Reclaiming the Heart in Design

“There’s so much heart in some of these things that you’re putting in heart in that space and I find it very hard to detach some of those.”

Summary

In this episode, we explore the creative journey of Fionn, a partner at the design futures studio Andthen . We trace his evolution from the tactile world of furniture making to leading large-scale design teams within the corporate banking sector . Fionn reflects on the emotional friction of maintaining personal values in transactional environments and the toll of multiple burnouts. We discuss his shift toward "slow decisions" and how design can be used to influence long-term policy and societal change . This conversation is a deep dive into reclaiming professional purpose and the human heart within a technical industry .

Guest

Fionn Tynan O'Mahony

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionntynan/

Website – https://www.studioandthen.com/

Host

Danny Hearn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/

Website – www.dannyhearn.me

Podcast – www.deeplyhumandesign.com

Chapters

00:00 Reconnecting and the Purpose of Human Conversations

02:08 Designing the Intangible: Introducing Andthen

05:05 From DIY to Craft College: Early Practical Creativity

06:50 The Modernist Influence and the Limits of the Ego

08:32 Refocusing Life and the Discovery of Curiosity

11:49 Design as Intervention: Breaking the Routine

14:58 Reality Hits: Transitioning into Corporate Banking

16:54 The Shift from Questions to Answers

19:18 Techno-Optimism and the Moonshot Era

21:57 The Cost of Delivery Culture and Shrinking Experimentation

24:42 Navigating Burnout and Value Misalignment

29:50 The Struggle of Scaling Teams in Risk-Averse Systems

34:41 The Gift of Voluntary Redundancy

38:44 Returning to Exploration and Strategic Influencing

43:49 Pace Layering: Designing for Long-Term Impact

50:40 Redefining Success Beyond the Bottom Line

“Sometimes the best thing you can do is just be the kindest person in the room.”

Summary
In this episode, we explore the profound impact of leading with kindness and humility in the high-pressure world of design and advertising. Guest Craig Jamson joins Danny Hearn to reflect on his journey from a self-taught Flash designer in South Africa to a Creative Director at Ogilvy. They discuss the transition from a "brutal" leadership style to one focused on empowering others, drawing inspiration from the book Multipliers. The conversation dives deep into the importance of maintaining calm in "crisis mode," the challenges of the current job market, and how personal mental health practices shape professional presence. Together, they advocate for a more supportive industry culture where seasoned professionals lift up those who are most vulnerable.

Guest
Craig Jamieson
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-jamieson/
Website – https://craigjamieson.com/

Host
Danny Hearn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/ Website – www.dannyhearn.me
Podcast – www.deeplyhumandesign.com

Chapters
00:00 The Power of Humility and Kindness

01:10 Journey from Art School Dropout to Digital Design

05:03 From Dictator to Genius Maker: The Multipliers Shift

08:51 Avoiding the Expert Jargon Trap

14:04 The Quiet Confidence of Seasoned Creative Directors

17:36 The Fadeaway Technique in Consultancy

26:13 Perceptions vs Reality: The Scary Guy Persona

35:40 Moving Beyond the Self and Stressful Perspectives

42:25 Presence, Calm, and the Figmification of Design

53:03 Practical Ways to Support the Design Community

“There are many, many things that AI can do, AI cannot dream, it cannot truly create, and it cannot think. And I just think the random messiness of the human spirit is just so perfect for creativity.”

In this episode, we dive into the career of Sienne Veit, a leader who has consistently operated at the "pointy end" of innovation. We explore her journey from studying linguistics and journalism in South Africa to spearheading the first transactional mobile website for Marks & Spencer during the dawn of the iPhone era. Throughout our conversation, we discuss the art of navigating corporate "no’s" by building resilient teams and maintaining an experimental mindset. We reflect on the importance of serendipity in the workplace and why "human messiness" remains our greatest advantage in an AI-driven future. Together, we uncover how a high tolerance for chaos and a commitment to solving real-world problems can transform enterprise design.

Sienne Veit

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sienneveit/

Danny Hearn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/

Website – www.dannyhearn.me

Podcast – www.deeplyhumandesign.com

00:00 The Human Spirit vs. AI

01:29 From Lecturer to Product Leader: A Weavy Journey

04:19 Linguistics: The Foundation of Meaning and HCI

07:43 Early Mobile Adoption: From WAP to South African Banking

10:49 Sony and the Cusp of the iPhone Revolution

12:12 Building M&S’s First Mobile Transactional Site

15:01 Early Failures: QR Codes and Text-Based Loyalty

17:25 Abandoning Wireframes for Pure Design

20:36 Loving the Unknown and Multi-disciplinary Teams

23:47 The "Shit Umbrella": Protecting Team Creativity

29:29 High Tolerance for Chaos and the Capacity to Reset

34:59 Breaking Down Certainty for Stakeholders

41:56 Diversity in Tech: From "Only Woman in the Room" to STEM

44:33 Remote vs. Relational Culture: Cracking the Team Bond

47:53 Meeting Barack Obama in Sao Paulo

51:45 The Future of the Craft: Why AI Can't Dream