Clever

We are taking some time off for the summer, but we're sharing some classic episodes from the archives. Sit back, be inspired, and enjoy.This Old House Master Carpenter Norm Abram charms Jaime and Amy with stories of a youth spent building pinewood derby cars and learning the trade from his father, who lives on in the walls of the house they built together as adults. He got his start in TV by accident, but thanks to an unfailing dedication to patience and safety, that’s about the only major accident he can speak of. These days, he’s on a mission to bring today’s youth into tomorrow’s trade labor force. Plus, he reveals the secrets of his famous wardrobe.Images and more from our guest!Please say Hi on social! Twitter, Instagram and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydeversIf you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!Clever is created, hosted and produced by Amy Devers and Jaime De

Design entrepreneur and founder of Colony, the designer’s co-op, Jean Lin, grew up in suburban Massachusetts as one of a handful of non-white kids. With two brothers, she was a card-carrying tomboy until her teenage years when she leaned into fashion as a way to express herself. Influenced by her mother’s work as an educator for the incarcerated, she initially followed a career path into social services before reconciling with her undeniable yearning to study fashion design. After getting fired a few times, launching a few businesses, and gaining a smorgasbord of experience in a handful of roles, she bet her life savings on a dream and founded Colony, a community of designers that reimagines the design gallery business model as a supportive ecosystem, while celebrating American design to an international audience. Images, links and more from Jean!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsors:QWIN is an alt-cannabis brand that explores all cannabinoids found in hemp to create unique formulas and experiences. Go

Multidisciplinary designer and art director, Luca Nichetto, grew up in Murano, Italy, steeped in the glassmaking traditions of the region and his ancestors. He got started in design by selling his drawings to local factories for pocket money. As a teenager, he became a rising basketball star and considered going pro, but eventually chose his other love, design, instead. After college and some fruitful early collaborations, he set up his own shop, Nichetto Studio, in Venice in 2006. Five years later, he opened a second studio in Stockholm. Now 15+ years in, he’s established himself as an international design force, built long-term relationships with several high-profile brands, and continually creates new connections and collaborations that build and strengthen a robust community of creatives. Plus, he knows how to have fun, and even considers it an obligation. Cheers to that!Images, links and more from Luca!Please say Hi on social! Twitter, Instagram and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydevers,If you enjoy Clev

Airbnb’s Global Head of Marketing, Hiroki Asai, grew up riding his BMX through the orchards of Cupertino, CA. But it was the visual language of skateboard culture that ensnared his creative imagination and grew into a passion for graphic design. Always industrious, he took night school art classes as a teenager, went on to earn a BA in Graphic Design, and then got straight to work freelancing. Not long after, he began working with Apple - eventually rising in the ranks to Vice President of Global Marketing Communications. Over his 18 years with Apple, he directly influenced the branding, packaging and marketing that we have come to know as distinctly Apple. Now, with Airbnb since early 2020 (through the tumult of the pandemic, the IPO, and a recent major reconfiguring of how Airbnb serves up wander lust and discovery,) he’s leading and supporting creative teams that are adapting and responding to the needs of a rapidly shifting global society. As a leader, he knows the most effective place for creative teams

Beat Baudenbacher was born in Switzerland, where he grew up exposed to the dynamic artistic world through his mother and the rational lens through his surgeon dad. Always fascinated by words, he fell in love with typography, and dabbled in graphic design in high school. He did an exchange year in California with no intention of pursuing design, but after his dad mentioned that a friend’s daughter was attending Art Center, a lightbulb went off and he scrambled to create a portfolio. A serendipitous trip to a bookstore led him to a job at Attik, where he met future co-founder of entertainment branding studio, loyalkaspar, David Herbruck. Since founding loyalkaspar, Beat has pushed the thinking around branding and marketing, and written an upcoming book, Somewhere Yes, that dives into how we move through this world that is shaped by branding. Images, links and more from Beat!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsors:Gild InsuranceHave you ever wondered if you have the insurance you need to be fully protected a

