We’re in the back arc of A76’s season exploring The Human Spark and I was fortunate to sit down with Gavin Lew, Managing Partner at Bold Insight, to discuss how deep behavioral observation helps move ideas forward. Throughout the season I’ve challenged my guests to reflect on how they know when an idea is truly worth pursuing, and Gavin offers a thoughtful perspective on that question. We explore how actionable insights from real people, empathy, and courage are forces that can push ideas ahead and shape better experiences—and why design doesn’t start with ideas, but with understanding. It’s a profound conversation, and one I hope you enjoy.

~ Noel

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

Friend of the pod Casey Hudetz, Senior Manager of Product Design at DocuSign and co-host of A76’s season one comes back on the pod to talk with me about the moment an idea grabs you and won’t let go. He shares a powerful example from his grandparents that compelled a creative project, including a talk and film. And our conversation explores how ideas often emerge through convergence and the subconscious. If you’ve ever felt haunted by an idea you couldn’t shake, this is the episode for you. I always appreciate my conversations with Casey. They always inspire new branches of thinking and this one’s no different. Hope you enjoy.

~ Noel

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

In the latest episode of A76 The Human Spark, I chat with Dustin Coleman—Writer, Senior Content Strategist and Co-founder of 12 Acres Creative—about the importance of storytelling as a human craft in an increasingly automated world. With a lifelong love of narrative, Dustin shares how curiosity, observation, and conversation fuel his ideas and why real stories matter more than ever. We explore how Dustin evaluates ideas, why emotional response is his north star and how persistence not convenience leads to the most meaningful stories. This episode is a reminder that the best ideas come from listening deeply, persistently asking questions and staying relentlessly curious. Hope you enjoy. Happy holidays!

Plus, continue to listen to our season 4 ideation playlist here.

~ Noel

"The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” – Muriel Rukeyser

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram