Collector and high-design advocate, Lisa Roberts, reflects on a childhood spent in an architecturally significant home that discomfited her because it made her feel different from her peers, and also ignited her passion for design because it seeped into her very being. Now, having collected more than 400 “Antiques of the Future,” she uses her collection to educate, author books, and advocate for the game changing power of design. Not too shabby for ol’ Curtains Roberts, eh? Mr. Waffles approves. Meow!

Follow Lisa at mydesignlife.com and see what Mr. Waffles is up to on Instagram. Watch episodes of 'My Design Life' here.

What is your earliest memory?

When a neighborhood boy at age 5 pulled down his pants in front of me.

How do you feel about democratic design?

It’s better than Republican design.

What’s the best advice that you’ve ever gotten?

When the going gets tough, the tough get creative.

How do you record your ideas?

Send myself emails.

What’s your current favorite tool or material to work with?

Exacto knife.

What book is on your nightstand?

Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah.

A Gentleman In Moscow by A. Towles is best book I’ve read in 5 years.

Why is authenticity in design important?

Many designs are inspired from sources around us, so the question is at what point does inspiration become imitation. I had one of my most successful designs, “Kids Around the World” copied both in concept and artistic style. Not only did it devastate me as the designer, it devalued the original idea.

Favorite restaurant in your city?

Vernick

What might we find on your desk right now?

Tizio Lamp, iMac, latest issue of Azure, Weleda Skin Food hand cream, and Mr. Waffles.

Who do you look up to and why?

Marcel Wanders because he’s over 6 feet.

What’s your favorite project that you’ve done and why?

My Antiques of the Future book because it started me on the path as a spokesperson for design. This led to speaking engagements around the country, a TV series (My Design Life), second book (DesignPOP) and an upcoming children’s book, “Mr. Waffles Loves Design”.

What are the last five songs you listened to?

A Celtic Dream (Michele McLaughlin, At the Ivy Gate (Brian Crain), Celtic Nights (Suzanne Ciani), Despacito (Peter Burka interpretation), River Flows In You (Yurima).

These are all pieces I practice on the piano.

Special thanks to Tai Navares and Alex Perez for editing this episode.
Music in this episode courtesy of El Ten Eleven—hear more on Bandcamp.
Shoutout to Jenny Rask for designing the Clever logo.

Keep Listening

Featured

Ep. 219: Federico Negro on Making Tools to Empower and Scale Sustainable Design

Founder and CEO of Canoa, Federico Negro, was born in Uruguay during a time of political turmoil and lived in four countries by age 14. As a teenager in Chicago, he used music as a means of learning English, and during college became fascinated by forensic architecture, which informed his fixation with “how we build with what we build.” An Architect, designer, toolmaker, and entrepreneur, his first company, CASE, was acquired by WeWork. From there he served as the Global Head of Design for Wework during the company’s rapid expansion, and witnessed first-hand the pain points and environmental challenges that could be mitigated with better tools. So in 2019, he founded Canoa, an AI-driven, collaborative software aimed at revolutionizing the interior design and furniture industries by addressing environmental issues and becoming a tool to help us build a better future.

Ep. 218: The Exquisite Love, Magic and Maximalism of Londubh Studio

Custom surface artists Lisa Donohoe and Brynn Gelbard met and fell in love in the queer underbelly scene of San Francisco in 2002, a time before bi-national same-sex marriage was legal. Self-proclaimed party animals, their diverse community was built on love, curiosity and celebrating each other's differences. In an evolution that was equal parts organic maturity and cosmic intervention, Brynn and Lisa moved to Los Angeles and founded Londubh Studio, specializing in elaborate and maximalist hand-applied surface designs. Now the duo, oft considered the design world’s secret weapon, are translating their wildness, love, magic, and the sacred, through exquisite artistry and pristine craft, into visual celebrations that vibrate with love and emanate joy. Turns out these former revelers are still going full-blast on life.

Ep. 217: Design Researcher Amanda Schneider on the Art of Contextualizing the Data

Founder and President of ThinkLab, Amanda Schneider, grew up outside of Chicago, inspired by a blend of engineering and design. Now a self-described “designer by degree, journalist by accident, and researcher by choice” at the helm of ThinkLab, she examines the ecosystem of the design world, unearthing and synthesizing the social and cultural shifts and drivers that impact the interiors industry. Together with her team, she offers insights and context that can empower better decision-making while also bridging the communication gap between creatives and the business sector. A keynote speaker (catch her recent TEDx talk) and the host of the podcast Design Nerds Anonymous, Amanda shares her wisdom on topics like communication strategies, storytelling, and the future of work.

Ep. 216: Clever Extra - Interior Designer Kerrie Kelly on Uniting Beauty and Function

Interior designer and lifestyle expert Kerrie Kelly is known for her distinctive California-inspired design philosophy. She got her start at Ralph Lauren Home and then moved to Del Webb Corporation where she was a boots-on-the-ground high-volume designer of homes, before founding her multi-faceted design studio, Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, in 1995. A graduate of both design and business school, she blends both of these skill sets in her work as an interior designer, trendspotter, and brand partner. She’s driven by a commitment to bringing thoughtful design into everyday life, which for Kerrie means blending beauty with functionality and translating that through a palette of luxurious and organic materiality.

Ep. 215: Kinfolk’s Idris Brewster Uses AR to Empower Collective Memory Building

Artist, creative technologist, and educator, Idris Brewster grew up in Brooklyn, being filmed for a documentary about his education as a black student at a prestigious, primarily white, school. His coming-of-age, only partially caught on camera, included a lot of basketball and hands-on artistic development. A grant awarded in college gave him early access to VR technology which opened a path to combining all of his talents and interests and expressing them through new media. Now, as co-founder and Executive Director of Kinfolk Foundation, he’s harnessing augmented reality, location-based technology, and community to engage in placing digital monuments in public spaces, memory building, and foregrounding the Black, Brown and Queer histories that have been intentionally silenced.

Ep. 49: Lisa Roberts

Keep Listening

Hear every episode with one click.

Resources

Listen

Ep. 49: Lisa Roberts

Keep Listening

Ep. 50: Todd Bracher

Ep. 48: Timothy Goodman

Hear every episode with one click.

Resources

Listen