Co-Founder of Deem Journal, designer Nu Goteh was born in Liberia and came to the US with his family as a refugee at the age of 3. His first career ambition, as a model son of African parents, was to become a doctor / lawyer. But as a sneakerhead, skater, and early-adopter of the internet, he kept making opportunities for himself in marketing, promoting, and graphic design. He even landed a job at Puma while he was only a Sophomore in college. After successful roles at Red Bull and Sonos, he was comfortable in his talent for adding value and  creating desirability for brands, but uncomfortable with being fast-tracked to the top of “cool black guy stuff,” a pigeon-hole that felt too small for his aspirations and skills. So he went back to school for a Master’s in Strategic Design and Management. Now, as a founding principal of Room For Magic, Nu is using his unique talents to address complex creative challenges and  facilitate equitable exchange between brands and communities. As if that weren’t enou

Chief Curator of the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, Llisa Demetrios grew up in a family of brilliant sculptors, authors, and designers. Her mother’s parents were none other than Charles and Ray Eames, the legendary mid-century design duo. In addition to pioneering design work, apparently they were excellent grandparents as well, imparting on Llisa a way of engaging with the world through curiosity and a lens for new possibilities. This approach to creative problem-solving has guided Llisa through a career as an archivist and bronze sculptor. Now, as the Chief Curator of the recently-launched Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, Llisa is bringing the lessons of Charles and Ray to life for the next generation of curious problem solvers. Images, links and more from Llisa!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsors:Design Museum Week Design Museum Week is a hybrid design conference taking place this April 25th-29th, with virtual sessions during the day - so you can sign on from anywhere -  and

Ceramicist, author, entrepreneur, photographer and public speaker Rob Forbes is likely best known for founding Design Within Reach, but his accolades expand beyond this accomplishment. He grew up a son of Southern California academics and attended boarding schools in Northern California. His first professional life was as a ceramicist. After a year riddled with tragedy, he took a year off in pursuit of researching how to make design accessible - which lead to the founding of Design Within Reach. A wild (and unexpected) success, the next few years were a blur that instilled in Rob a confidence to continue to push the envelope and invest in change - including a variety of start ups, a micro-farm, and using the tools of design to create long-lasting impact. Images, links and more from Rob Forbes!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsors:Design Museum Week Design Museum Week is a hybrid design conference taking place this April 25th-29th, with virtual sessions during the day - so you can sign on from anywh

Designer, entrepreneur and author, Christiane Lemieux was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada but refers to the world as her “second home” given how frequently she traveled with her family throughout her childhood. While she studied art history and fashion design academically, her business training came through first-person experience. She founded her first brand, DwellStudio, in 1999 and sold it to Wayfair in 2013. She has built several other successful brands, including Lemieux et Cie, The Inside, and Cloth & Company. As a design historian and business expert she also contributes to design publications and has published books in both the design and business spaces including Undecorate and Frictionless. She brings all of her creativity, business acumen, and worldly travels together in the service of creating beautiful, customizable interiors that feel like home.Images, links and more from Christiane!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsors:Gild InsuranceHave you ever wondered if you have the insurance you ne

Designer, futurist, activist and artist Dror Benshetrit grew up in Tel Aviv, drawing, and building puppetry or sculptures. But it was Dror’s experience serving in the Israeli army that showed him all the different ways his creative thinking could be applied - compelling him to pursue design and attend the Design Academy in Eindhoven. Afterwards, he moved to New York - where his career exploded - from designing the Peacock Chair showcased in a Rihanna video to designing luxury houses for the Crown Sheik. Since then, he stepped back and began rethinking how we understand the future of the built environment, embarking on tying together research, design, architecture and urban planning through Supernature Labs. Dror’s life has been filled with brilliant visions and breathtaking designs, always grounded in sustainability and with an eye toward a better future. Images, links and more from Dror!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsor:Gild InsuranceHave you ever wondered if you have the insurance you need to be fu

