DesignRush Podcast

Your app icon isn’t just a visual — it’s a conversion lever. In this episode, we explore how top brands like Uber, Duolingo, and Calm use strategic app icon design to increase installs, boost retention, and build brand equity. We break down real-world A/B test results, psychology-backed design tactics, and agency strategies for turning icon design into a scalable service. Whether you're launch...

What do Spotify Wrapped, Strava, and Apple have in common? They all use kinetic typography to drive attention, retention, and ROI. In this episode, we explore how animated type became one of the most powerful tools in short-form storytelling — boosting re-engagement, elevating brand recall, and transforming static data into scroll-stopping content. From emotional lyric videos to high-performing B2...

Infographics aren’t just pretty visuals — they’re one of the most effective tools in a marketer’s strategy stack. In this episode, we unpack how demographic infographics drive 44% higher engagement, improve stakeholder buy-in, and unlock new revenue streams for agencies. From persona design to sales enablement, discover real-world examples and agency use cases that show how data becomes design — a...

Is your outreach driving ROI, or just clogging inboxes?  In episode No. 96 of the DesignRush Podcast, Brian Minick (COO, ZeroBounce) and Keryn Gold (CEO, Lead With Gold) reveal why most B2B teams are still getting cold outreach wrong — and how smarter data and segmentation change everything.  What You’ll Learn:  ✔️ How bad data kills deliverability  ✔️ Where AI improves outreach  ✔️ What “day zero...

Launching an unvalidated MVP can cost you big — sometimes six figures. In this episode, David Barlev, CEO & Co‑Founder of Goji Labs, pulls back the curtain on a strategy‑first product approach that helps founders test ideas early, fight emotional bias, and build lean, data‑driven prototypes. What you’ll learn: Why “perfect MVPs” waste time and money The powerful “castle vs shack” mindset for l...

1. Are black and white logos still effective in 2025? Yes. Black and white logos remain one of the most scalable and cost-effective identity systems today. With the rise of dark mode, minimal UI design, and global digital rollouts, monochrome marks offer clarity, adaptability, and strong brand recall, without the production friction or inconsistency of complex color systems. Luxury brands like Cha...

Most founders focus on tools rather than presence. In this episode, Katmai Tech CEO Erik Braund reveals why scheduled meetings and video calls are killing remote team culture, and what it actually takes to scale successfully without a physical office. You’ll learn: Why “your calendar is bricked”, and that’s a culture problem, not a productivity one How Katmai turns scheduled meetings into spontane...

AI isn’t replacing branding, but it’s reshaping how logos are created. In this episode, we explore why bad prompts, not AI tools, are the real threat to logo design. Discover how agencies are using prompt engineering, tools like Midjourney and Adobe Firefly, and structured prompt libraries to scale creativity, speed up workflows, and monetize design systems. Learn how to write effective AI logo pr...

What Most Founders Get Wrong About Scaling with AI Too many service businesses are overhiring, overspending, and still underdelivering. In this episode of the DesignRush Podcast, Pavel Sher — Founder & CEO of FuseBase — breaks down why scaling with AI fails for most teams, and how to get it right from day one. This isn’t just about automation. It’s about building lean, intelligent systems that...

In Episode 92 of the DesignRush Podcast, host Kia Johnson speaks with two high-performing founders who’ve scaled companies in high-pressure industries — without sacrificing integrity or efficiency. Kenny Kelley, CEO of Silent Beacon, shares how a life-altering moment inspired a safety product that now protects thousands. Chris Raulf, CEO of Boulder SEO Marketing, explains how visibility and credib...

What if your next assistant isn’t a person, but your PC? In episode No. 91 of the DesignRush Podcast, Lenovo VP Tom Butler explains how next-gen PCs are changing how teams operate. These devices adapt to your workflow, automate repetitive tasks, and manage security directly on the machine. These new systems should provide people more time to think, create, and solve problems. And they’ll significa...

Why are marketers being sidelined in strategic decisions? The problem isn’t data — it’s what you do with it. In Episode 90 of the DesignRush Podcast, Stacey Danheiser, COO of Impressa AI and founder of Shake Marketing, reveals the #1 reason marketing gets ignored in the boardroom — and what to do about it. With 14 years inside Fortune 500s and over a decade advising growth-stage teams, Stacey unpa...

