Design This Day

Radically simplifying EVs at Slate Auto | Ben Whitla & Tisha Johnson

Devin speaks with two leaders  at Slate Auto, an EV startup that’s designed a cheap modular pickup truck. Tisha Johnson, Head of Design, and Ben Whitla, Head of Brand and Marketing, join Devin to share the big, gnarly challenges Slate is facing in getting a low-cost, personalizable vehicle to consumers—from design to production.They tell Devin about the joy and terror of relinquishing design control to their customers, and how they take inspiration from collaborative brands like Lego and Vans. They explain where their two disciplines, vehicle and brand design, inform one another at Slate, leading to a more integrated design approach than either of them expected. Plus, they share their hot takes on why screens in vehicles are totally overrated. 1:49 Why this kind of modularity hasn’t been seen before3:43 Their breakthrough in designing the front fascia 5:51 How brand and vehicle design align8:58 Designing for customer’s self-expression11:38 When car owners go wild14:30 Affordability through minimalism19:00 Taking the leap on a start-up23:26 Collaboration vs. AI agents26:16 Lightning round

New season coming soon

A new season is around the corner, celebrating Teague’s 100th anniversary and exploring the future of design. Hit follow to make sure you don’t miss what’s next.If you have a story to share, drop us a line at hello@teague.com.About the Host: Futurist Devin LiddellDevin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike, helping organizations anticipate changes across both near- and far-term horizons to create their preferred futures. Devin is a frequent contributor to Fast Company. Get in Touch Have a complex problem that needs solving? Have a great guest or topic idea? We want to hear from you. Visit us at teague.com or send us an email at hello@teague.com

Are we ready for a driverless world? | Corey Clothier

Devin speaks with Corey Clothier, a longtime leader in autonomous vehicles. Corey is the co-founder and CEO of ARIBO Autonomous Solutions, where he helps government agencies and private companies deploy autonomous tech in the real world. In this episode, Corey and Devin talk about autonomy as a shift in how systems work. Good design considers not just what machines can do, but also how they fit into the complex realities of human life. The two explore what that looks like when the human element is a family on vacation, an airport manager struggling to hire staff, and a wounded veteran looking for care. Longtime listeners take note: autonomous lawnmowers make another appearance.1:34 Fort Bragg's wounded warrior problem2:23 Convincing a two-star general6:30 Most useful robot for Marines? 8:53 Vegas says yes to robot shuttles12:01 "There's no steering wheel!"13:12 From Johnny Cab to real autonomy16:35 The curb space conundrum17:38 Difference makers: the people in charge18:21 Michigan leading by example20:32 Evil robots and American pop culture21:18 Painted forklifts23:06 Autonomous lawnmowersLinksDevin Liddell on LinkedInCorey Clothier on LinkedInTeagueAbout the Host: Futurist Devin LiddellDevin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike, helping organizations anticipate changes across both near- and far-term horizons to create their preferred futures. Devin is a frequent contributor to Fast Company. Get in Touch Have a complex problem that needs solving? Have a great guest or topic idea? We want to hear from you. Visit us at teague.com or send us an email at hello@teague.com

When design enters the battlefield | Robert Walker

Devin speaks with Robert Walker, a senior design leader who recently transitioned from a two-decade career in automotive design into the world of defense. He previously led design for some of Ford and GM’s most iconic vehicles. Now, he’s applying that experience to the radically different challenge of designing tactical vehicles for military use. It’s a dramatic shift – one that raises big questions about how design adapts when the stakes are high. 1:47 Welcome to the defense industry  4:01 The designer's ”curse”5:13 Humvees and backup cameras8:44 Success redefined – getting soldiers home11:38 Humans vs machines on the battlefield13:13 Leading both design and engineering teams15:18 Prototyping: build first, get permission later 17:49 Lightening RoundLinksDevin Liddell on LinkedInRobert Walker on LinkedInTeagueAbout the Host: Futurist Devin LiddellDevin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike, helping organizations anticipate changes across both near- and far-term horizons to create their preferred futures. Devin is a frequent contributor to Fast Company. Get in Touch Have a complex problem that needs solving? Have a great guest or topic idea? We want to hear from you. Visit us at teague.com or send us an email at hello@teague.com

At Anduril, design is a sign of respect | Jen Bucci

Devin speaks with Jen Bucci, VP of Design at Anduril Industries, a defense company specializing in autonomous technology. Jen leads a hands-on creative team that covers everything from industrial and graphic design to film and photography.Jen shares how her love for James Bond films shaped her approach to design, how branding ties into accountability, and why designing for defense means developing a clear, cohesive design language that touches everything from hardware to typography. It’s a strikingly modern approach in an industry where user experience is often overlooked. Plus, Jen tips her hat to Virgil Abloh — because sometimes the label is the design.1:22 When missiles get the anime treatment5:18 Designing for the 18-year-old warfighter7:26 Virgil Abloh and the art of labeling everything11:02 If your brand color is blue…14:35 Function as features: design under constraints16:42 Respect for the user in high-stakes design17:49 Hard questions: ethics and transparency20:33 Inspiration from Minority Report to Cyberpunk22:35 Lightning roundLinksDevin Liddell on LinkedInJen Bucci on LinkedInTeagueAbout the Host: Futurist Devin LiddellDevin Liddell is the Principal Futurist at Teague. With over two decades of experience in innovation and design strategy, Devin has worked with industry giants like Boeing, Intel, and Nike, helping organizations anticipate changes across both near- and far-term horizons to create their preferred futures. Devin is a frequent contributor to Fast Company. Get in Touch Have a complex problem that needs solving? Have a great guest or topic idea? We want to hear from you. Visit us at teague.com or send us an email at hello@teague.com