Safe never sparks joy.
That’s one of the first things designer and author Evie Kemp said when we sat down to record Episode 2 of the Misunderstood Podcast.
We were talking about the kind of decisions designers — and all of us — make.
The safe grey couch vs the wild orange one.
It wasn’t really about couches.
It was about risk.
Expression.
What happens when you stop designing for approval and start designing for what feels right? I know, it's simplistic, but this episode may change your mind.
Evie is a designer, artist, and creative force based in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Her work is bold, unapologetic, and deeply personal.
It makes you feel something — even if that feeling is discomfort.
This conversation was full of honesty. Not performative vulnerability. Just real stuff:
What it’s like to stand out in a design world that often rewards conformity
How Evie thinks about taste and regret
Why joy is a good enough reason to choose something — even if it’s not forever
If you're a designer, creative, or founder who's ever felt pressure to tone it down or fit the brief a little too tightly... This episode might be for you.
Episode 2 of the Misunderstood Podcast dropping this Friday
on YouTube and Spotify.
Follow me here and @critical.things on instagram to catch it first.
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