But Why? A Design Podcast

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Justin Millar, Director of Property Solve , to explore the relationship between design and project management, and ask: Why Manage Design? Justin brings an interesting perspective to the conversation. Trained as an industrial designer, his career has taken him from superyachts and high-end interiors to workplace design, construction and ultimately client-side project management. It means he understands both the creative process and the practical realities of getting a project delivered. Our conversation explores the tension between creativity and constraint, and whether managing design limits creativity or actually creates the conditions for better outcomes. We discuss the role of time, budget and function, the difference between cost and value, and why sometimes the most valuable contribution to a design is simply asking……what is the point? This episode touches on: * The relationship between design and project management, and whether management has always been an inherent part of designing. * Why design needs a clear outcome, and what happens when the creative process is allowed to continue without boundaries. * How constraints around time, budget and function can improve rather than compromise a design outcome. * The importance of project managers needing to understand the competing interests of clients, designers, contractors and other stakeholders without automatically favouring one. * The difference between cutting cost and genuinely engineering value. * The importance in giving consultants the opportunity to explain and justify their thinking rather than defaulting to the cheapest option. * The value of independence in design review, particularly when designers become emotionally connected to their own work. * Why managing design ultimately isn't about controlling creativity, but helping turn an idea into an outcome. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links * Justin Millar LinkedIn * Property Solve * Woods Bagot Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Gavin Campbell, a designer and design advocate with more than 40 years of experience across interior design, architecture, project leadership, branding and the broader design profession. Gavin’s career has included major commercial, healthcare and infrastructure projects, alongside longstanding involvement with the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), including as National President. Throughout that time, he has maintained a strong interest in what defines good design, the responsibility designers carry, and how the profession recognises and promotes quality. Together, we explore the topics of Why do we need design awards? Our conversation examines what design awards should be recognising and whether some have become more focused on aesthetics, marketing and commercial opportunity than good design. Gavin challenges awards programs to look beyond the ‘beauty pageant’, arguing for greater honesty, stronger criteria and a deeper interrogation of the design process - including the constraints, compromises and decisions that shaped the final outcome. This episode touches on: * The construct of putting the word “designer” in front of a product doesn’t automatically make it good design. * The idea of ‘award washing’ and whether the term ‘award-winning’ has become devalued. * The importance of clear criteria, rigorous judging and understanding what an awards program actually stands for. * Potential conflict between sponsorship, entry fees and maintaining the independence and integrity of awards. * Why social, cultural and environmental responsibility should be embedded within good design rather than treated as separate award categories. * The value of asking designers what didn’t work and unresolved challenges. * How awards programs offer opportunity for design teams to stop, reflect and understand the value they created. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links * Hungry Puffs * Design Institute of Australia * Dieter Rams – Ten Principles for Good Design * Victor Papanek – Design for the Real World Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Emily Wills , designer, design educator and interdisciplinary researcher whose work explores the intersection of clothing, textiles, culture and sustainability. Emily has spent more than two decades working across design practice and education, challenging many of the assumptions surrounding the clothing industry. Rather than viewing clothing through the lens of fashion, she advocates for a broader conversation about design responsibility, material value, human labour and environmental impact. Together, we explore the provocative idea behind this episode’s title: Fashion Can’t Be Sustainable. Emily believes that fashion depends on continual novelty and consumption, it cannot genuinely be sustained. Instead, she proposes we stop thinking about fashion altogether and start thinking about clothing as a responsible design discipline focused on longevity, repair, quality and genuine human need. This episode touches on: * Why the word fashion has become incompatible with sustainability. * How trends and the pursuit of constant newness drive overconsumption. * The hidden environmental and social costs behind inexpensive clothing. * Why responsible clothing extends beyond environmental impacts to include fair labour and human wellbeing. * How the true value of clothing is disconnected from the price consumers pay. * Why quality, durability and longevity should replace quantity and convenience. * The challenges of recycled materials, microplastics and the complexity of choosing ‘better’ materials. * Why slowing consumption may ultimately be more important than improving recycling. * The role government policy, education and consumer behaviour can play in reshaping the future of clothing. