There’s a new treat for design enthusiasts and curious minds: Yanko Design’s just-launched podcast, Design Mindset, is setting out to demystify the process and people behind the things we use, admire, and sometimes take for granted. Hosted by Radhika Seth, this weekly audio series promises to get beneath the surface of beautiful objects and groundbreaking concepts, asking not just how they’re made, but why they matter. The show, premiering every Friday, is an open invitation to explore the creative tensions, real-world pressures, and flashes of brilliance that shape the things we encounter every day.
For its debut, Design Mindset lands a fittingly heavyweight guest: Ewdison Then, co-publisher and CEO of Yanko Design, whose journey from the world of fast-moving tech journalism to the thoughtful curation of design culture is a story in itself. A founder of SlashGear and a veteran of covering every major tech launch of the past two decades, Ewdison has seen first-hand how trends are born, how they catch fire, and crucially, how they’re curated. In this episode, he offers a candid look at the responsibilities, surprises, and tensions that come with moving from observer to tastemaker.
From Reporting Headlines to Shaping the Conversation
The distance between tech journalism and design curation isn’t measured in miles or even job titles – it’s a fundamental shift in worldview. For years, Ewdison operated in the rapid-fire world of tech news, where influence is measured by speed and scoops. “Over two decades in tech journalism taught me about influence from outside looking in,” he reflects in the episode. But the move to Yanko Design required a new lens: not just documenting the next big thing, but helping to define what that ‘thing’ could be.
That transition isn’t simply about trading deadlines for deliberation. It’s about stepping into a position where one’s choices and values ripple outward, affecting what the industry notices, what gets built, and what’s left behind. Ewdison describes this shift as both “humbling and energizing,” noting the difference between chronicling the evolution of design and curating its future. There’s a palpable sense of responsibility – one that comes with the realization that decisions made in the editorial room can shape the direction of entire creative industries.
Design Publications as Active Influencers, Not Passive Recorders
It’s easy to imagine design media as little more than a mirror held up to the world, reflecting back the best and brightest. But the truth, as revealed in the conversation, is far more dynamic. Publications like Yanko Design aren’t just cataloging objects and trends; they’re part of a complex ecosystem that determines which ideas become reality. “There’s an entire ecosystem of people deciding what deserves attention, what gets manufactured, and what influences the next wave of innovation,” Ewdison points out, peeling back the curtain on a process that’s as much about editorial curation as it is about creative genius.
This influence isn’t theoretical. The products that fill our homes and pockets, whether they’re sleek gadgets or elegant furnishings, often trace their roots back to a handful of gatekeepers and tastemakers. Yanko Design’s editorial choices can place a designer on the map, spark the interest of manufacturers, or nudge a concept from prototype to production. It’s a subtle but profound form of power, and one that’s wielded with an eye toward both innovation and integrity.
The Personal Nature of Good Design: No Universal Litmus Test
Ask ten people to define “good design” and you’ll get twelve different answers – a reality that sits at the heart of Yanko Design’s editorial ethos. The episode leans into this tension, with Ewdison observing, “Everyone has their own perception of what is a good design. You’re not going to find two of the same person, rarely, to have an exact word by word thoughts about how a good design is being perceived.” That kind of subjectivity isn’t a flaw to be fixed; it’s the very reason design remains vital and ever-changing.
This diversity of opinion means there’s no single yardstick, no checklist that guarantees a product will resonate. Instead, curation becomes an act of translation, taking a personal reaction and framing it in a way that invites discussion, not consensus. The editorial team at Yanko Design is encouraged to lean into their own perspectives, evaluating usability, appearance, material, and even color through their own filters. This openness results in a publication that’s less about dictating taste and more about surfacing a rich tapestry of viewpoints.
Contrasts in Coverage: Tech Journalism’s Timers vs. Design’s Deep Dive
Covering the latest phone launch or software event requires a very particular skillset – one built around speed, stamina, and the ability to synthesize vast amounts of PR-driven information in real time. Ewdison describes the old rhythm: “You have to be quite on your toes, because most of the covers are very time sensitive… you need to be able to push out maybe five content within two hours of events and whatnot.” The tech press is a machine, and the pace is relentless.
Design coverage, in contrast, rewards patience and reflection. Rather than reacting to what’s unveiled, editors are given the space to step back, reconsider, and approach each project as a unique story. The process is less about being first and more about being insightful. PR still plays a role, but the editorial voice is rooted in personal interpretation, not just regurgitation. The result is a space where deeper questions can be asked: What makes this object beautiful? What problem does it solve? Why does it matter right now?
Editorial Empowerment: Giving Writers Room to Interpret
Within Yanko Design, the editorial process is intentionally porous. Writers aren’t just handed a press release and told to summarize; instead, they’re encouraged to explore what moves them about a design – be it the functionality, the materiality, or even the emotional resonance. Ewdison describes this shift, saying, “We want to give that voice to our editors, to our writers, where they can present their perception of a specific design from the angle of whether usability or… just an overview of how it looks, material, colors.” This philosophy is less about force-fitting opinions and more about creating space for genuine curiosity.
The end result is a publication that feels alive and personal. Readers aren’t just passive consumers of verdicts handed down from on high; they’re invited into a conversation. Multiple interpretations are not just tolerated, but celebrated, making Yanko Design a kind of living gallery where design is always open for debate and discovery.
Ecosystem Thinking: Collaboration and Influence in Modern Design
If there’s a single takeaway from the episode, it’s that design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. From the moment a concept is sketched to the day it lands in a showroom, countless hands and minds shape its journey. Yanko Design’s influence operates within this broader ecosystem – sometimes as an amplifier, sometimes as a filter, always as a participant in the ongoing dialogue of innovation. Decision-makers, manufacturers, and even consumers all play a role, but so too do the editors who decide what stories get told.
Collaboration is another theme that emerges, particularly in the dynamic between Ewdison and Yanko Design founder Takashi Yamada. Since 2008, Yamada has helped set the tone for what counts as “groundbreaking” in the world of design, and the partnership with Ewdison brings together two complementary visions. Their teamwork exemplifies how curation is rarely the work of a single tastemaker; it’s the product of ongoing dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared belief in the power of design to shape the future.
Design Mindset is now live, with new episodes dropping every Friday. Whether you’re a working designer, a tech junkie, or simply someone who loves beautiful things, Yanko Design’s new podcast promises fresh insights and lively conversation on what it really means to shape the visual and functional world around us. Visit Yanko Design’s YouTube page for more!
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