Bits and Pieces: design-related podcasts

I’m a big fan of podcasts.I’m only sad that I don’t have more time to listen to them (for example, I can’t listen whilst I’m working, just when I’m at home, travelling or driving). I use the Pocket Casts app on my iPhone, which is a very smart, easy to use app and for the past 6 months I’ve been listening to a lot of design-related podcasts – here are my favourites (in no particular order!)

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The Stack

(website) (iTunes)

Format: Studio host, with guests, reports and discussion
Tone: informative, intelligent and ever-so-slightly smug.
Usual length: 25 – 40 mins
Frequency: weekly

The first of 2 offering from Monocle, publishers of the high-brow monthly magazine. They run a radio station, but the shows are also released as podcasts. This has been a long-time favourite of mine.

Usually presented by Editor-in-Chief Tyler Brulee, its a 30 minute look at the world of magazine publishing. Guests bring along their favourite titles, and discuss design, content and the wider industry.

Section D

(website) (iTunes)

Format: studio host and reports from global reporters
Tone: dips a toe in the water of every type of design – a good overview
Usual length: 60 mins
Frequency: weekly

The second podcast from Monocle, this time the design-focused Section D. A recent change of presenter has improved this no end, with a more relaxed style. Covering graphic design, architecture, fashion and everything in between all over the world, it offers an interesting insight into the industry.

99% Invisible

(website) (iTunes)

Format: radio programme on a different design related subject each week
Tone: highly produced, intelligent with comic asides.
Usual length: around 2o minutes
Frequency: weekly

A recent funding push has meant this brilliant radio series is now weekly, maintaining it’s high standards. A high level of production and presenting means recent topics such as “barcodes”, Pizza Hut buildings and number stations, become fascinating subjects.

Data Stories logo

Data Stories

(website) (iTunes)

Format: 2 hosts + guests
Tone: incredibly friendly, passionate and geeky in places
Usual length: 45 – 120 mins
Frequency: monthly (not regular)

I adore this podcast because it lands exactly in my wheelhouse – data and design. The hosts, an academic and a professional data designer, clearly enjoy the podcast and create a friendly and warm environment. Both incredibly knowledgable, they bring in big name guests and cover a range of subjects including, recently, data journalism. As I’m not a coder, I am occasionally lost by some of the code-speak, but it’s handled well and moves quickly.

Do listen out for the adorable cross-nationality marathon goodbye session at the end of the podcast!

Design Matters

(website) (iTunes)

Format: head to head interview
Tone: intimate, warm and knowledgable
Usual length: 45 mins
Frequency: weekly

This podcast focuses entirely on one subject a week, with an in-depth head to head interview. I’ve found interviews to be interesting and insightful, irrespective of the interviewee, thanks to host bigwig Debbie Milner.

The Deeply Graphic Design Podcast

(website) (iTunes)

Format: 3 hosts, discussion and listener questions
Tone: friendly, industry-insight discussions and advice
Usual length: 40 – 60 mins
Frequency: fortnightly

This is a more serious version of Adventures in Design – with 3 professional designers discussing a specific graphic or web design issue each episode. The tone is friendly, with no silliness or banter and the issues are handled professionally.

Adventures in Design

(website)(iTunes)

Format: 3 presenters with chat, occasional interviews and Q & A
Tone: casual, yet informative with occasional (ok, quite a bit) of swearing
Usual length: 1 hr 40 – 2hr
Frequency: weekly

When I was working alone at home, this podcast acted as my colleagues, with enough banter and interesting facts and tips to make me feel human again!! It was great to hear 3 guys chatting about every day designer issues and moans, with some smart ideas and advice thrown in.

Recently the podcasts were recorded on the road as the crew took a trip to the Flatpack Festival in Austin, Texas as part of SXSW with some genuinely funny moments!

Six Ways to Spice Up Your Podcasts

Are your podcasts limp and lifeless? Then try these tips to spice up your audio output …

Location Location Location

Get out there!!! You might think that you need peace and quiet to record a podcast, but remember – the joy of a podcast is that you can get to the centre of a situation or story. Sometimes silence just sounds strange.

Example: If your podcast is about farming – why not record it in a field, with the sound of the wind, sheep and birds? Use appropriate background noise (known as wildtrack)

It not only sounds more interesting, it gives the podcast a sense of authenticity and makes you sound like you know what you’re talking about.

Music / Jingles / Sound effects

Have fun with these. They will make your listener smile, and can be useful to break up different segments of the podcast, a change in subject or mood, or simply to illustrate a point. Just be careful where you get music from due to licensing laws. It’s a grey area but it’s best to be safe. I haven’t used these guys, but looks promising (Magnatune)

Example: You’re creating an audio podcast for kids – teaching them English languge basics, How about using sound effects to illustrate the words you are saying – a baaaa-ing lamb, for lamb (lambs again!!!). Its even harder to keep kids interested, but this will definitely help.

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit

Stop going on … Think about where people will be listening to your podcasts. It could be on the way to work, in the car, on the bus … how many people have an hour-long commute? Some do, but not everyone.

Listening to a speech based podcast for an hour may be a commitment too far for some people. Think about “chunking” … breaking it up into smaller pieces.

In addition, trying to do an hour long podcast regularly will be difficult. Spread out your content or you’ll lose interest over time.

Signposting

People like to know what to expect. You could start your podcast with an introduction and an audio menu of what’s coming up. Then people can decide whether it’s for them, and what to listen out for. Similarly, you could post a written version of this running order, with times, so people can scroll forward.

Example – The DataStories podcast use this effectively

Interviews

You’ve landed a great interview for your podcast – a real find. However, resist the temptation to put the whole interview unedited into your podcast. It will slow the whole thing down. How about playing some clips from it, then putting the whole interview (the “raw”) as a separate podcast? Refer to this in your podcast, and you’ve got them coming back for more!

You could also split the interview over a series of podcasts – imagine saying “more from Dave next week”.

Mix it Up

Have a think who’s listening to the podcast, and what do they want? Think about bringing in different features, or sections to the show. It keeps interest up as you change subject, tone and pace.

Example: A news style bulletin for airport customers could be livened up by adding travel advice, health tips and local recommendations. Also, advice on facilities in departure lounges etc. This would make the podcast a lot more interesting and popular.