Radically simplifying EVs at Slate Auto | Ben Whitla & Tisha Johnson

Radically simplifying EVs at Slate Auto | Ben Whitla & Tisha Johnson

Devin speaks with two leaders  at Slate Auto, an EV startup that’s designed a cheap modular pickup truck. Tisha Johnson, Head of Design, and Ben Whitla, Head of Brand and Marketing, join Devin to share the big, gnarly challenges Slate is facing in getting a low-cost, personalizable vehicle to consumers—from design to production. They tell Devin about the joy and terror of relinquishing design control to their customers, and how they take inspiration from collaborative brands like Lego and Vans. They explain where their two disciplines, vehicle and brand design, inform one another at Slate, leading to a more integrated design approach than either of them expected. Plus, they share their hot takes on why screens in vehicles are totally overrated.  1:49 Why this kind of modularity hasn’t been seen before 3:43 Their breakthrough in designing the front fascia  5:51 How brand and vehicle design align 8:58 Designing for customer’s self-expression 11:38 When car owners go wild 14:30 Affordability through minimalism 19:00 Taking the leap on a start-up 23:26 Collaboration vs. AI agents 26:16 Lightning round

New season coming soon

A new season is around the corner, celebrating Teague’s 100th anniversary and exploring the future of design. Hit follow to make sure you don’t miss what’s next. If you have a story to share, drop us a line at hello@teague.com [hello@teague.com]. About the Host: Futurist Devin Liddell Devin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike, helping organizations anticipate changes across both near- and far-term horizons to create their preferred futures. Devin is a frequent contributor to Fast Company. Get in Touch Have a complex problem that needs solving? Have a great guest or topic idea? We want to hear from you. Visit us at teague.com or send us an email at hello@teague.com [hello@teague.com]

Are we ready for a driverless world? | Corey Clothier

Devin speaks with Corey Clothier, a longtime leader in autonomous vehicles. Corey is the co-founder and CEO of ARIBO Autonomous Solutions, where he helps government agencies and private companies deploy autonomous tech in the real world. In this episode, Corey and Devin talk about autonomy as a shift in how systems work. Good design considers not just what machines can do, but also how they fit into the complex realities of human life. The two explore what that looks like when the human element is a family on vacation, an airport manager struggling to hire staff, and a wounded veteran looking for care. Longtime listeners take note: autonomous lawnmowers make another appearance. 1:34 Fort Bragg's wounded warrior problem 2:23 Convincing a two-star general 6:30 Most useful robot for Marines?  8:53 Vegas says yes to robot shuttles 12:01 "There's no steering wheel!" 13:12 From Johnny Cab to real autonomy 16:35 The curb space conundrum 17:38 Difference makers: the people in charge 18:21 Michigan leading by example 20:32 Evil robots and American pop culture 21:18 Painted forklifts 23:06 Autonomous lawnmowers Links Devin Liddell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinliddell/] Corey Clothier on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyclothier/] Teague [http://teague.com] About the Host: Futurist Devin Liddell Devin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike, helping organizations anticipate changes across both near- and far-term horizons to create their preferred futures. Devin is a frequent contributor to Fast Company.  Get in Touch  Have a complex problem that needs solving? Have a great guest or topic idea? We want to hear from you. Visit us at teague.com or send us an email at hello@teague.com [hello@teague.com]

When design enters the battlefield | Robert Walker

Devin speaks with Robert Walker, a senior design leader who recently transitioned from a two-decade career in automotive design into the world of defense. He previously led design for some of Ford and GM’s most iconic vehicles. Now, he’s applying that experience to the radically different challenge of designing tactical vehicles for military use. It’s a dramatic shift – one that raises big questions about how design adapts when the stakes are high.  1:47 Welcome to the defense industry   4:01 The designer's ”curse” 5:13 Humvees and backup cameras 8:44 Success redefined – getting soldiers home 11:38 Humans vs machines on the battlefield 13:13 Leading both design and engineering teams 15:18 Prototyping: build first, get permission later  17:49 Lightening Round Links Devin Liddell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinliddell/] Robert Walker on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertwalkerdesign/] Teague [http://teague.com] About the Host: Futurist Devin Liddell Devin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike, helping organizations anticipate changes across both near- and far-term horizons to create their preferred futures. Devin is a frequent contributor to Fast Company.  Get in Touch  Have a complex problem that needs solving? Have a great guest or topic idea? We want to hear from you. Visit us at teague.com or send us an email at hello@teague.com [hello@teague.com]

At Anduril, design is a sign of respect | Jen Bucci

Devin speaks with Jen Bucci, VP of Design at Anduril Industries, a defense company specializing in autonomous technology. Jen leads a hands-on creative team that covers everything from industrial and graphic design to film and photography. Jen shares how her love for James Bond films shaped her approach to design, how branding ties into accountability, and why designing for defense means developing a clear, cohesive design language that touches everything from hardware to typography. It’s a strikingly modern approach in an industry where user experience is often overlooked. Plus, Jen tips her hat to Virgil Abloh — because sometimes the label is the design. 1:22 When missiles get the anime treatment 5:18 Designing for the 18-year-old warfighter 7:26 Virgil Abloh and the art of labeling everything 11:02 If your brand color is blue… 14:35 Function as features: design under constraints 16:42 Respect for the user in high-stakes design 17:49 Hard questions: ethics and transparency 20:33 Inspiration from Minority Report to Cyberpunk 22:35 Lightning round Links Devin Liddell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinliddell/] Jen Bucci on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jendarhy/] Teague [http://teague.com] About the Host: Futurist Devin Liddell Devin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike, helping organizations anticipate changes across both near- and far-term horizons to create their preferred futures. Devin is a frequent contributor to Fast Company.  Get in Touch  Have a complex problem that needs solving? Have a great guest or topic idea? We want to hear from you. Visit us at teague.com or send us an email at hello@teague.com [hello@teague.com]