When AI can spin up a logo in seconds and templates are everywhere, it’s fair to wonder: why hire a designer at all? Because people don’t connect with “good enough.” They connect with taste, the kind that feels intentional, lived-in, and real.

In this episode, Andrew Chen, Head of Brand Design at Hive, makes a simple case: tools help, but taste wins. He talks about how skating and the hardcore scene taught him to make things people actually want, why trust (not slide decks) gets bold ideas approved, and how the next wave favors curators who know what to keep and what to cut. Andrew’s path is a reminder that great work isn’t about pedigree; it’s about context, craft, and caring enough to sweat the details.

We also get into:

• How building trust gets buy-in faster than any moodboard.
• Using “yes, and” to turn rigid briefs into better ideas.
• Why juniors shouldn’t wait for permission to pitch the risky thing.
• How food (seriously) can sharpen your storytelling instincts.