Rerelease: From Mechanical Engineer to Managing Director of Play with Michelle Lee

About this episode

Michelle Lee discusses her journey from mechanical engineer to managing director at IDEO, focusing on the intersection of design and play.

Welcome to our special rerelease season of our favorite episodes this fall. Join Michelle Lee, Partner and Managing Director at IDEO, as she delves into the twists and turns of her design career, starting out as an undergrad unsure how to blend engineering and art, to eventually leading Design for Play at IDEO's Play Lab. She believes the most unconventional paths are the ones that will make you most equipped. At the Play Lab, she applies principles of play to tackle challenges like responsible digital design and sustainable circular economies, building towards better, optimistic futures. Michelle's most recent project is the Designing for Digital Thriving Open Innovation Challenge to reimagine healthy online spaces.

People in this episode

Host: Liz Gerber

Guest: Michelle Lee

Topics covered

• design career
• engineering
• play
• digital design
• sustainable economies
• innovation

Keywords

• design
• engineering
• IDEO
• play
• digital thriving
• sustainability
• innovation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IDEO

Books & works: Designing for Digital Thriving Open Innovation Challenge

More episodes of Technical Difficulties

• Smart Tech, Real Problems, Bold Solutions with Bea Alessio · June 1, 2026 · 38 min
• From Ideas to Impact; Amy Guterman's Journey in Tech for Good · May 26, 2026 · 35 min
• Desigining What Matters with Moneta Ho Kushner · May 18, 2026 · 44 min
• Smart Designs, Smarter Cities with Doris Sung · May 12, 2026 · 42 min
• Designing Across the World with Mariana Amatullo · May 4, 2026 · 36 min
• Foresight & Function: Liz Danzico's Blueprint for the Future · April 27, 2026 · 52 min