Brooklyn-based podcaster Avery Trufelman has radio in her DNA. Her parents met while working at WNYC, so from birth she was nurtured with love and appreciation for radio. As a teenager, Avery took to expressing herself through wild, quirky thrifted fashion ensembles, much to the confusion of her peers. After cutting her audio teeth in college radio, Avery submitted a midnight application to intern at 99% Invisible and moved across the country to work in a closet with Roman Mars in beautiful downtown Oakland. When 99pi and the field of podcasting blew up, Avery was on the rocket ship. She’s since created an acclaimed 2-season series, Articles of Interest, around iconic items of clothing – which makes her teenage sartorial obsessions all add up – and worked on Nice Try! and The Cut. She’s a dynamic and thoughtful voice in the podcasting landscape, as always, making distinctive and bold style choices.Images, links and more from Avery!Please say Hi on social! Twitter, Instagram and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amy

Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of ManvsMachine, Mike Alderson, grew up on the outskirts of Liverpool, England, getting into mischief, playing sports, and spending the many rainy days inside drawing ferociously. More practical than academic, Mike started off in a mechanical engineering apprenticeship before learning it was absolutely not for him. Then, after a short stint as a pro BMX racer, his best friend’s brother turned him on to design and he was hooked. He made his way to London, decided it was time to be an adult, and threw himself whole-heartedly into his studies, graduating from Ravensbourne with a degree in Moving Image Design. In 2007, after a series of events that included a night at the pub with his recent ex-boss, Tim Swift, Mike and Tim founded ManvsMachine. Since then, he’s moved to LA, led projects for a world-class client list, and managed burnout, all while remaining a big thinker, a master tinkerer, and continuously punching above his weight.Images, links and more from Mike Alderson!

Industrial designer and founding partner of Barber Osgerby, Jay Osgerby, grew up in a small town in England, with his close-knit multi-generational family and the backdrop of his grandparents’ experiences through WWII. His childhood was filled with making things - inspired by his Swiss ancestors’ stories of watch and camera making. His parents were incredibly resourceful, whether it was opening a shop together or repurposing curtains when the local cinema closed. This pioneering spirit is something that Jay has carried with him throughout his career - from his studies at RCA where he met long-time business partner and friend, Ed Barber, to designing the 2012 Olympic Torch, to revolutionizing how people work remotely with Soft Work seating. Now, 25+ years into design, Jay reveals the triumphs and tragedies that lined his path and forged his character with candor, humor, and an unflagging optimism that burns bright and steady like the inextinguishable flame of the Olympic Torch. Images, links and more from

Illustrator Yuko Shimizu was born in Tokyo, Japan and began drawing from an early age. As a preteen, her family moved from Japan to the US, a huge culture shock that included learning an entirely new language and navigating social norms in 7th grade. This experience gave her an even deeper love for drawing - something that transcends any language barrier. After college, Yuko spent 11 years at a prestigious corporate PR firm in Japan before she decided to pursue her lifelong dream. At 34, she enrolled in art school in New York City. Since then, she’s received numerous accolades for her beautiful illustrations. A staunch supporter of going after what you want, Yuko certainly doesn’t regret any choices she’s made to draw a new path forward for herself.  Images, links and more from Yuko Shimizu!Please say Hi on social! Twitter, Instagram and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydevers, @designmilkIf you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a spo

A writer, speaker, and women’s creative leadership coach, Majo Molfino is a champion for smashing the patriarchy (both within and outside each of us!) and supporting women in harnessing their creative confidence and power. A precocious child, she was born in Argentina and moved with her family across the US and Canada, eventually landing in San Francisco. As an immigrant, she grew up trying to uphold the “Good Girl Myth” sacrificing her identity, her creativity, and her confidence to counteract the feeling of not belonging. After a windy path through a few stuffy 9 to 5s, she went on a few mind-blowing voyages and began to reconnect with herself. Now, Majo is the host of the HEROINE podcast, author of “Break the Good Girl Myth,” and is a role model and a leader in designing a life and career that is a perfect fit. Images, links and more from Majo!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsor:Gild InsuranceHave you ever wondered if you have the insurance you need to be fully protected as a business owner? Gi

