but also a "Mother, procrastiworker, and a million other things". She has worked with many well recognized brands, authors, and other designers on a multitude of different kinds of projects. In this episode, we talk about her new book, “Tomorrow I’ll be Brave” and the downside of labels.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is   Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version of “Streetbeat Heat” by Podington Bear from the album “Dance.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Dance_1228/Streetbeat_Heat This episode features an edited version of

This episode of First Things First was recorded live on stage at Design Thinkers in Toronto with Bonnie Sielger about her book, Dear Client. Siegler was voted one of the 50 most influential designers working today by GDUSA. Her career spans a wide range of influential clients and projects like the Trump parody autobiography You Can’t Spell America Without Me. Other recent clients of her design studio, Eight and a Half, include The New Yorker, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. In this episode we talk about the good and the bad when it comes to working as a designer with clients.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is   Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version

Forest Young is a designer and educator whose ranging knowledge stretches to all points of the map, challenging the listener in unexpected ways. At Wolff Olins, he leads design initiatives for the world’s most influential companies recently competing a brand refresh for Uber. His work has been exhibited at MoMA, he is the recipient of many awards and is a graduate of the graphic design program at Yale University. In this episode, we talk about, well, just about everything.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is   Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version of “Funk” by Podington Bear from the album “Dance.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Dance_122

Michael Bierut is a proper gentleman. With his sharp dress punctuated by an iconic hat and scarf, he moves through a room with the gravity of one of the world’s best known designers. But his iconic status is paired with an arresting attentiveness. He’ll write you a surprising and unexpected personal note thanking you for something you should probably be thanking him for. That personable attitude comes through in conversation. In this episode of First Things First we’ll discuss how your own children could become the best critics of your work, the perils and pitfalls of holding onto a stubborn ideology, and the deliciously reductive work of book jacket design.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrai

Ellen Lupton believes that design tells stories that touch peoples’ minds and bodies. She asks how a song tastes and how designers engage the senses to create richer and more inclusive experiences. In this episode, Ellen talks about the tyranny of visual perception, the ultimate self serve convenience store, and why designers should be thinking about ethics in everything they do.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version of “One And” by Broke For Free from the album “Leaf.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Leaf/Broke_For_Free_-_Leaf_-_08_One_And This episode features an edited version of “Sidewalk Chalk” by B

Paul Sahre is a New York based designer who has worked with everyone from Marvel, to Google, to the New York times. He’s an expert cover designer. He’s designed album covers for bands like They Might be Giants, covers for magazines like New York Magazine, and book covers for authors like Chuck Klosterman. In this episode Paul talks about his new book, Two Dimensional Man, his love of making stuff, and the importance of once having had his design office, Office of Paul Sahre (OOPS), above a Dunkin’ Donuts in New York City.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_158 This episode features an edited version of “ma'am” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemus

Krys Blackwood fights for the user. That means she designs the way that human beings interact with software and hardware so that they have a good experience rather than the frustration many of us face with technology that doesn’t want to cooperate. She has been designing interfaces of many kinds for over 20 years working with startups and Fortune 500 companies in Silicon Valley. In this episode, Krys describes her journey from being an in-house designer and developer all the way to the Senior Lead User Experience Designer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she is designing the future of mission operations with the Human Centered Design team.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_158 This

Jan Chipchase is a Tokyo based researcher, designer, and strategist. He is also an author of a new book, The Field Study Handbook, considered an essential reference to running international field research as well as a guide for those who want to understand how to travel better. In this episode he discusses his current work with his Studio D Radiodurans and how a camera can be used to get out of many different tricky situations.   First Things First is produced as part of Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_158 This episode features an edited version of “Broke For Free” by Murmur from the album “Layers.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Layers/Murmur_1979 This episode features an edited versio

Timothy Goodman is a New York based designer and illustrator. He is also an author and activist concerned with social issues and an unending quest for authentic experiences and human interaction. In this episode he discusses his transition from home renovations in Cleveland, Ohio to his make or break start in New York City and the power of design to connect.   First Things First is produced by Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter Show Graphic Design: Paul Kawai   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version of “Bossa Nova” by Simon Mathewson from the album “Some silly songs.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Simon_Mathewson/Some_silly_songs/Bossa_Nova_1910 This episode features an edited version of “Not My P

Astrid Stavro designs magazines and brands from an office on a warm island in the Mediterranean. How does a person who once studied journalism get into design? And how can design help us better understand content? First Things First is produced by Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter Show Graphic Design: Paul Kawai Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version of “Lightfeet” by Podington Bear from the album “Uplifting.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Uplifting/Lightfeet This episode features an edited version of “Arboles” by Podington Bear from the album “Encouraging.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Encouraging/Arboles This episode features a

Jeff Greenspan is a creative director and a stand-up comic based in New York City. He once quit a job after 15 minutes. This episode is about how design can be used to powerfully and emotionally convey an idea. First Things First is produced by Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter Show Graphic Design: Paul Kawai   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585 This episode features an edited version of “Easygoing” by Podington Bear from the album “Thoughtful.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Thoughtful/Easygoing This episode features an edited version of “One Cool Minute” by Loyalty Freak Music from the album “MINIMAL AMBIENT BOUNCE.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Loyalty_Freak_Music/MINIMAL_AMBIEN

Emily Oberman is a partner at international powerhouse design firm, Pentagram in New York City. She has worked with everyone from Jimmy Fallon to Lorne Michaels and believes design can change the world.   First Things First is produced by Frontier Media. Learn more at www.frontier.is   Host: Paddy Harrington Producer and Editor: Max Cotter Show Graphic Design: Paul Kawai   Frontier’s sponsor music is an edited version of “sketch (rum-portrait)” by Jahzzar from the album “Sketches.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Sketches/sketch_rum-portrait_1585   This episode features an edited version of “Euphoric” by Podington Bear from the album “Euphoric.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Inspiring/Euphoric   This episode features an edited version of “Acme Coke” by Roger Plexico from the album “No Man’s Land.” The original can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Roger_Plexico/No_Mans_Land/Roger_Plexico_-_No_Mans_Land_-_06_Ac