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links * Emily Wills LinkedIn * Curtin University School of Design & Built Environment * The True Cost documentary * Terry Pratchett’s Boot Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Jonathan Lake , Director of GA Architecture, member of Curtin University’s School of Design Advisory Board, and Adjunct Fellow at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Jonathan has spent many years designing outcomes that place people at the centre of the built environment, through private residences, public spaces, social housing, community buildings and commercial workplace projects. Throughout his career he has challenged the traditional separation between architecture and interior design, believing that great buildings are ultimately judged by how they make people feel and function, not simply by how they look. Together, we explore the topic of: Why does architecture need interior design? Our conversation explores the relationship between architecture and interiors, why these disciplines have become increasingly siloed, and how reconnecting them can lead to more meaningful, adaptable and human-centred places. Jonathan shares why designing for experience should begin long before finishes are selected, and why empathy, collaboration and curiosity remain some of the most powerful design tools available. This episode touches on: * Why people experience buildings primarily from the inside, making interior thinking fundamental to great architecture. * How architecture and interior design have become increasingly separated through education, procurement and industry structures. * Why designing for human experience should begin during the earliest stages of briefing and concept development, not after development approval. * The importance of designing for everyday life rather than simply creating iconic buildings. * How collaboration between architects, interior designers and other specialists creates stronger long-term project outcomes. * Why adaptability allows buildings to remain relevant as users, technology and communities evolve. * The role empathy, listening and stakeholder engagement play in creating spaces that genuinely improve people’s lives. * Lessons from projects ranging from social housing and community facilities through to commercial workplaces and cultural buildings. * Why great design isn’t about protecting professional boundaries, but about solving problems together. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links GA Architecture Jonathan Lake LinkedIn Curtin University School of Design & Built Environment University of Notre Dame Australia Alvar Aalto Jørn Utzon Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

For the eleventh episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, we are joined in studio by Gordon Bateup . Gordon leads a Perth-based Project Management business and is the founder of Green Chair - a social enterprise established to connect physical items of value with people in need. Gordon spent a good chunk of his career as a quantity surveyor which he describes as ‘an accountant of the construction industry’ before establishing himself as a hands on and inquisitive Project Manager. In 2020, after witnessing years of nonsensicle waste as a by-product of the commercial property industry he took action and established Green Chair which has since helped a number of non-profit and other worthy organisations receive over 65,000 units of quality furniture, white goods, technology and other items. We loved being candid in this conversation with Gordon, while also sitting in admiration for the impact he has had in taking action over the past six years. This is someone who cares enough to be motivated to influence better outcomes for what would traditionally end up in landfill. In this conversation we explore: * What motivated the establishment of a social enterprise. * The ‘ghost economy’ and some of the structures that enable it. * Short term cost uplift vs long term value retention. * Ensuring those less equipped to deal with trash don’t become a pseudo landfill. * Who is, and shouldn’t be, scared of second-life product being normalised. * The unexpected benefits for people involved in the process. * What interior designers and manufacturers could do to minimise what Green Chair struggles to re-home. We hope you enjoy. *please note that during this episode we mention the late Adam Paikos-Coe who was an absolute champion of a designer who passed away too soon. We apologise in advance if this surfaces undesired emotions for our listeners. We felt it was important that the content remained as Adam was an instigator and convener of impactful design decisions that have informed and inspired the approach of many (including us) since. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links Bateup Consulting Green Chair Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

We have hit double digits in But Why? A Design Podcast episode releases! In this mini-milestone episode Eugene and Stirling are joined by husband and wife duo Rhys and Zenifa Bowring of Rezen Studio. Rezen Studio is based in East Fremantle and delivers architecture and interiors work across residential, commercial and hospitality. This creative duo and their team are responsible for plenty of outcomes our readership may be familiar with such as the coveted Gibney restaurant in Cottesloe, Vin Populi in Fremantle and Alchemy Saunas across Perth, Western Australia. We loved this conversation with Zen & Rhys! We discuss the challenges, complexities and pleasures that exist in running a practice while also raising a family together. They are both incredibly humble and highly intelligent individuals that don’t enjoy leaning in to any self-promotion - so we are glad to have been able to get them both behind a mic and share some of their magic. This conversation touches on: * The inevitability of establishing their own studio and how it happened at the right time. * Allowing space for others and being comfortable with being part of conversations without needing to dominate them. * Legacies, leaning in to influences and the importance of maturity over time. * Creative richness gained through perspectives. * Beauty as a result of systems and a level of order. * Obsessions applied to projects that will never be known. * Designing together meaning more than just themselves and their studio. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links Rezen Studio Alchemy Saunas Vin Populi Gibney Cottesloe Kerry Hill Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Louise Zawada, an executive coach and transformation consultant. Lou has 20 years of broad sector experience and has helped organisations humanise the complexities of transformations through mergers & acquisitions, divestments and major property events. Transformation A.K.A Change is something that we all will face at some time in our lives - personally & professionally - intentionally embarked upon and, at times, thrust upon us without notice. We were excited to have Lou in the studio to explore the topic of Why Change? Our conversation discusses the often overlooked challenges that arise with change, the various human responses, and the benefits of external perspectives. Lou highlights our natural tendency to stay where we feel comfortable, what it takes to help move someone, or an organisation, from point A to point Z, and the risk of limited leadership bandwidth when making change. Lou is known for being the ‘calm in the chaos’ and we believe this is because she has a core belief that change happens at the speed of trust. “If trust is prioritised in every interaction, then the way people feel and see change will be more positive”. This episode touches on: * Change can be chaotic and messy, but the importance for the process always being human-centred. * Why time needs to be spent on the hard-to-define ‘end-game’ and application of fairness in setting standards and expectations stakeholder wide. * How the human brain looks for threat and reward, and what may seem practical and obvious to some is foreign to others. * How transformation resistance can be from a positive place of care and deep interest. * Not everything needing to change, and how we need should get clear on the things that are wonderful and need preserving. * The ‘unseen’ work that hides behind transformation that makes it ‘just work’ * Why and when a change specialist or coach may be needed for diagnosis, value creation and support. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links Louise Zawada David Rock Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Alex Lotersztain of Derlot . Alex is an engaging creative who is globally recognised for his work across interiors, product, brand and materiality. Our discussion explores the influence of his childhood and travel experiences, and how he transitioned from being a rebel to becoming obsessed with design through channelling his curiosity to create passion and drive. Alex’s journey is one that many entrepreneurs may be able to relate to. At times he has worked many more hours than he has slept and has had to be overtly bold to receive opportunity. We enjoyed his stories on how in the beginning he made his studio appear as a studio of ‘three’ (although all emails were received and responded by him as the only employee) and how he gained an impromptu 3hr walk-up meeting with a design legend. Alex doesn’t describe his journey as hard. This is because he has had fun along the way and loves what he does. Our conversation gives insight to this. Alex says “we are all born designers but it is stripped away from us”. He believes that modern day challenges provide an abundance of visual stimuli and distraction from experimentation and curiosity. This episode also touches on: * The emotional rollercoaster associated with research and development. * Being forced to be creative (and arguably a better designer) through not having the resources of the ‘big guys’. * Physical manifestations of sustainability storytelling. * The importance of understanding the ‘market pulse’ before risking wasted energy. * Innovation is continuous improvements not just market changing inventions. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links Derlot Marc Newson Wombat GK Design Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Huia Adkins , Chair of the Steering Committee at Circular Economy Western Australia (CEWA) and Executive Advisor of Sustainability at GHD. Huia shares her journey from environmental protection and waste management into circular economy thinking, describing the moment she encountered circularity as a complete shift in perspective, from managing outputs to redesigning entire systems. Our conversation challenges the idea of circularity sitting as a last-minute bolt-on at the end of a project. We explore how circularity must be embedded from the outset, shaping design decisions, procurement models and stakeholder collaboration. We hope this episode presents as both pragmatic and optimistic. It acknowledges structural, policy and industry gaps, while also highlighting the growing capability and knowledge required to develop a more circular future. The conversation explores: * The limitations of linear systems and why they often need to be rethought entirely. * The role of procurement and RFP processes in either enabling or restricting innovation. * Circularity as a system-wide economic model, not just a materials or waste issue. * The rise of concepts like right to repair and extended producer responsibility. * The challenge of circularity becoming a buzzword without clear understanding or application. