I always feel a bit bad complaining about getting older, because getting older is not a privilege afforded to everyone. At the same time, getting older does present certain challenges. I was able to get a glimpse into aging the other day when I went to get my eyes examined. Turns out that the middle of the day at the eye doctor is peak time for those who are, shall we say, of a demographic much more advanced than I. It definitely was a glimpse into a future that I am steadily approaching, and makes me reflect on what it will be like to be older then. There are so many things that have increased accessibility for those who are older, designs that make life more manageable and easier to negotiate. At the same time, a lot of challenges remain, especially in a society in which technological change is fast enough to make even the most savvy feel left behind.

So, clearly there is a lot of work to be done. And that is why we welcome our guest today on Experience by Design. Sheng-Hung Lee is a Doctoral student at MIT. There he is involved in the AgeLab, where they have the aim “to improve the quality of life of older people and those who care for them.”

Sheng-Hung has been involved in a wide range of service design initiatives, and has a list of awards and recognitions to prove it. He also has worked at companies like Ideo as well as Continuum, and is part of organizations such as the World Design Organization and the Industrial Designers Society of America.

We talked about a range of topics related to designing, systems, and aging. He talks about what brought him to the field of design out of his background in engineering. Sheng-Hung describes how we have to move from the idea of designer as hero, and work more collaboratively to address complex challenges. Part of that is the need to go beyond siloed thinking and integrate ideas from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. And we talk about the need to move beyond focusing on tangible stuff as a primary motivation, and have the space to explore, learn, and synthesize.

Sheng-Hung Lee Website: https://shenghunglee.com

MIT AgeLab: https://agelab.mit.edu/

As I’ve mentioned before, one of the great things about doing a show like this is the fascinating people I get to talk to who are coming at experience design from many different approaches, perspectives, and backgrounds. One of the groups that I perhaps enjoy talking to the most (no offense to anyone else) is artists. I’ve always admired the ability to turn imagination and passion into something that expresses one’s soul in a way that can move others. Talking to artists about their work kind of creates a sense of purity of work in terms of representing an authentic self. I don’t want to overly dramatize or prematurely canonize them. But artists can do really cool stuff that brings life and light into the world.

And it feels like every day more and more, we need some life and light brought into the world. While art changes, our need for art never changes.

My guest today is artist Will Owen. Looking at Will’s website, it lists his primary mediums as sound, sculpture, and food. That’s right. Food.

Without that is a larger preoccupation of culture and the world in which we live, seeking to represent it in ways that stimulate thought, expose us to its beauty, and contemplate its possibilities.

Growing up in Appalachia provided an opportunity to explore how to have fun and create with whatever was available. Before we had the concept of a ‘maker space,’ his childhood was a maker space in which risks could be take in the pursuit of having fun and filling time. Out of that comes a creative spark and fundamental appreciation for the natural world. He describes himself as being ‘obsessively curious’ and being promiscuous with materials, which he owes to his childhood and the collaborative explorations with his friends.

Today he is part of many different collectives around the world. He is part of the Flux Factory in New York, and has worked with artists in Russia and Taipei,

We talk about making something loud with no budget, the indelible reciprocity of making together, the porousness needed to engage with performative audiences, and his obsession with supertemporary communities. We also talk about the bus experiment, a traveling exhibit from Manhattan to Philly.

Will Owen - https://willowen.net

Flux Factory - https://www.fluxfactory.org/

I made a huge mistake. That statement is not that uncommon for me to say. Mistakes happen with some frequency despite my best efforts. If to err is human, I’m definitely very human.

There is an interview that was done back when Adam was still involved that I just came across and realized was never released. And of course that shames me because, despite the delays that might invariably occur with producing this things, I always try to do right by the guests.

And it turns out that the topic of this conversation couldn’t be more timely. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been at the top of the headlines. Executive Orders, Lawsuits brought by states, companies either reducing or eliminating their DEI-related programs, with others reaffirming their commitment. For those of us interested or involved in DEI, there is a lot to keep track of.

So it is fortuitous that I bring out our conversation with Teja Arboleda right now. Even though we are not talking about the current state of DEI, we are talking about the prelude to this moment.

Teja is a producer, director, and actor, using his talents to weave together stories that touch on traditional themes and emergent ones as well. He also has lived across national cultures, growing up in Japan but in an American family. He worked at WGBH, the Boston public television station, where he worked on documentaries related to the Gulf War and the series Frontline.

He brings that attention and skillset to the work that he has done in the corporate environment, bringing impactful trainings that are imbued with humor, storytelling, and connecting audiences with the universal experiences behind DEI.

And I should also mention he has a degree in sociology as well!

Teja Arboleda - https://tejaarboleda.com

Teja Arboleda LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejaarboleda/

Ibis Consulting Group - https://www.ibisconsultinggroup.com/