This podcast is the exciting second part of a series called “What is Design?” written by (human) Dr Jan Jervis, PhD. Her two AI hosts dive into her article about the value of design and its impact on our daily lives and the economy. They invite us to think about whether we should give design more appreciation.

They discuss studies that identify how the value of design in companies that clearly embrace design strategies results in significantly higher profits. However, this evidence is still not enough for many leaders to recognise the economic benefits of design. Jervis argues this is most likely because there is no universally agreed-upon definition of what design truly is.

The hosts also highlight that design is a uniquely human activity that has played a role throughout history. While design itself is neutral, its results can vary—sometimes having a positive impact and other times not so much. They illustrate this with examples like Winston Churchill, who established a design council to help revitalise the British economy, even before the end of World War II.

The conversation then turns to the exciting crossroads of design today, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The hosts emphasise the importance of human input in shaping the future of design. The podcast wraps up by emphasising the importance of understanding “design” to encourage collaboration and drive progress. To help with this, Jervis provides some handy tools, including a handbook and a framework, to create a shared understanding of what design can be.

https://janjervis.com.au/ | 2025| Follow me on Instagram @dr.janjervis.phd