Distinguished Design

The 2021 Interaction Awards here! But before we all get together for the big night, we are pleased to share another very special conversation with two additional jury members of this year’s awards: Dara Oke (product designer at Netflix) and Andrea Mignolo (VP/Board of Directors at IxDA and executive coach at Method & Matter).

Dara and Andrea share details of their current work; how they got involved with this year’s Interaction Awards; how they define “Interaction Design” in today’s world; as well as insights into the categories they were responsible for overseeing.

LINKS:

Andrea Mignolo’s Twitter:

The 2021 Interaction Awards are fast approaching, and as we get closer to the big night, we are pleased to share a very special conversation with two of this year’s jury members: Catt Small (product designer at Asana; developer & game maker) and Andrés Burbano (Associate Professor of Design at Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia).

Catt and Andrés share aspects their professional background; how they got involved with this year’s Interaction Awards; their take on the themes they saw coming out of this year’s project submissions; details of the award categories they were responsible for leading; and what it was like for them to choose the best examples of interaction design in the middle of a global pandemic.

LINKS:

Amazon Design

https://amazon.design

Catt Small’s website:

In this episode of Distinguished Design, our host Diego Pulido had the pleasure of talking at length with the Interaction Design Association’s Executive Director: Brenda Sanderson.

Brenda shares with our audience how the idea of the Interaction Awards came to be what it’s been for the last decade; the intricacies behind her role as IxDA’s Executive Director; her thoughts on the meaning and evolution of the different award categories; as well as the challenges and lessons learned from organizing this year’s Interaction Awards in the middle of a global pandemic.

LINKS:

IxDA Slack Channel:

This is the third and final episode in which our hosts Nisha Agrawal and Diego Pulido conversations with previous Interaction Awards winners.

Nisha talks with Andreas Refsgaard, who back in 2017 won an Interaction Award for “Best Student” with his project called “Eye Conductor”, which was also a finalist in the “Empowering” and “Expressing” categories. This project shows how it’s possible for people (specially those with certain physical disabilities) to express themselves through music only using their eyes and facial gestures.

Diego talks with Simone Rebaudengo. He won two Interaction Awards: one for best in the “Engaging” category, and another for Best in Show. Both of the awards were for his project called “Addicted Products”. With this project, Simone used the concept of a smart kitchen appliance as a way to question our relationship with such products, as well as the implications of designing connected devices.

Andreas and Simone share their memories of what it was like to submit their project; what it felt like to have their project short-listed; and the impact being recognized at the Interaction Awards has had on their careers.

LINKS:

“Eye Conductor” (2017  Interaction Awards)

In this episode, our hosts Nisha Agrawal and Diego Pulido share a couple of more conversations with previous Interaction Awards winners.

Nisha talks with Manasi Vaidya and Ridhima Bhutani. The submission for which they won an Interaction Award earlier in 2020 was called “Enhans”, which is a system designed to improve doctor-patient communication within the NeuroImaging and Interventional Radiology (NIIR) Department at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore, India.

Diego talks with Sreyan Ghosh. He won an award back in 2017 in the “Expressing” category for “Best Concept” with his submission called “Together Radio”. This concept enables a one-sided live narration from a woman who has been a victim of abuse while other victims can join in to listen and sympathise with her through touch.

Manasi, Rodhima and Sreyan share their memories of what it was like to submit their project; what it felt like to have their project short-listed; and the impact being recognized at the Interaction Awards has had on their careers.

LINKS:

“Enhans:  (2020 Interaction Awards)

In this episode, our hosts Nisha Agrawal and Diego Pulido share their conversations with previous Interaction Awards winners.

Nisha talks to Darren David, CEO of Stimulant in San Francisco, who won 2 Interaction Awards in 2012: one in the “Expressing” category, and the other for “Best in Show” with LoopLoop: an interactive music toy for Sifteo Cubes

Diego talks with Kirsten Southwell, creative director of the Art Institute of Chicago, who was an Interaction Awards finalist in 2013 for “Rehearsal”: an app concept for practicing musicians.

Darren and Kirsten share their memories of what it was like to submit their project; what it felt like to have their project short-listed; and the impact being recognized at the Interaction Awards has had on their careers. 

EPISODE LINKS:

In this episode, our host Diego Pulido sits down with the current co-chair of the Interaction Awards, Angel Anderson.

Angel shares stories from her long history with the Interaction Design Association; what motivated her to get involved with the planning committee of the Interaction Awards for 2021; her experience being selected (and winning) an Interaction Award, as well as the impact this recognition has had in her professional and personal life. She also gives listeners a sneak preview of what can be expected from this unprecedented version of the Awards.

