Explore every episode of the podcast 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 2026.

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

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, and authentic relationships remain essential to a successful design career. It's a candid conversation about business, creativity, and the relationships that have shaped both the company and the podcast's first season.

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 assumptions, and how educators can help students discover their own creative voice. Together, Max and Greg revisit their shared roots at CCS and how those experiences continue to influence their perspectives today.

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 learned through practice, and the responsibility designers have to create spaces that are both functional and deeply human.

Ellyse is an Associate at Environ In Long Beach, CA

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, creative ownership, and the lessons that come from entering the profession as emerging designers.

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 those that truly resonate, especially in purpose-driven organizations.

They also discuss leadership, stepping into responsibility before feeling ready, and how designers can move beyond execution to play a more strategic role in shaping outcomes.

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 ideas of “good design” evolve once working with real clients, and what it means to take on responsibility early in a career.

They also discuss gaps between school and practice, how those gaps get filled, and where emerging designers can have the most impact moving forward.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, and collaboration in complex environments. The conversation explores leadership without hierarchy, learning through iteration, and how designers can stay grounded in curiosity and intent.

This episode is a thoughtful look at design as both a personal practice and a collective effort, offering insight for designers navigating growth, influence, and long-term impact.

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 Michelle Berryman, Executive Director of Digital Customer Experience at LabCorp and former IDSA President, and share perspective from upcoming guest Eric MacDonald, Senior Product Design and Development Manager at OM Seating.

If your organization thinks adopting design means implementing a design system, this episode challenges that assumption.

Designing complex systems is not about better widgets. It is about better thinking.

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 an AI-driven future.

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.

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 intelligence, work ethic, empathy, self-awareness, and integrity. His diverse client list including Hyundai, Hot Wheels, Taco Bell, Oakley, and Pacifico Beer, reflects his boundless creative energy and “yes, I can do that” spirit.Together, they explore his path to design, pivotal experiences, lessons learned, and design’s evolving role in a world shaped by AI and “the multiverse.”Subscribe for more creative conversations.

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 practice across disciplines and career stages. New episodes coming soon on Spotify.