Ted Audio Collective.

Audio Collective.

This is Design Matters with Debbie Millman from Design Observer.com.

On this program, Debbie Millman talks with Justin errands

about applying for design jobs when he was just out of school.

He didn't even get through like three or four pages and he goes,

this is the shittiest portfolio I've ever seen.

And he also talks about designing for social change.

Anytime you can use design to make impact,

if you're a designer and have that experience,

it's like an addiction.

You just want to do it more and more and more.

Here's Debbie Millman.

It's sad but true. Even if you have achieved your dream job,

the grind of work can erode the dream

so that eventually all you're left with is the job. As designers, how do we stay

engaged for the long haul? How can we create a work life that nourishes the passions that drove us into the business in the first place.

This is the issue Justin Arrens takes on in his book Life Kearney and his approach might surprise you.

Justin is founder and principal of Rule 29, a Chicago-based strategy and design firm that works with big companies and with small nonprofits.

The company is actively involved in numerous social causes and they do quite a lot of work in Africa.

He joins me now to talk about his career and his book.

Justin, welcome to Design Matters.

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