Are you scaling your business — or just overbuilding your team? In Episode 89 of the DesignRush Podcast, Carlo Rivis (CEO, Innovation Discovery) and Julia Arpag (Founder, Aligned Recruitment) break down how founders and growth-stage companies can scale smarter — without overhiring. In 2025, U.S. companies have already laid off 3.5 million workers, many due to aggressive headcount growth without su...

Is your executive brand opening doors — or closing them behind you? In Episode 88 of the DesignRush Podcast, Adam Broda—executive career strategist, former Amazon and Boeing leader, and Founder of Broda Coaching—shares how over 300 senior professionals landed roles at Tesla, Meta, Google, and beyond. For executives and senior professionals, the job market isn’t about experience — it’s about value...

Is your business strategy preparing you for the future — or setting you up for disruption? In this episode of the DesignRush Podcast, Global Strategist Rishad Tobaccowala, the former Chief Growth Officer of Publicis Groupe — shares a new way to think about strategy: It’s your “future competitive advantage.” Here, he discusses why nailing your strategy (and fixing broken ones) matters more than eve...

The No. 1 Financial Leak Killing Your Profit Margin (And How to Plug It)If you’re a CEO or business owner, you may be losing profits — and not even know it. In this episode of the DesignRush Podcast, Robert Day, managing partner of weAudit.com, shares how his team has helped companies recover more than $10 million annually from hidden credit card processing fees. He’s audited Fortune 500 companies...

Marketing to Gen Z: What Works & Which Mistakes to AvoidDotdigital CMO Juliette Aiken joins episode No. 85 of the DesignRush Podcast to share what CEOs and executives need to know to engage the next generation of buyers — from harnessing mobile-first strategies and using zero-party data to designing smarter CX and beyond. Key takeaways:- Why authenticity matters more than polish - How Gen Z is...

Your Strategy Is Probably Outdated — Here's How to Pivot Fast Even the best strategies can stop working. In episode No. 84 of the DesignRush Podcast, Dr. Dave Ulrich, leading business thinker, co-founder of The RBL Group, and the “father of modern HR,” shares expert insights on how to stay flexible, adjust quickly, and keep growing. You’ll learn how to: Use agile processes to speed up decision...

“What You Say No To Defines Your Strategy.” CEOs, the real growth comes from shifting your mindset. Learn how to cut through the noise with storytelling, empathy, and clear communication. In this episode, Andrea Sampson shares how CEOs can use storytelling and communication to thrive in times of disruption. Clear Communication = Growth – Align your team and investors with strategic storytelling. E...

"You get the clients you deserve."Agency success goes beyond just selling your services. It’s also about cultivating true partnerships rooted in accountability, collaboration, and strategy. In this episode of the DesignRush Podcast, Dave Minifie, Chief Marketing Officer at Terakeet, breaks down how brands and agencies can align to deliver real, measurable growth — without overpromising o...

"If you're competent, you're at risk." AI-driven marketing is leveling the playing field — so what’s left? Radical creativity, personal branding, and next-level customer experience. In this episode of the DesignRush Podcast, Mark Schaefer reveals how to future-proof your business, build unshakable customer trust, and scale with bold, human-first marketing. Stuck in a Saturated Ma...

Unlock the power of data-driven social media strategies to boost engagement and conversions. In this episode, we dive deep into how businesses can leverage analytics and insights to craft content that resonates with their audience, optimize campaigns, and drive measurable results. Learn the best practices for using data to understand user behavior, refine your approach, and stay ahead of trends. W...

In this episode of the DesignRush Podcast, we delve into the financial barriers that delay women from starting their businesses. A recent study reveals that women take over 4 years longer than men to save the necessary capital to launch their ventures. With insights from industry experts, we explore the impacts of this delay, and the top strategies to address this gap, creating a more equitable en...

In this DesignRush Podcast session, we dive into the latest trend where 50% of marketing budgets are now being allocated to social media investment. We explore the impact of this shift on brand growth and engagement, especially as stocks climb by 21%. Tune in to discover how businesses are maximizing their marketing spend in today’s digital landscape! 🎧

Is Your Tech Stack Holding You Back? It's Not About More Tools — It's About How You’re Using Them. In this episode of the DesignRush Podcast, Andreja Zujkovic, Founder & CEO of IceFyre Solutions, a seasoned tech leader with over 18 years of experience, reveals the critical tech mistakes that are suffocating your business growth:⚠️ Misplaced Investments = Wasted Resources – Buying software with...