We live in an age of unprecedented creative tools, from generative AI and design platforms to open access to code, capital, and talent. Joining this episode is John Roescher, Founder and CEO of Raw Materials, the design firm behind the public-facing strategies of Anduril, Saronic, and Meta, to explore why design should not be treated as decoration, but as a cultural and strategic function. Because in the end, with all this power, the outcome still comes down to a choice: Will we design with intention or default to slop?
Chapters
01:13 Design as Product
04:51 Outsourcing vs Partnering
08:04 The Creative Process and Why “I Like That” Isn’t Enough
11:30 AI, Craft, and Care: Tools vs Slop
16:52 Efficiency or Excellence
23:19 Unlocking Core Creativity Inside Companies
28:01 Design as Strategy
32:39 From Founders to Cities: Owning the Narrative
40:28 Intentionality vs Accident
45:04 What You Ship Says Everything
46:45 What’s Next Austin?
Guest Links
John Roescher:
https://x.com/johnroescher
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnroescher/
Raw Materials:
https://www.therawmaterials.com/unusual-index
https://www.instagram.com/raw._.materials/
https://x.com/rawmaterialsco
https://www.linkedin.com/company/raw-materials-co/
#IntentionalDesign, #GenerativeAI, #StartupStrategy, #ProductCulture. #DesignThinking, #AustinNext