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links CEWA GHD Kwinana Industrial Council World Economic Forum Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Renae Tapley , Studio Director of Foolscap Perth Studio and founder of Future Materials . Renae shares the thinking behind Future Materials , a self-initiated platform built to promote low-carbon, circular and bio-based materials for the built environment. Our conversation touches on industry’s reliance on newness, questions the value we overlook in what already exists, and highlights the role designers play in influencing supply chains, behaviours and long-term outcomes. This episode is a reminder that specifiers hold power in specification and every decision carries consequences. It also opens up a different way of thinking about buildings - as banks of future value. The conversation explores: * The idea of a ‘materials narrative’ and designing with context, locality and story. * Resource recovery over demolition and reframing ‘waste’ as value. * Barriers to change including cost, risk, regulation and industry inertia. * Tensions between certification systems, storytelling and genuine impact. * Designing for disassembly and the importance of construction methodology. * Buildings as material banks, including material passports and digital twins. * The importance of shifting from extraction to participation with the natural world. We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating. If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links Future Materials Foolscap Studio Living Building Challenge Green Building Council Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by architect Jimmy Thompson of MJA Studio to explore the idea that design has the power to enhance life. Jimmy shares insights from years of practice working across housing and mixed-use projects, where the challenge is not just creating buildings, but shaping environments that support dignity, wellbeing and everyday experience. The conversation moves beyond form and aesthetics, asking deeper questions about the role architects play in creating places where people spend most of their lives. At the centre of the discussion is a reminder that design decisions carry consequence. From light and air through to spatial planning and material choices, the built environment has the potential to elevate human experience when intention and care are applied. The conversation also touches on a challenge within the design profession itself: designers often struggle to communicate the why behind their decisions. The conversation explores: * Architecture as a tool for enhancing everyday life * The responsibility designers hold toward the people who occupy their buildings * Housing as more than shelter, creating dignity, health and wellbeing * Balancing professional success with humility in design practice We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings. Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links MJA Studio Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Stirling turns the lens toward Eugene and the origin of platFORMed . What begins as a conversation about naming quickly becomes something deeper - a reflection on purpose, influence, risk, and the uncomfortable moment when success no longer feels aligned. Eugene shares his pursuit of a holistic impact - not just in products or projects, but in systems, people and environments. The discussion explores the tension between security and soul, and the realisation that legacy is shaped not by position, but by influence. The conversation explores: * The decision to leave security in pursuit of purpose * Designing a life, not just a career * Influence as a tool for environmental and human impact * Projects as leverage for systemic change * The tension between comfort, risk and legacy * Waste Watch: repair, responsibility and the ‘underused economy’ We hope you enjoy. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings. Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links platFORMed & / OR Consulting Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, we are joined by Sandy Anghie , co-founder and chair of Perth Design Week . Together, we trace the origin of Perth Design Week from a ‘coalition of the willing’ into a growing platform that brings disciplines together, expands public awareness, and strengthens the conditions for design to be seen as a cultural and economic force, not a niche industry conversation. Sandy shares what people often do not see: the long hours, volunteer intensity, and behind-the-scenes partnerships required to make the week happen. We talk about why the shift from silos to a shared tent is so powerful in Perth, and how PDW has helped reveal the true scale of the design sector when it moves as one. A central theme emerges: design is everywhere and for everyone. If design shapes the quality of our cities, homes, services and daily experiences, then Perth Design Week is not just a celebration. It is a mechanism for participation, literacy, and momentum. This episode is warm, grounded and energising. It is about advocacy through celebration, and the practical reality of turning an idea into an institution. Topics explored include: * How Perth Design Week began, and why Perth needed its own design week * The “coalition of the willing” and why breaking silos matters * Festival growth and 2026 being a more curated model * The role of key partners and venues in enabling scale and access * Why design weeks are cultural infrastructure, and a genuine tourism and economic opportunity * Local HQ as key activation within The Liberty Theatre Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings. Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link: Show Links Perth Design Week State Buildings WA Museum Boola Bardip Block Branding Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , we are joined by Sarah Booth to explore an uncomfortable but necessary question: Why do we design with hostility? Together, we unpack how environments, systems and processes can unintentionally exclude, overwhelm or alienate. From workplaces and public spaces to services and everyday interactions, this conversation challenges the assumption that good design automatically leads to good outcomes. Sarah invites us to slow down and look beneath intent, asking where efficiency, control or legacy thinking has overridden empathy, care and lived experience. We talk about power, responsibility and the subtle ways design decisions shape behaviour, dignity and belonging. A central theme emerges: what if designers became choreographers of care? What if we designed not just for function or aesthetics, but for emotional safety, inclusion and human experience? This episode is reflective, provocative and quietly hopeful. It is not about blame, but about awareness, accountability and the opportunity to do better. Topics explored include: * What “hostile design” really looks like and why it often goes unnoticed * The difference between intention and impact in design decision-making * Who gets centred and who gets excluded by default * Designing with care, empathy and responsibility * Reframing the designer’s role as a choreographer of human experience As always, the conversation is unscripted, honest and occasionally uncomfortable. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings. Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. Subscribe here: About - But Why? A Design Podcast If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through this link: https://buymeacoffee.com/butwhyadesignpodcast Show Links Sarah Booth Spacemarket Winston Churchill Trust Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

What does it mean to be “wasted by design”, and are we, as an industry (and a society), designing waste into the system on purpose? In Episode 002 of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling step back and set context for the work behind the mic. This is Part One of a two-part origin story, focused on Stirling’s journey and the philosophy behind Wasted by Design , a business name that is deliberately ironic, intentionally provocative, and rooted in years of observing waste in commercial interiors. Stirling shares why the problem is not just environmental, but also human. Wasted materials, wasted time, wasted quality, wasted potential. The episode explores why reuse is still treated as “less glamorous” than new, why commercial settings struggle with circularity even when households embrace second-hand platforms, and how fear, liability, and fragmented decision-making keep the system stuck. They also introduce a new recurring segment, Waste Watch , designed to call out everyday examples of waste, with a constructive lens. The first target: a very public piece of seasonal marketing that raises bigger questions about design intent and brand responsibility. In this episode, we discuss: * Why the name Wasted by Design is meant to provoke an honest conversation * The human and spatial cost of a profit-first system * Why commercial reuse is harder than household reuse * How designer ego and the pursuit of new can crowd out better options * When sustainability tools become badge-chasing instead of genuine impact * The Never-Used Economy, including speculative fitouts that are built then removed before use * Waste Watch: the KFC bucket hat as a case study in designed waste and marketing choices Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings. Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. Subscribe here: About - But Why? A Design Podcast If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through this link: https://buymeacoffee.com/butwhyadesignpodcast Show Links Wasted by Design Perth Design Week Big Bash Produced by us. Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this first episode of ‘But Why, A Design Podcast’, hosts Eugene Hooks and Stirling Fletcher explore the question of - Why do we design? Drawing from frameworks, philosophy, lived experience and a few unexpected tangents, we unpack the forces that drive designers and non-designers alike to shape the world around them. From primal instincts of shelter and survival to modern challenges of ego, commercialisation and planned obsolescence, this episode explores how design began with human progress, lost its way in some areas, and is now being re-examined with a renewed sense of responsibility. Along the way we discuss: - What AI thinks design is for - How Maslow’s hierarchy shows up in design evolution - The tension between intent and commercial reality - Empathy as a design tool - Design as instinct versus design as profession - When design solves problems and when it creates them This conversation sets the foundation for everything that comes next. Thank you for joining us on this journey. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings. Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. Subscribe here: About - But Why? A Design Podcast If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through this link: https://buymeacoffee.com/butwhyadesignpodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In our very first release of But Why? A Design Podcast , we open the door to the questions that started it all. What began as years of conversations between two design-minded friends has now become a space to explore the deeper intent behind design, the systems that shape our world, and the curiosity that keeps us asking… But why? This introductory episode sets the tone for what’s to come: * Topics we’re passionate about and want to challenge * Guests who bring expertise beyond our own * Solo reflections and shared discussions * Thoughtful, curious explorations of how design influences people, places and experiences It’s an invitation into a community of questioners and thinkers, designers and non-designers alike. We thank you for joining us on this journey. Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why? Keen to Support Us? But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings. Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. Subscribe here: About - But Why? A Design Podcast If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through this link: https://buymeacoffee.com/butwhyadesignpodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com