But Why? A Design Podcast

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, Eugene and Stirling are joined by Louise Zawada, an executive coach and transformation consultant.Lou has 20 years of broad sector experience and has helped organisations humanise the complexities of transformations through mergers & acquisitions, divestments and major property events. Transformation A.K.A Change is something that we all will face at some time in our lives - personally & professionally - intentionally embarked upon and, at times, thrust upon us without notice. We were excited to have Lou in the studio to explore the topic of Why Change?Our conversation discusses the often overlooked challenges that arise with change, the various human responses, and the benefits of external perspectives. Lou highlights our natural tendency to stay where we feel comfortable, what it takes to help move someone, or an organisation, from point A to point Z, and the risk of limited leadership bandwidth when making change.Lou is known for being the ‘calm in the chaos’ and we believe this is because she has a core belief that change happens at the speed of trust. “If trust is prioritised in every interaction, then the way people feel and see change will be more positive”.This episode touches on: * Change can be chaotic and messy, but the importance for the process always being human-centred.* Why time needs to be spent on the hard-to-define ‘end-game’ and application of fairness in setting standards and expectations stakeholder wide.* How the human brain looks for threat and reward, and what may seem practical and obvious to some is foreign to others.* How transformation resistance can be from a positive place of care and deep interest.* Not everything needing to change, and how we need should get clear on the things that are wonderful and need preserving.* The ‘unseen’ work that hides behind transformation that makes it ‘just work’* Why and when a change specialist or coach may be needed for diagnosis, value creation and support.We hope you enjoy.Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why?Keen to Support Us?But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating.If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link:Show LinksLouise ZawadaDavid RockProduced by us.Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, Eugene and Stirling are joined by Huia Adkins, Chair of the Steering Committee at Circular Economy Western Australia (CEWA) and Executive Advisor of Sustainability at GHD.Huia shares her journey from environmental protection and waste management into circular economy thinking, describing the moment she encountered circularity as a complete shift in perspective, from managing outputs to redesigning entire systems.Our conversation challenges the idea of circularity sitting as a last-minute bolt-on at the end of a project. We explore how circularity must be embedded from the outset, shaping design decisions, procurement models and stakeholder collaboration.We hope this episode presents as both pragmatic and optimistic. It acknowledges structural, policy and industry gaps, while also highlighting the growing capability and knowledge required to develop a more circular future.The conversation explores:* The limitations of linear systems and why they often need to be rethought entirely.* The role of procurement and RFP processes in either enabling or restricting innovation.* Circularity as a system-wide economic model, not just a materials or waste issue.* The rise of concepts like right to repair and extended producer responsibility.* The challenge of circularity becoming a buzzword without clear understanding or application.We hope you enjoy.Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why?Keen to Support Us?But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication. By subscribing, you signify our content is valuable and it gives us reason to keep creating.If you are feeling generous, you can make a pledge, but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link:Show LinksCEWAGHDKwinana Industrial CouncilWorld Economic ForumProduced by us.Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, Eugene and Stirling are joined by architect Jimmy Thompson of MJA Studio to explore the idea that design has the power to enhance life.Jimmy shares insights from years of practice working across housing and mixed-use projects, where the challenge is not just creating buildings, but shaping environments that support dignity, wellbeing and everyday experience. The conversation moves beyond form and aesthetics, asking deeper questions about the role architects play in creating places where people spend most of their lives.At the centre of the discussion is a reminder that design decisions carry consequence. From light and air through to spatial planning and material choices, the built environment has the potential to elevate human experience when intention and care are applied.The conversation also touches on a challenge within the design profession itself: designers often struggle to communicate the why behind their decisions. The conversation explores:* Architecture as a tool for enhancing everyday life* The responsibility designers hold toward the people who occupy their buildings* Housing as more than shelter, creating dignity, health and wellbeing* Balancing professional success with humility in design practiceWe hope you enjoy.Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why?Keen to Support Us?But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication.Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings.Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox.If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link:Show LinksMJA StudioProduced by us.Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, we are joined by Sandy Anghie, co-founder and chair of Perth Design Week.Together, we trace the origin of Perth Design Week from a ‘coalition of the willing’ into a growing platform that brings disciplines together, expands public awareness, and strengthens the conditions for design to be seen as a cultural and economic force, not a niche industry conversation.Sandy shares what people often do not see: the long hours, volunteer intensity, and behind-the-scenes partnerships required to make the week happen. We talk about why the shift from silos to a shared tent is so powerful in Perth, and how PDW has helped reveal the true scale of the design sector when it moves as one.A central theme emerges: design is everywhere and for everyone. If design shapes the quality of our cities, homes, services and daily experiences, then Perth Design Week is not just a celebration. It is a mechanism for participation, literacy, and momentum.This episode is warm, grounded and energising. It is about advocacy through celebration, and the practical reality of turning an idea into an institution.Topics explored include:* How Perth Design Week began, and why Perth needed its own design week* The “coalition of the willing” and why breaking silos matters* Festival growth and 2026 being a more curated model* The role of key partners and venues in enabling scale and access* Why design weeks are cultural infrastructure, and a genuine tourism and economic opportunity* Local HQ as key activation within The Liberty TheatreKeep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why?Keen to Support Us?But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication.Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings.Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox.If you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through the below link:Show LinksPerth Design WeekState BuildingsWA Museum Boola BardipBlock BrandingProduced by us.Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

