Thinking Like a Designer, Building Like a CEO

Where Practice Meets Practicality

Recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library! Featuring Donald Harrison (featured in S1. E5) and Hien Lam (featured in S2. E3). In this live recording, Yen and Hafsah are joined by CadencePod alums Donald Harrison, filmmaker and owner of 7 Cylinders Studio, and Hien Lam, co-owner and designer at Huck Finch, to explore how creative practice can be effectively integrated into real-world applications and careers.

Merging Mediums and Staying Agile in a Changing Media Landscape

Multimedia artist and designer Martin Thoburn joins the podcast to discuss how curiosity has driven his diverse career. With a background spanning graphic design, motion graphics, animation, filmmaking, and projection mapping, Martin shares his unconventional journey from film and mixed media experimentation, to a career in corporate work.

Building Sustainable Spaces that Matter

Architect, entrepreneur, and community advocate Lisa Sauve shares her journey from early drafting classes to founding Synecdoche. As CEO, she blends architecture, policy, and placemaking to shape urban spaces, local policies, and community culture. Through projects like Do Good Work, she supports creatives and fosters civic impact. This episode explores how design intersects with responsibility, offering insights for architects, designers, and changemakers.

Thinking Like a Designer, Building Like a CEO

Hien Lam, co-founder of Huck Finch, a strategic design studio in Ypsilanti, joins us to talk about building a business with intention, the power of saying no, and creating a brand that resonates. Hien shares his unconventional career path from pre-med to design entrepreneur, and how travel has influenced his work and worldview. We also dive into client experience, pricing strategies, and why great design starts with strategy, not aesthetics.

The Exhibit Designer’s Playbook: Building Meaningful Spaces

Hafsah and Yen sit down with Jason Jay Stevens, a creative force in exhibit design and the founder of Flutter and Wow Museum Projects. With a career spanning decades, Jason has played a key role in designing and implementing museum exhibits, interactive technologies, and immersive storytelling experiences. Jason shares insights into how curiosity, adaptability, and storytelling shape the world of museum design. He also reflects on the challenges of leading a creative team, the importance of accessibility in exhibit design, and why history museums are more vital than ever.