Explore every episode of the podcast Together We DesignPhiladelphia

The Together We Design Philadelphia is back! This conversation between host Rebecca Johnson and producer Lee Stabert offers a behind-the-scenes look at what has been happening at DesignPhiladelphia and AIA Philadelphia over the last 10 months, including one piece of big news: Our building is for sale!

The DesignPhiladelphia Festival is happening October 1-12, 2025. Click here for more information.

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To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In this very special installment, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Hilary Jay and Jamer Hunt, the passionate creatives behind the original DesignPhiladelphia Festival. In honor of the event's 20th year, they chat about its origins, the essential nature of design, and why this idea was just right for Philly.

The DesignPhiladelphia Festival is happening October 1-23, 2024. Click here for a full calendar of events. 

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To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In the inaugural episode of our new podcast, host Rebecca Johnson speaks with Hannah Dillon and Kristen Sachs of Broad. Their creative agency is unabashedly female and undeniably Philly, and they were a key part of the recent rebranding of the Center for Architecture and Design into DesignPhiladelphia.  The conversation covers everything from childhood inspirations, to the courage it takes to strike out on your own, to the unique qualities of the city's design community.  

New episodes will be coming out every other week — subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

In this installment, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Danielle DiLeo Kim of Philadelphia250. They discuss Kim's path from architect to civic leader, and get hyped for the celebration of America's 250th birthday in 2026.

New episodes will be coming out every other week. Subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson talks with Chris Landau of LANDAU Design+Technology. They discuss the power of computational design, landscape architecture, AI, the climate crisis, and lowering barriers to entry in the field. 

New episodes will be coming out every other week. Subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Ximena Valle of FIFTEEN Architecture + Design about her childhood in Chile, what landed her in Philadelphia, and the power of collaboration.

New episodes will be coming out every other week. Subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

DesignPhiladelphia's educational programming has an ambitious goal: To empower nascent creatives from K through career. To talk about that mission — and why access is the first step — host Rebecca Johnson is joined by three members of the organization's team: Michael Spain, Liza Niles and Carly Clifford.

If you're a design professional who would like to volunteer with DesignPhiladelphia's Design Education team, click here.

New episodes will be coming out every other week. Subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Ian Smith of IS-DG Design about his free-range suburban upbringing, the mentor relationship that brought him to Philadelphia, the limitations of "design excellence," and the power of taking up space as a Black architect.

New episodes will be coming out every other week. Subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Rachel Ford, founder and CEO of Made Institute. This Philadelphia-based fashion school is dedicated to making design education affordable and accessible. The idea is an outgrowth of Ford's own winding career path that took her from corporate America to couture costumes to the classroom.

New episodes will be coming out every other week. Subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Hans Diefenderfer, a woodworker, cabinet maker, and furniture builder based out of the Stenton Guild Arts Building in Germantown.  They discuss the value of a technical education, the joy of making something with your hands, and the special relationship between designers and the artisans who bring their visions to life.

Want to reach out to Diefenderfer about a project? Click here. 

New episodes will be coming out every other week. Subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson is joined by SG23 Design's Shila Griffith, an interior designer with a special knack for handling thorny projects — and documenting the whole process on Instagram. Whether you're looking for someone to hold your hand through a massive renovation or to simply spend a few hours offering thoughtful advice, Griffith is there to help. The conversation covers everything from childhood art classes in Palmyra, to the role of health insurance in career decisions, to the aging building trades workforce — calling all next-gen wallpaper hangers! 

New episodes will be coming out every other week. Subscribe so you never miss one! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Lindsey Scannapieco of Scout, a community-centric adaptive reuse firm known for its revitilization of Bok and its recent purchase of Hamilton Hall, a prized piece of Broad Street real estate that came on the market after the abrupt closure of University of the Arts. 

They discuss the developer's career path, competing for a place on the Avenue of the Arts, and — DRUMROLL PLEASE — DesignPhiladelphia's planned move into Hamilton Hall, recently rechristened as the Village of Industry and Art (VIA).   

The DesignPhiladelphia Festival is happening October 1-12, 2025. Click here for more information.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Claudette McCarron of CBM Creative, a Philadelphia-based interior design firm. She shares her winding path to the field, talks about her stewardship of the local AAPI Design Alliance, and makes a pitch for community-building as a priority. 

The DesignPhiladelphia Festival is happening October 1-12, 2025. Click here for more information.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.

In this episode, host Rebecca Johnson chats with Valentina Miller of Night Kitchen Interactive, a local firm that uses AR/VR, 3D animation, and gaming design to create immersive experiences for its clients, which include museums, universities, and historical sites. Miller speaks about the value of design education, finding inspiration in one's own interests, and how to navigate our new technological landscape.

The DesignPhiladelphia Festival is happening October 1-12, 2025. Click here for more information.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode! Bed music is by Ghost Beatz.

To learn more, head to DesignPhiladelphia.org.