Robyn Kanner’s personal story is twisty and beautifully American. Largely self-taught, she fought hard to find her voice, and has battled bullies, addiction and self-doubt on her path to purpose. She, alongside Carahna Magwood, led a design team that effectively imbued the Biden Harris ticket with an uplifting, hopefulness that stressed reliability, inclusive values and unification. From the hot pink Biden & Lady Gaga promos, to unifying red-blue gradients. Robyn’s is a story of acceptance, healing, hard work, creativity and community - and feels as bright and hopeful as a victory gradient.Images, links and more from Robyn Kanner!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsor:Gild InsuranceHave you ever wondered if you have the insurance you need to be fully protected as a business owner? Gild is a nationally licensed, digital, independent insurance agency for small business owners, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, microbusinesses and freelancers. Available online 24/7, Gild’s one-of-a-kind digital insurance process i

Former CEO of Design Within Reach and business consultant, John Edelman grew up on a horse farm in Connecticut. The youngest of 6, his childhood was filled with love, surrounded by his parents’ big dreams, in a home filled with visitors, from Andy Warhol to fashion executives. A hustler and daredevil from an early age, he excelled at flipping cars and riding dirt bikes but struggled in school. After college, John joined the family leather business, sorting buffalo skins in Thailand, worked for his brother at Esprit, and lived in Brazil to work in the shoe business. From 2010 - 2019 John served as CEO of Design Within Reach, during his tenure he pulled the company out of a downward spiral, transformed it into the world leader in authentic design, and led a highly publicized sale to Herman Miller. Now, Co-Founder of Fourth & Pride vodka, John’s life has been one great story after another - from adventure to romance, hardships to triumph, and a future that looks just as thrilling. Images, links and more

We'll be back with new episodes in 2022. To close out the year, we're rebroadcasting some of our favorite episodes of the year.Dr. Natalie Nixon grew up in Philadelphia playing double dutch and hopscotch on the street. Listening to jazz with her dad and exploring art with her mother taught her the value of improvisation and emotional resonance. Flexing her academic excellence while also being subjected to racial bigotry and red lining helped to hone her ability to see systems and span boundaries. Her experiences are vast and varied, from running a hat business in New York city to earning her PhD in Design Management in London. Today she's the president of Figure 8 Thinking, a Creative Strategy & Design Research consultancy that helps leaders apply creativity & foresight to achieve transformative business results, and the author of The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, and Intuition at Work.   Many thanks to this episode's sponsor:Gild InsuranceHave you ever wondered if

Industrial designer & entrepreneur, Yves Béhar, grew up in Switzerland on a steady diet of punk and windsurfing. After graduating from ArtCenter in California he moved to the Bay Area and got his professional start designing for The Burdick Group, LUNAR and frog. He founded fuseproject, his industrial design and branding firm, in 1999 and since then has been responsible for groundbreaking contributions to the design landscape across the fields of product design, brand development, business strategy, environments, and social impact. A pioneer of the “design venture” business model, he has also had a hand in redefining the way designers do business, enabling early-stage creative investment in startup projects. His new book, Yves Béhar: Designing Ideas is a comprehensive retrospective of his 20+ year career. Images, links and more from Yves Béhar!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsors:InfratechInfratech outdoor comfort heating systems combine eco-friendly, ambient warmth with unparalleled design versati

Live experience & interior designer Willo Perron grew up in Montreal surrounded by creativity. An industrious kid, he dropped out of high school at 14 to follow his own entrepreneurial and creative path. He got his start around the nightclub scene in Montreal doing everything from designing flyers, to lighting, to scouting DJs, and designing streetwear. Since then he’s gone on to design the now-famous aesthetic for American Apparel retail stores, as well as collaborate with many of pop music’s biggest stars, including Kanye, Drake, Lady Gaga, and St. Vincent. With partner Brian Roettinger, he’s built a multidisciplinary design firm, Perron-Roettinger, that works across Interior design, live experience, print, and identity. A firm believer in life having a way of working out, Willo continues to embrace entrepreneurship, creativity, and collaboration in an intuitive and exhilarating way. Images, links and more from Willo Perron!Many thanks to this episode’s sponsors:InfratechInfratech outdoor comf