About Me
I'm Duncan, a design leader passionate about transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. With over two decades of experience in brand development, typography, and user experience, I bring a unique blend of formal education and self-taught expertise to the table.
As the host of the Makeready podcast, I love diving into fellow designers' creative journeys and sharing successes, strategies, and insights from my colorful career. I'm all about fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration, celebrating the diverse nature of our profession.
Some of my clients
Beyond creating great design, I'm on a mission to nurture the next generation of design leaders. I'm all about bridging communication gaps and advocating for the indispensable role of strategic design in crafting messages that truly resonate.
Looking ahead, I aspire to a pivotal role as a design executive, where I can lead with vision and empathy, establishing cultures that champion creativity. My goal? To leave a legacy that enriches the design profession and promotes design as a fundamental driver of positive change in society.
In a nutshell, I'm here to show that great design isn't just about looking good—it's about being socially responsible and accessible, making the world a better place for everyone. Let's connect and create something amazing together!
Leadership Philosophy
My leadership emphasizes adaptability, design-centric thinking, nurturing talent, and finding simplicity in chaos. I focus on shared responsibility, collective decision-making, and mutual respect within the team. This approach encourages decentralized authority, user experience-centered decision-making, continuous improvement through goal-setting, and talent development through mentorship. I acknowledge the importance of evolving leadership to navigate industry challenges with a foundation built on humility, listening, empathy, and fostering trust.
My 'Why?'
To champion innovative and inspiring design, mentor and empower designers, and leave a legacy that elevates the profession and drives positive change.
I am a design leader and advocate, deeply committed to leveraging over two decades of experience in brand development, typography, and user experience to drive transformative change within the design profession and the industries it serves. My journey, a fusion of formal education and self-taught expertise, fuels my passion for creative problem-solving, enabling me to navigate design complexities with a unique, informed perspective.
Through my role as the Makeready podcast host, I explored fellow designers' creative journeys, sharing diverse successes, strategies, and insights gained from my extensive career and academic pursuits. This endeavor underscores my dedication to fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration, celebrating our profession's rich, multifaceted nature.
My ambition extends beyond design execution to nurturing the next generation of design leaders. I am committed to bridging communication gaps between designers, stakeholders, and broader audiences, advocating for strategic design's indispensable role in crafting resonating messages. My focus is mentoring and empowering designers to understand the transformative power of their work, ensuring that every project not only meets but sets new benchmarks for excellence, inclusivity, and sustainability.
Looking to the future, I aspire to a pivotal role as a design executive, where I can lead with vision and empathy, establishing cultures that champion creativity, respect design principles, and develop meaningful solutions. My aim is to leave a legacy that enriches the design profession, elevates designers' working lives, and promotes design as a fundamental driver of positive change in society.
Pursuing these goals, I remain steadfast in my belief that great design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also socially responsible and accessible, capable of making the world a better place for everyone. My mission is to serve as a beacon for the design community, championing work that informs, engages, and inspires while continuously pushing the boundaries of what is possible through design
Makeready Podcast
Makeready podcast is a Communication Design MFA thesis idea designed to take flight in the “real world.” On Makeready podcast Duncan Robertson plays host to designers and other creative people whose work and spirit he admires. Each episode is a conversation between Duncan and his guest about how their career has developed and how they make their ideas happen for a living. This online radio show is a forum for discussion about creative career development, professional practices, and finding a way to feel satisfied with our work. The project overall is an exploration of the need for us to share differing definitions of success, business strategies, philosophies, and practical lessons learned through experience.
For the 2014 MFA Student Thesis Show Duncan is launched the podcast presenting the first three episodes via listening stations in a gallery setting. Please look for new episodes at www.makereadypodcast.com, follow the show on Twitter at @makereadypod, and subscribe via iTunes in the coming weeks. New episodes will be posted on a weekly basis over the corse of the coming months
For the 2014 MFA Student Thesis Show Duncan is launched the podcast presenting the first three episodes via listening stations in a gallery setting. Please look for new episodes at www.makereadypodcast.com, follow the show on Twitter at @makereadypod, and subscribe via iTunes in the coming weeks. New episodes will be posted on a weekly basis over the corse of the coming months