AIGA Design Podcast Earns Distinction in 4th Annual Signal Awards

Podcast Takes Bronze Award in the Artists & Designers Shaping Culture Category

NEW YORK, NY-The AIGA Design Podcast's new season, Design + Performance, was named a Winner in the 4th Annual Signal Awards for Artists + Designers Shaping Culture Category.

Winners of the prestigious distinction are selected by the Signal Awards Judging Academy which includes notable on-mic talent such as On Purpose Host Jay Shetty, Co-Host of Radiolab Latif Nasser and Dan Taberski Host of Hysterical as well as industry leadership including Jonathan Hirsch, VP Global Podcasts at Sony Music, Ney Alvarez the Head of Audio, Al Jazeera, Gretta Cohn the CEO, Pushkin Industries, Chris Bannon the SVP, Head of Global Audio at Condé Nast and Jessica Cordova Kramer the CEO & Founder of Lemonada Media.

The Signal Awards set a standard for editorial excellence by honoring the organizations, artists, mavericks and brands who are shaping the podcast industry and the storytelling medium. Each year, The Signal Awards present Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award Winners, and the listening public votes for their favorite Finalists to take home the additional honor of Listener's Choice Award in each category. Garnering more than 385,000 public votes in just two weeks from more than 127,000 fans around the world, the 2025 Listener's Choice Awards drew the largest voting body in The Signal Awards' four-year history, more than double the number of votes cast in 2024. A true testament to the power of podcasting as a lightning rod for engagement.

"The AIGA Design Podcast's theme 'Design + Performance' made an impression on the Judging Academy," said Jemma Brown, General Manager of The Signal Awards."This award is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators."

The AIGA Design Podcastexplores how design shapes culture, business, and society through in-depth conversations with leading voices from across the creative community. Hosted by Lee-Sean Huang, AIGA Co-Executive Director of Learning + Programs, and Giulia Donatello, AIGA Design Competitions & Events Manager, the series dives into themes such as design ethics, performance, collaboration, and leadership-offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the ideas and people driving the future of design. Notable guests include George Aye, Co-Founder of Greater Good Studio; Richard Moross, Founder & CEO of MOO; and Scott Berkun, Author of Why Design is Hard.

"Our goal is to make the creative process more visible and accessible," said Huang. "By connecting with designers, artists, and entrepreneurs who are expanding what design can do, we aim to inspire people to see design not just as a profession, but as a force for cultural change."

The AIGA Design Podcastwill return for a new season in January 2026.

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AIGA

About AIGA

AIGA, the professional association for design, advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. As the largest community of design advocates, AIGA creates the vision for a collective future and brings together practitioners, enthusiasts, and patrons to amplify the voice of design. AIGA defines global standards and ethical practices, guides design education, inspires designers and the public, enhances professional development, and makes powerful tools and resources accessible to all.

About The Signal Awards
The Signal Awards are mission-focused on uplifting the podcast medium by recognizing the most potent, meaningful and unprecedented audio projects being made today. Now in its fourth year, entrants to The Signal Awards are reviewed by The Signal Awards Judging Academy, an esteemed collective made up of the architects, instigators and trailblazers of the medium. Once a year, The Academy collectively listens closely to thousands of hours of audio, selecting the strongest work to be elevated to the status of award-winning.