AIGA Design Podcast

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello sit down with Giorgia Lupi to explore her journey from an architecture student and musician in Italy to a pioneer of data humanism and partner at Pentagram in New York City. Giorgia discusses her latest books, her Love Letter to the New York City subway, and why she recently broke up with ChatGPT. Whether you're a seasoned designer or a curious learner, Giorgia’s insights invite us to see data as a profoundly human, creative, and essential storytelling tool.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction to Giorgia Lupi and her focus on data humanism
02:00 - Giorgia’s early influences: architecture, music, and data collection at her grandmother’s tailor shop
05:00 - Spark moments: designing band album artwork and transitioning into data visualization
06:40 - Discussing her book Speak Data and the process behind it
09:00 - The human stories within data: interviews with leading thinkers on data’s meaning
13:15 - The Dear Data project: weekly postcards and framing personal data conversations
16:00 - Inspired by data visualizations and how personal relationships shape data storytelling
18:00 - Data as a love letter to the NYC subway system: poetic visualization of transit data
25:00 - Designing data for children: This Is Me and Only Me and engaging young audiences
27:30 - The challenge of complex data: finding human stories in big or aggregated datasets
30:20 - Designing the data set: choosing what to include and how to add context
32:00 - Combining qualitative and quantitative data: mentoring teams and storytelling strategies
34:30 - The evolving role of data in design and how to navigate cross-disciplinary data practices
38:00 - Perspectives on AI: cautious optimism, data as a resource, and preserving human creativity
43:00 - Inspirations and making for the sake of making: art exhibitions, painting, and experimentation
45:30 - Final thoughts: cultivating critical thinking and curiosity in a data-driven world

REFERENCES
Our previous episode of the AIGA Design Podcast with Giorgia Lupi from 2020: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aigadesign/episodes/Giorgia-Lupi-on-Data-Humanism-ecs2f7
Giorgia Lupi’s personal website: https://giorgialupi.com/
Pentagram – The World’s Largest Independent Design Consultancy: https://www.pentagram.com/ 
Speak Data: Artists, Scientists, Thinkers, and Dreamers on How We Live Our Lives in Numbers: https://amzn.to/4qXAQl4 
Dear Data: https://amzn.to/3Msgrqj 
This is Me and Only Me: https://amzn.to/46pMrlH
A Data Love Letter to the Subway: https://www.mta.info/agency/arts-design/digital-art/data-love-letter 
Two Craigs Take on a 1-Year Performance Challenge (2025 AIGA Design Conference): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdjkZu_qvDM 
2Craigs: https://www.2craigs.com/ 
Ruth Asawa, A Retrospective: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5768
Wifredo Lam, When I Don’t Sleep I Dream at MoMA: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5788
Alfred Jensen at the Pace Gallery: https://www.pacegallery.com/artists/alfred-jensen/

In this episode, Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello host Andy Curson and Rob Slowe from Arctic Paper as they dive into sustainable papermaking, the role of print in a digital age, and collaborations with emerging designers. Discover how Arctic Paper balances environmental responsibility with innovation, and how print continues to evolve as a meaningful medium for creativity and storytelling.
Arctic Paper’s portfolio: mills in Sweden and Poland, offering coated, uncoated, book, and high-end papers
The relationship between Arctic Paper and the Munken Design Brand, and insights into their global activities
Collaborations with European design schools for over 20 years, fostering youth creativity
The evolution of agenda design: flexibility, interactivity, and the shift from static to fluid layouts
The value of physical books and print in an era dominated by screens, emphasizing quality and sensory experience
Arctic Paper’s sustainability initiatives: FSC, Cradle to Cradle, CO2 reduction, water conservation, and environmental stewardship
Challenges in translating digital files to print, ICC profiles, and ensuring color fidelity
Digital tools like Munken Sans font and Munken Creator for hybrid design approaches
The future of print: high-end books as niche luxury items, akin to vinyl records
The impact of AI on design and print, emphasizing the importance of tactile, slow media for deep engagement

Resources & Links:
Arctic Paper Official Website: https://www.arcticpaper.com
Munken Paper: https://www.arcticpaper.com/brands/munken/
Munken Sans Typeface: https://colab.munken.com/munken-sans
Munken Creator Web Tool: https://colab.munken.com/munkencreator
FSC Certification: https://fsc.org

Timestamps: 
00:00 - Introduction to the Eyes on Design theme and guests from Arctic Paper
02:29 - Arctic Paper’s global presence and product offerings
04:09 - Clarification of Arctic Paper and Munkin Brand relationship
05:34 - The backgrounds and careers of Andy and Rob in the paper industry
11:34 - Long-standing collaboration with European art and design schools
14:32 - Big shifts in youth design practices: flexibility and interactivity
16:33 - How COVID influenced innovative student projects and engagement with paper
19:04 - Challenges of translating digital files to print on uncoated paper
21:03 - The role of paper quality in creating memorable experiences
24:47 - Arctic Paper’s commitments to sustainability and environmental impact
27:31 - Innovations in reducing water and energy consumption in papermaking
30:14 - The physical environment as part of sustainability and community well-being
31:24 - How Arctic Paper bridges expectations between digital and print media
34:41 - Digital tools and experiments like Munken Sans font and Munken Creator platform
39:24 - The future of luxury books and print as a niche market akin to vinyl records
41:59 - The timeless value of physical books and passing on treasured works
42:35 - AI's role in design, print, and storytelling: preserving tactile skills amid digital growth
45:09 - Looking ahead: embracing both digital and physical mediums, fostering new creatives

Join co-hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello as they kick off a brand-new season of the AIGA Design Podcast. We’re diving deep into our new programming theme, "Eyes on Design."
Whether you’re a long-time listener or brand new to the show, Lee-Sean and Giulia take a moment to (re)introduce themselves and share the backgrounds (and biases) they bring to design discourse.
Have a story to tell? We’re scouting for guests! Send your pitches to [email protected].
Join the conversation: We love hearing from you. Drop us an email or a voice message with your thoughts on the new season
The AIGA Design Podcast is 100% member-supported. Join AIGA today at aiga.org to support our work and connect with our community of design professionals, educators, and leaders.

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, hosts Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello sit down with Aleksey Fedorov, Director of Global Brand Marketing at Microsoft, for a wide-ranging conversation on branding, performance, and the evolving role of design in society.
Aleksey reflects on his nonlinear career path and how moments of tension, uncertainty, and failure have shaped his creative practice. Together, they unpack how brands can move beyond metrics to create meaning, build trust, and reflect the complexity of the world we live in. The conversation also explores the role of AI in creative work, the importance of inclusion and representation in brand systems, and what it means to design not just visuals, but immersive, living worlds.
Drawing on his experience at Microsoft and his involvement with AIGA, Aleksey shares insights on how institutions and brands must continue to evolve, embracing discomfort and staying grounded in human values to remain relevant and impactful.

Episode Recommendation:
Book: Art Since 1900
Newsletter: Benedict Evans
Movie: Her
Show: Andor

In this episode of the AIGA Design Podcast, Lee-Sean Huang and Giulia Donatello engage in an inspiring conversation with Devika Menon, a service design and delivery lead at the City of Philadelphia. They explore Devika's diverse career journey, from her early days in animation film design to her current role in civic design. The discussion highlights the importance of human-centered design, the challenges of working within government systems, and the significance of participatory service design. Devika shares insights on navigating uncertainty, the impact of cultural experiences on design thinking, and the value of collaboration in creating sustainable change.

Episode Recommendations:
Book: Good Services: Decoding the Mystery of What Makes a Good Service
Book: Braiding Sweetgrass