The Thinking through Design podcast releases Episode 19. In this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast, host Adam Fromme sits down with Taylor Olsen.

In this conversation, Adam and Taylor explore the role of play as design educators, highlighting how games create space for experimentation, failure, and creative problem-solving. They discuss the shift from a solution-focused mindset to a goal-oriented one, where constraints and iteration become tools for innovation. Through classroom examples and real-world parallels, they show how designers can use play to craft meaningful experiences that engage, connect, and inspire. Ultimately, they see the designer as a facilitator of possibility, helping others see the extraordinary in the everyday.

For the past several years, Taylor has lectured in OSU’s Department of Design, where he taught design foundations and game design. He holds a B.S. in Digital Arts & Design from Dakota State University and an MFA in Digital Animation and Interactive Media from Ohio State. His work spans digital humanities, informational videos, and time-based media, with exhibitions at the Wexner Center for the Arts and broadcasts on PBS.

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts or by visiting the Podcast webpage.

About the podcast

It’s obvious that design is all around us, but how designers think through their work is often a mystery. Yet, understanding that process can fuel our own curiosity and creativity. Adam Fromme hosts Thinking through Design as a series of in-depth discussions to reveal the designer’s mindset and realize its value. 

Thinking through Design is brought to you by the Department of Design at The Ohio State University. For general inquires, contact Adam Fromme, fromme.3@osu.edu