What does it mean to be “wasted by design”, and are we, as an industry (and a society), designing waste into the system on purpose?In Episode 002 of But Why? A Design Podcast, Eugene and Stirling step back and set context for the work behind the mic. This is Part One of a two-part origin story, focused on Stirling’s journey and the philosophy behind Wasted by Design, a business name that is deliberately ironic, intentionally provocative, and rooted in years of observing waste in commercial interiors.Stirling shares why the problem is not just environmental, but also human. Wasted materials, wasted time, wasted quality, wasted potential. The episode explores why reuse is still treated as “less glamorous” than new, why commercial settings struggle with circularity even when households embrace second-hand platforms, and how fear, liability, and fragmented decision-making keep the system stuck.They also introduce a new recurring segment, Waste Watch, designed to call out everyday examples of waste, with a constructive lens. The first target: a very public piece of seasonal marketing that raises bigger questions about design intent and brand responsibility.In this episode, we discuss:* Why the name Wasted by Design is meant to provoke an honest conversation* The human and spatial cost of a profit-first system* Why commercial reuse is harder than household reuse* How designer ego and the pursuit of new can crowd out better options* When sustainability tools become badge-chasing instead of genuine impact* The Never-Used Economy, including speculative fitouts that are built then removed before use* Waste Watch: the KFC bucket hat as a case study in designed waste and marketing choicesKeep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why?Keen to Support Us?But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication.Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings.Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. Subscribe here: About - But Why? A Design PodcastIf you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through this link: https://buymeacoffee.com/butwhyadesignpodcastShow LinksWasted by DesignPerth Design WeekBig BashProduced by us.Music by Jessica Hooks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com

In our very first release of But Why? A Design Podcast, we open the door to the questions that started it all. What began as years of conversations between two design-minded friends has now become a space to explore the deeper intent behind design, the systems that shape our world, and the curiosity that keeps us asking… But why?This introductory episode sets the tone for what’s to come:* Topics we’re passionate about and want to challenge* Guests who bring expertise beyond our own* Solo reflections and shared discussions* Thoughtful, curious explorations of how design influences people, places and experiencesIt’s an invitation into a community of questioners and thinkers, designers and non-designers alike. We thank you for joining us on this journey.Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why?Keen to Support Us?But Why? A Design Podcast is proudly an independent self-funded publication.Subscribers get early access to new episodes, behind the mic reflections, design field notes, and thoughtful essays that expand conversations beyond the recordings.Never miss an update! Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. Subscribe here: About - But Why? A Design PodcastIf you are feeling generous you can make a pledge but if you would rather just buy us a coffee, we would love that too! Shout us a coffee through this link: https://buymeacoffee.com/butwhyadesignpodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.butwhyadesignpodcast.com