Kevin Bethune - Reimagining Design: An Incredible Journey

Kevin Bethune inspires with his incredible journey across engineering, business & design, shares how to keep calm inside of a nuclear reactor, and shines a light on design’s diversity blind spot.

Highlights include:

⭐ Are designers too in love with the future state?
⭐ Where did you put your fear while working inside a nuclear reactor?
⭐ How was your Dad a servant leader and why did that inspire you?
⭐ What does it mean that there have only been 300 black ArtCenter graduates?
⭐ How do you explain a systemically racist America to your son?

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Who is Kevin Bethune?

Kevin is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of dreams • design + life, a strategic design consultancy that helps companies like PepsiCo, Nike, and Berkshire Hathaway, to bring a multi-disciplinary, human-centred and innovation-focused lens to business.

Graduating from Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Kevin started his career in the nuclear energy industry with Westinghouse Electric, where he became closely acquainted with the ins-and-outs of nuclear reactors. 

After earning an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, Kevin joined Nike, in a business role. However, his curiosity soon led him to footwear designa, where, thanks to the mentorship of D’Wayne Edwards, he would design the record-breaking Air Jordan Fusion 8 shoe.

Seeking new horizons and to solidify his creative foundation, Kevin left Nike for a Master of Science in Industrial Design at the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design where he now serves on the board of Trustees. He is also the Board Chair for the Design Management Institute.

Immediately before founding dreams • design + life, Kevin was a co-founder of the strategic design & innovation capabilities at TWO top tier management consulting firms - Booz & Co. and the Boston Consulting Group. 

His first book, "Reimagining Design: Unlocking Strategic Innovation" was published by The MIT Press in March, with the forward written by his good friend, the legendary technologist and designer, Dr. John Maeda.

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Find Kevin here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbethune/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevinbethune
Website: https://www.dreamsdesignandlife.com/

Kevin’s book:

Reimagining Design: Unlocking Strategic Innovation - 
https://www.kevinbethune-reimaginingdesign.com/

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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/
Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendanjarvis/