Q4D - Questions for Designers | Conversations on Design, Leadership, and Creative Practice

Ep. 10: Robert Creighton on Experience Design, Education, & Meaningful Interaction

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D), Max Beach speaks with Robert Creighton about designing interactive experiences across museums, public spaces, and educational environments. Robert reflects on the thread connecting his work, from creating engaging learning environments to designing experiences that balance information, emotion, and behavior. The conversation explores how designers measure success in these spaces, and the responsibility that comes with shaping public understanding through design. They also discuss his role as an educator, helping students move beyond surface-level thinking, and how design can have greater impact when grounded in purpose and clarity. *note During the conversation, Robert referenced the Ferguson unrest as occurring in 2016. The unrest took place in the summer of 2014. Additionally, Latasha Harlins was the name of the young woman murdered prior to the Los Angeles unrest.

Ep. 9: Peter DeMaria on Modular Housing and Designing at Scale

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D), Max Beach speaks with Peter DeMaria about architecture, modular construction, and the challenge of designing housing at scale. Peter shares how his work sits at the intersection of design, construction, and systems thinking, and what problem he’s really trying to solve through prefabrication. The conversation explores common misconceptions around modular housing, how constraints like cost and speed shape outcomes, and how designers can still protect quality while working at scale. They also discuss the importance of reframing assumptions, drawing inspiration from outside architecture, and where design is most needed as housing challenges continue to grow.

Ep 8: Melissa Brower on Design Leadership, Brand Systems, and Building Creative Teams

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D), Max Beach speaks with Melissa Brower about design leadership, building and scaling brand systems, and what it takes to lead creative teams effectively. Melissa shares insights from her experience guiding design across global brands, balancing creative vision with organizational needs, and developing teams that can operate at both strategic and executional levels. The conversation explores how designers grow into leadership roles, how brand systems evolve over time, and what it means to maintain clarity and consistency at scale. They also discuss the human side of leadership, including mentorship, communication, and how to create environments where designers can do their best work.

Ep. 7: Chris Collins on Brand Partnerships, Design Strategy, and Creative Leadership

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D), Max Beach speaks with Chris Collins of Kiwii about the intersection of brand partnerships, design strategy, and creative leadership. Chris shares insights from his experience building collaborations between brands, navigating creative direction, and aligning design with broader business goals. The conversation explores how partnerships shape outcomes, what it takes to lead across teams, and how designers can operate more strategically within complex organizations. They also discuss the evolving role of design in brand storytelling and how creative leaders can create meaningful, lasting impact through collaboration.

Ep 6: Blair Hasty on Design Strategy, Leadership, and Moving Upstream

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D), Max Beach speaks with Blair Hasty, Founder and Director of Industrial Design at Crafted By, about what it takes to move design upstream and earn a seat at the strategic table. Drawing from over 20 years of experience across in-house leadership and consultancy, Blair shares how designers can shift from execution to influence, the realities of working across disciplines, and the lessons learned from both successful and failed projects. They also discuss how design leadership evolves, what clients actually value, and how designers can position themselves to have greater impact earlier in the process.