design by us

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi try to understand why going to the supermarket always takes longer than it should. Turns out, supermarkets hack your brain by overwhelming you. Listen to find out what they do, why they do it, and even how you can avoid some of the pitfalls. — Support Design By Us: Follow Design By Us on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/designbyus_fm⁠ Find more content and support us o...

Luigi and Ravi are working on future episodes, so they have decided to dust off one of the most popular episodes of all time! In this episode, Luigi and Ravi dive into the world of design and discuss the book 'Creativity, Inc' by Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar and former president of Walt Disney Animation Studios. With his pioneering work in 3D computer graphics and animated films, Ed off...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi explore the power of scent as a design tool. Smell has the ability to recall memories, spark emotions, influence mating decisions, and even impact brand perception. They delve into the science behind smell and the brain, how aroma can enhance a brand's image, and the process of physically designing scents. Additionally, they discuss examples such as Hyatt Place,...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi explore the fascinating journey Futura, a typeface that is not just a font, but a piece of art! They explore how Futura's unique design and geometric simplicity was crafted manually to achieve legibility and aesthetic appeal. Also, how major brands like Nike and Volkswagen have used this iconic typeface for multiple marketing campaigns, and how it even made its...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi go on a thrilling exploration of the world of product design at Decathlon, the sporting goods retailer that's taking the industry by storm. With an annual revenue of 10 billion euros and over 70 sub-brands, Decathlon is revolutionizing the way we think about sports gear. They discover how Decathlon's mission to make sports accessible to everyone is reflected...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi explore the fascinating world of In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems. Discover the history and evolution of IFE systems, from the early days of in-flight movies to the cutting-edge technology of today. Find out why despite the industry being worth $5.9 billion, IFE systems still struggle to meet passenger expectations. Explore the challenges faced by airlines in d...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi explore a brand new tool from Microsoft 365, Microsoft Designer. This is a tool for creating multiple types of graphics, from logos and invitations to blog banners and social media posts using DALL-E 2 by OpenAI. They explore the question: is entering a text description of what you want and receiving a result good design? Finally, they do a UX analysis of the experi...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi discussed the controversial photo-editing app, Lensa. The app was developed by Prisma Labs in 2018 as a photo-editing tool, and since then, it has garnered nearly 6 million downloads worldwide. They will discuss the appeal of Lensa's image filters and AI-generated images, and explore how they differ. They also delve into the issue of sexualization and implicit bias...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi dive into the world of what3words, a navigation technology that is changing the way we communicate location. From emergency services to deliveries, what3words is transforming how we find and share precise locations. They discuss the origins and development of the technology, its applications in various industries, but also explore some cases where it has created con...

Tony Fadell is the creator of the iPod, and the founder of Nest. In 2022 he released his book, Build. Join Ravi and Luigi as they take a deep dive into Build, and also the contents of his talk at Websummit 2022. They’ll discuss what goes into creating world class, product led companies covering lessons around business, product, storytelling and more. Plus: Data vs Opinion - is there a winner in th...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi will be discussing the concept of designing and building a second brain or knowledge management system. Today, we consume an equivalent of 174 full newspapers everyday, this information overload contributes to high levels of daily stress, work performance, and your ability of being present. With so much information available to us, it's important to have a system in...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi dive into the user experience and technology behind online dating apps. With over 40% of people meeting their first date through an app or website, it's no secret that these technologies have changed the way we date. They will explore the design behind successful dating apps, and the role algorithms play in making meaningful connections. Also, they will discuss the...

In this episode, Luigi orders the most expensive drink in Starbucks history, and the pair dive into whether it was sugar or store design that has had a bigger impact on the ubiquitous caffeine dispensary that has come to dominate our world. They’ll also explain why Starbucks is actually a bank, how it pursued a ‘third space’ strategy, and the murky origins of the Frappacino. Plus: how many differe...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi try to figure out if not having a brand is actually having a brand. They take a look at MUJI, the global retailer selling minimalist home and stationary goods. Chances are you’ve got, or someone near you, has one of their products - identified only by their brown paper labels.  They’ll dive into the history of the brand in 1980’s Japan, and take a look at the d...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi dive into the world of virtual production, a cutting-edge technology that has revolutionized the way movies and TV shows are made. We explore the process and techniques used in some of the most popular productions, including "The Mandalorian" and "The Batman."  First, we discuss the use of real-time rendering in virtual production, which allows for immediate fe...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi will discuss the highlights from CES 2023, the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show held in Las Vegas earlier this month. They will be discussing some of the keynote speeches from the event, including the opening address from the CEO of BMW, who discussed the company's ‘futuristic’ vision. But let's be honest; we are all just excited about the new cup hol...

Welcome to 2023, the year where humans (continue to) design the world! Join Luigi and Ravi as they reflect on the most impactful stories in design and tech from 2022 and give some outlandish predictions for 2023.  They cover the impact of generative AI and where it might go; the trials and tribulations  of Elon Musk; and the future of NFTs (yes, apparently they still have a future). Plus...

This week, Luigi and Ravi bring back one of the first episodes that received great feedback from the listeners. Massimo Vignelli is one of the great modernist designers. They discussed how Vignelli cracked the design of the NYC Subway system, American Airlines timeless logo, the use of Helvetica in his work and more. Join us as we explore Vignelli’s design philosophy and some of his eternal work....

If you drank one different Coca-Cola beverage every day, it would take 9 years to try every single beverage that the Coca-Cola Company makes. In this episode, Luigi and Ravi will discuss the history of Coca-Cola’s brand and how they have managed to intertwine their brand identity with the emotions of Christmas. We will also dive into some of the company’s biggest failures, their mental model for a...

Twitter is everywhere, ubiquitous  and quasi-infrastructure. But how did the micro-blogging platform we know and (sometimes) love begin? Join Ravi and Luigi as they take you through the tumultuous first few years, full of politics and weird product decisions. This episode is the first of a 2 part series on the blue bird.  _   Find the free show notes and on Patreon  _ Check out...

Twitter is everywhere, ubiquitous  and quasi-infrastructure. But how did the micro-blogging platform we know and (sometimes) love begin? Join Ravi and Luigi as they take you through the tumultuous first few years, full of politics and weird product decisions. This episode is the first of a 2 part series on the blue bird. _  Find the free show notes on Patreon _ Check out: byus.design &nb...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi welcome their first Patron guest, Ludo! They deep dive into how design, tech, business, and marketing have influenced the FIFA World Cup throughout history. They discuss the innovation of the FIFA Automated Offside, which supports the new VAR, and how much that costed humanity. They also talk through the history and insane user adoption of Panini stickers, the messy...

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi deep dive into Red Bull’s brand. Why would an energy drinks company own two F1 Teams, five football teams, and two Ice Hockey Teams, while sponsoring the riskiest initiatives such as a man free-falling from the stratosphere? All of this, while manufacturing $3 energy drinks. How has Red Bull achieved this?   This episode was born after a listener request....

In this episode, Luigi and Ravi deep dive into the main topics discussed at Web Summit. Starting with the Metaverse and why most definitions of just lazy and lack imagination. If the Metaverse is not the virtual world Meta wants us to buy into, then, what is it? They have got a theory. They also discuss the why and how of product-led growth, and finally Figma’s CPO approach to giving structured fe...

This week, Luigi and Ravi are at WebSummit! Given that many of you are new to the Design By Us community and the importance of global warming, we decided to resurface our conversation with Marc Collins Chen about designing floating cities. Marc is the co-founder of Oceanix a company that designs and builds floating cities for people to live sustainably on the ocean. Since the recording of this epi...