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

The final day of Q4D at IDC 2026 turns to Presence : being engaged in the moment, making meaningful connections, and reflecting on what we take with us when the conference ends. For Day 4, Max Beach talks with Ravi Sawhney, Minoo Marasi, George Chow, Jeanette Numbers, and Amber Case about their work, perspectives, and experiences at IDC. Recorded live at the IDSA International Design Conference 20...

Day Three from IDC 2026. Q4D explores Values and asks: How do values influence the way you design Conversations from the conference floor about what designers stand for, how those values shape the work, and why they matter now.

Day Two from IDC 2026. Q4D explores Connection and asks: What helps turn a professional connection into a meaningful relationship? Fresh conversations and perspectives from designers at IDC in Pasadena, captured during another full day of connecting across the design community.

Day One from IDC 2026. Fresh from the conference floor, Q4D explores Community and asks: What role does authenticity play in building a stronger design community? Real conversations, perspectives, and voices from the first day in Pasadena.

In the Season 1 finale of Questions for Designers (Q4D) , Max Beach is joined by his Linespace partners, Nick Groh and Clint Woesner, for a conversation about creative partnership, leadership, and the value of building something bigger than any one individual. Together, they reflect on the evolution of Linespace, the importance of trust and collaboration, and why thought leadership, mentorship, an...

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D) , Max Beach reconnects with longtime friend and former classmate Greg Darby , Chair of the Product Design Department at the College for Creative Studies, to discuss design education, lifelong curiosity, and preparing students for an evolving profession. Greg reflects on lessons from decades of teaching and practice, the value of questioning assumpti...

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D) , Max Beach speaks with Ellyse Steindorf about architecture, storytelling, and creating places that connect people to their communities. Drawing from her experience across architecture and the built environment, Ellyse reflects on how empathy, collaboration, and curiosity shape meaningful design. The conversation explores creative growth, lessons le...

In this special episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D) , Max Beach is joined by members of the Creative Aid team to discuss the transition from design school into professional practice. Together, they reflect on creating the visual identity and promotional assets for Q4D, offering a behind-the-scenes look at collaborating on a real client project. The conversation explores mentorship, teamwork,...

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D), Max Beach speaks with Jacob Kleinman Phillips about brand strategy, storytelling, and building brands people actually believe in. Jacob shares how he helps leaders turn unclear ideas into focused direction, and where that “fuzziness” in brand thinking often comes from. The conversation explores the difference between brands that get attention and t...

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D), Max Beach speaks with Melina Goodwin about the transition from student to working designer and what that shift actually looks like in practice. Melina shares her experience moving from CSULB into a consultancy environment, what surprised her most about entering the field, and what felt different from expectations. The conversation explores how idea...

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...

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 m...

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 exec...

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 outcom...

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 work...

In this episode of Questions for Designers , host Max Beach sits down with Jon Lee , Principal Product Designer at Microsoft , to talk about designing at scale, decision-making inside large organizations, and the responsibility that comes with shaping products used by millions. Jon reflects on his path into design, how his thinking has evolved over time, and what it means to balance craft, systems...

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D) , host Max Beach talks with chair designer Eric MacDonald about craft, precision, and designing objects meant to be lived with every day. They explore his path into furniture design, what experience has taught him about problem-solving, and how thoughtful restraint, materials, and human use shape meaningful products.

This bonus mini episode responds to a subscriber question from an engineering organization wrestling with a familiar challenge: how to bring real design principles into complex systems work without reducing design to a collection of Material3 widgets. What does it actually mean for an engineering-led organization to adopt design? In this short Q4D episode, we revisit insights from former guest Mic...

In this episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D) , host Max Beach reconnects with longtime colleague Michelle Berryman, FIDSA —Executive Director of Digital Customer Experience at Labcorp, former IDSA President, and one of the most influential designers of her generation. They discuss leadership, lived experience, creativity beyond the screen, and why human-centered thinking matters more than ever...

In this pilot episode of Questions for Designers (Q4D), host Max Beach sits down with longtime friend and fellow CCS alum Fernando Del Rosario , a seasoned creative, artist, and educator whose career bridges advertising, design, and fine art. Through his agency ConceptZombie LLC and his teaching, Fernando champions the development of six key emotional skill sets: kind optimism, curious intelligenc...

In this episode of Questions for Designers, host Max Beach talks with industrial designer and educator Jesus Galaz . They explore his path through product design, the role of discipline in creative work, what teaching has taught him, and how new tools and technologies are shaping the future of the field. A concise and thoughtful look at a designer who balances craft, curiosity, and purpose.

This short intro episode introduces Q4D: Questions for Designers , a podcast exploring how designers think, work, and make decisions beyond the portfolio. Host Max Beach shares the intent behind the series, the core question framework that connects every episode, and what listeners can expect from future conversations. Q4D focuses on values, process, leadership, growth, and the realities of design...