logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2020
13m 55s

How symbols and brands shape our humanit...

TED
About this episode

"Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit," says designer and podcaster Debbie Millman. In a historical odyssey that she illustrated herself, Millman traces the evolution of branding, from cave paintings to flags to beer labels and beyond. She explores the power of symbols to unite people, beginning with prehistoric communities who used them to represent beliefs and identify affiliations to modern companies that adopt logos and trademarks to market their products -- and explains how branding reflects the state of humanity.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
The wiggly wonder of music | Jacob Collier
Grammy-winning musician Jacob Collier has a name for the feeling that moves through a great piece of music: the wiggle. Watch him break down the idea into its three parts — melody, rhythm and harmony — with nothing but his own voice, a grand piano and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wo ... Show More
12m 39s
Sep 14
How AI unleashed (not replaced) my creativity | Kelly A. Boesch
After working for years in film, fashion and graphic design, visual artist Kelly A. Boesch found a new collaborator to work with: AI. She walks through how she uses the technology to create dreamlike images and music that remain hauntingly human, exploring the two questions every ... Show More
8m 50s
Sep 13
How to turn setbacks into success | Amy Shoenthal
Success rarely happens in a straight line, with setbacks all but guaranteed along the way. What's the best way to recover? Leadership coach Amy Shoenthal lays out the four phases of the "setback cycle" and explains how to transform difficult moments into opportunities for reinven ... Show More
20m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Design series: Debbie Millman on how brands impact culture
Welcome to the final episode in our special four-part series on design. Brands are everywhere and sometimes feel so omnipresent that it’s hard to know what counts as one. So we’ve invited designer, educator and Design Matters podcast host Debbie Millman to help us make sense of b ... Show More
16m 12s
Jul 2023
Debbie Millman | How to Design a Life [Best of]
<p>Embark on a journey of self-discovery and creative wisdom with renowned branding guru and author, Debbie Millman. In her latest book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3CYrDAk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Why Design Matters: Conversations with the World’s Most Creativ ... Show More
54m 20s
Apr 2019
Branding
Branding: Laurie Taylor explores the 'persuasion industries' and their role in creating modern consumer society. How has their use of an emotional model of brand communication, whether in political campaigning or product advertising, transformed our understanding of the rational ... Show More
28m 49s
Jun 2025
Why you don't need a personal brand (w/ Debbie Millman)
“If you’re a good designer in five or ten years, you’re gonna want to look back on your portfolio with horror and nostalgia and somewhat amusement… because you want to be growing,” says illustrator Debbie Millman. Debbie is the host of the longest running podcast, Design Matters, ... Show More
38m 19s
May 2024
Creating Your Ideal Life And Career with Debbie Millman
Debbie Millman is a designer, author, and educator known for hosting the influential podcast "Design Matters." She specializes in brand strategy and has been pivotal in shaping the field of design. We are so happy to have her on this week. Debbie has a unique ability to impart un ... Show More
6m 25s
Jul 2022
Why Design Matters | Debbie Millman & Yumi Stynes at All About Women 2022
<p>How do you find the courage to make a major change in your life? How do you re-set your values? How do you reconnect with your creative self?</p><br><p>Designer and host of the long-running and wildly popular podcast Design Matters, Debbie Millman explores invention, truth-tel ... Show More
53m 57s
Feb 2022
Debbie Millman | How to Design a Life
<p>How do you design a life of wonder and love, contribution and meaning, joy and expression? At the end of the day, that’s what we all really want. To know we’ve used our time on this big, blue marble in a way that was worthy, that was wise, that was alive. Which is why I was so ... Show More
54m 3s
May 2021
Design Matters: A conversation with Sarah Kay
Today, we're sharing an episode from another podcast in the TED Audio Collective: Design Matters with Debbie Millman. For over 15 years, Debbie has been interviewing incredibly creative people about how they design the arc of their lives. For more interviews with people like Jacq ... Show More
54m 58s