But Why? A Design Podcast

For the eleventh episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, we are joined in studio by Gordon Bateup . Gordon leads a Perth-based Project Management business and is the founder of Green Chair - a social enterprise established to connect physical items of value with people in need. Gordon spent a good chunk of his career as a quantity surveyor which he describes as ‘an accountant of the construction ind...

We have hit double digits in But Why? A Design Podcast episode releases! In this mini-milestone episode Eugene and Stirling are joined by husband and wife duo Rhys and Zenifa Bowring of Rezen Studio. Rezen Studio is based in East Fremantle and delivers architecture and interiors work across residential, commercial and hospitality. This creative duo and their team are responsible for plenty of outc...

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Louise Zawada, an executive coach and transformation consultant. Lou has 20 years of broad sector experience and has helped organisations humanise the complexities of transformations through mergers & acquisitions, divestments and major property events. Transformation A.K.A Change is something that we all will face at...

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Alex Lotersztain of Derlot . Alex is an engaging creative who is globally recognised for his work across interiors, product, brand and materiality. Our discussion explores the influence of his childhood and travel experiences, and how he transitioned from being a rebel to becoming obsessed with design through channell...

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Huia Adkins , Chair of the Steering Committee at Circular Economy Western Australia (CEWA) and Executive Advisor of Sustainability at GHD. Huia shares her journey from environmental protection and waste management into circular economy thinking, describing the moment she encountered circularity as a complete shift in...

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by Renae Tapley , Studio Director of Foolscap Perth Studio and founder of Future Materials . Renae shares the thinking behind Future Materials , a self-initiated platform built to promote low-carbon, circular and bio-based materials for the built environment. Our conversation touches on industry’s reliance on newness, qu...

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling are joined by architect Jimmy Thompson of MJA Studio to explore the idea that design has the power to enhance life. Jimmy shares insights from years of practice working across housing and mixed-use projects, where the challenge is not just creating buildings, but shaping environments that support dignity, wellbeing and everyday exp...

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , Stirling turns the lens toward Eugene and the origin of platFORMed . What begins as a conversation about naming quickly becomes something deeper - a reflection on purpose, influence, risk, and the uncomfortable moment when success no longer feels aligned. Eugene shares his pursuit of a holistic impact - not just in products or projects, but in systems...

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, we are joined by Sandy Anghie , co-founder and chair of Perth Design Week . Together, we trace the origin of Perth Design Week from a ‘coalition of the willing’ into a growing platform that brings disciplines together, expands public awareness, and strengthens the conditions for design to be seen as a cultural and economic force, not a niche industry c...

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast , we are joined by Sarah Booth to explore an uncomfortable but necessary question: Why do we design with hostility? Together, we unpack how environments, systems and processes can unintentionally exclude, overwhelm or alienate. From workplaces and public spaces to services and everyday interactions, this conversation challenges the assumption that good...

What does it mean to be “wasted by design”, and are we, as an industry (and a society), designing waste into the system on purpose? In Episode 002 of But Why? A Design Podcast , Eugene and Stirling step back and set context for the work behind the mic. This is Part One of a two-part origin story, focused on Stirling’s journey and the philosophy behind Wasted by Design , a business name that is del...

In this first episode of ‘But Why, A Design Podcast’, hosts Eugene Hooks and Stirling Fletcher explore the question of - Why do we design? Drawing from frameworks, philosophy, lived experience and a few unexpected tangents, we unpack the forces that drive designers and non-designers alike to shape the world around them. From primal instincts of shelter and survival to modern challenges of ego, com...

In our very first release of But Why? A Design Podcast , we open the door to the questions that started it all. What began as years of conversations between two design-minded friends has now become a space to explore the deeper intent behind design, the systems that shape our world, and the curiosity that keeps us asking… But why? This introductory episode sets the tone for what’s to come: * Topic...