Finally, Angel recalls how her idea of “dressing up in style for the biggest celebration in our industry” came to be, and even takes some time to recall memorable moments from previous Interaction conference closing parties --full of dancing and plenty of karaoke.

EPISODE LINKS:

En este episodio, nuestro anfitrión se sienta a hablar con la actual jurado principal de los Interaction Awards: May-Li Khoe.

May-Li comparte con nuestros oyentes cómo se involucró con la IxDA; su opinión acerca del impacto de los premios de interacción en la comunidad del diseño UX; lo que ella espera ver en los proyectos que sean enviados para consideración en los premios; la tendencias actuales de diseño; el impacto de la actual pandemia global en aquellos empezando en el mundo del diseño; e inclusive un par de recomendaciones para aquellos que deseen enviar sus proyectos antes de la nueva fecha límite el 15 de Noviembre del 2020.

Enlaces:

In this episode, our host Diego Pulido sits down with the current Interaction Awards jury chair May-Li Khoe.

May-Li shares how she got involved with such an important role with IxDA; her opinion on the impact of the awards in the design community; what she expects to see from the submissions this year given current design trends; the challenges for new and up-and-coming designers in the middle of a global pandemic, and some tips for those considering submitting projects for consideration before the extended deadline of November 15th, 2020.

LINKS:

In this episode, our host Diego Pulido sits down with Pragati Mehrotra (Product Designer at Obvious / Lead Designer at Simple) and Daniel Burka (Director of Product and Design at Resolve to Save Lives / former design partner at Google Ventures) to talk about Simple: an electronic record management system which allows clinicians and healthcare professionals to effectively manage patients with hypertension. Simple won the “Best in Show” award at the Interaction Awards in 2020..

Pragati and Daniel share where the idea for Simple came from; how they got involved with the project and where it’s going next. They also share what it was like to receive the award that evening in Milan, as well their opinions on what it has meant for them (and Simple) to have received an Interaction Award.

LINKS:

(This episode is a Spanish-version of our first episode: “Welcome to Distinguished Design”)

Este es el primer y único episodio en Español de “Distinguished Design”: un podcast de la Interaction Design Association en donde hablamos de varios aspectos alrededor de los Premios de Interacción (“Interaction Awards” en Inglés), los cuales tendrán lugar durante “Interaction Week” en Febrero del 2021.

En este episodio, nuestros anfitriones Diego Pulido y Ethan Parry hablan de las metas principales de los Interaction Awards; las diferentes categorías; procesos de selección de proyectos y la fecha límite para que los proyectos enviados sean considerados. Tambíen se discute algo de historia de los Interaction Awards, al igual que los temas del resto de episodios en Inglés.

Enlaces:

In this episode, our host Diego Pulido sits down with Nalla Faye (interaction designer at H&M in Stockholm, Sweden & a member of the Interaction Awards planning committee) to talk about Diversity Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB) at the Interaction Awards, taking place during Interaction Week in 2021.

Nalla offers details on her role within the DIEB department, as well as how the Interaction Design Association is making sure more and more designers are represented at the awards, regardless of where they live, their country of residence, or whether an entry is submitted in a language other than English. She also shares her opinion on the importance of accounting for diversity and inclusion in this event (and within the field of Interaction Design) --especially given the pronounced state of social unrest, discrimination and inequality the world is currently facing.

Remember that the deadline for submitting your work for the Interaction Awards is October 31st, 2020.

In this episode, our host Diego Pulido sits down with Catherine Woodiwiss (Design Strategist at Modernist Studio in Austin, TX & a member of the Interaction Awards planning committee) to talk all about submissions for the Interaction Awards taking place during Interaction Week in 2021.

Catherine shares her thoughts on the importance and impact of the Interaction Awards for interaction designers --regardless of career stage. She also shares tips, do’s and don’ts when submitting a project to be considered for the awards.

Remember that the deadline for submitting your work for the Interaction Awards is October 31st, 2020.

This is the first episode of a podcast from the Interaction Design Association in which you will learn all about the upcoming Interaction Awards taking place during Interaction Week in 2021. In this episode, our hosts Nisha Agarwal and Diego Pulido go over the Interaction Awards’s goals, philosophy; logistics; the different award categories; submission process & deadline (October 31st, 2020); some Interaction Awards history and even a preview of what designers submitting their work to be considered for the awards need to take into account for a successful entry.