DesignThinkers Podcast
From the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, this is the DesignThinkers podcast.
DesignThinkers is Canada's largest graphic design conference. Since the year 2000, the Association of Registered Graphic Designers has been bringing together visionaries from a range of disciplines to explore creativity and the design process live and on-stage.
This podcast is an extension of that mission. We’re here to talk about process, creativity and the business of design with past and present DesignThinkers speakers. Join our host, Nicola Hamilton, for candid conversation with creative legends such as Erin Sarofsky, Michael Beirut, Paul Scher, Gail Anderson, Meg Lewis, Christopher Doyle, and so many more.
Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca. Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com.
DesignThinkers Podcast
Kemp Attwood
This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Kemp Attwood, partner at AREA 17. With a background in creative writing and new media design, Kemp has spent nearly two decades working at the intersection of design, strategy, and technology.
He has helped shape AREA 17’s global vision—leading interdisciplinary teams across Paris and New York to deliver transformative work for clients like The New York Times, Google, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the National Gallery of Canada.
In this episode, we dive into how design is more than just craft—how it becomes a system for delivering real value. Kemp shares his thoughts on behavioral branding, the rise of hyper-personalized UI, what AI tools get right (and wrong), and why making is still one of the best ways to think.
We also talk about long-term client relationships, running a distributed global team, and how 100+ office plants became part of the AREA 17 ecosystem.
Whether you’re deep in digital design or simply curious about how strategy, brand, and interface collide, this one’s packed with thoughtful ideas, a few laughs, and a whole lot of wisdom.
Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca. Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com.
