Design can seem complex on the surface, yet underneath it all, it’s a conversation about humanity. As tools shift and trends move fast, it’s easy to lose sight of why we create. So how do we stay grounded in the human story behind the work?

To help us explore that, we’re joined by Isaiah McClean, a designer and storyteller who reminds us that design goes far beyond what appears on screen. Isaiah brings a grounded, thoughtful perspective on creating with intention. He invites us to see design as something lived, something felt, and something that shapes how we connect with each other.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Isaiah’s path as a designer and storyteller
• How to create work that feels human rather than just polished
• What it looks like to slow down, notice more, and design with purpose

As you listen, let Isaiah’s reflections pull you back to the heart of design: there is always a person on the other side. Intention matters. Care matters. And the digital spaces we build say a lot about how we choose to show up for one another.

🌐 Connect with Isaiah

• Website: https://www.isaiahmcclean.com

Social media can feel like a maze. Trends shift, algorithms change, and visibility can feel overwhelming. How do you stay true to your message while building influence that matters?

To explore this, we’re joined by Zanade Mann, marketing strategist, personal branding expert, and founder of Zanade Enterprises. Zanade helps creators, entrepreneurs, and brands build influence that is authentic, intentional, and impactful, making her the perfect guide for navigating today’s online world with purpose.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Zanade’s personal journey as a marketing strategist and founder
• Why investing in yourself is the best type of investment you could make as a creative
• How to build authentic influence without letting algorithms dictate your creativity

Whether you’re growing a personal brand, leading a business, or creating content for your community, this episode will remind you that your story, voice, and energy are your greatest assets. 

🌐 Connect with Zanade

• Website: https://zanademann.com 

Mentorship and representation are essential in design. While online courses can teach skills, experienced designers offer the real-world guidance and context that makes growth possible.

We’re joined by Amir Hoagland, an Associate Director at Pivotal Labs in NYC. Amir’s story highlights how creativity, mentorship, and representation intersect to shape modern design education.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why design education today is more flexible and dynamic than ever
• How multiple learning pathways (universities, bootcamps, online platforms, and self-guided) can be combined for success
• How representation in leadership inspires underrepresented designers
  

Whether you’re just starting out or leading teams, this episode will remind you that self-doubt doesn’t define your creativity. 

🌐 Connect with Amir

• Website: https://dottedboxes.com/ 

Imposter syndrome can show up in many ways. In design especially, where critique is constant and visibility can feel intimidating, self-doubt often creeps in.

To explore this topic, I’m joined by Keisha Whaley, founder of Brass Tacks Collective. Keisha’s work centers on supporting underrepresented designers, making her insights the perfect lens for navigating imposter syndrome, building confidence, and stepping into your full value as a creative.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Keisha’s personal journey with imposter syndrome
• Why mentorship and community are essential for building confidence in design
• Practical ways to advocate for your skills and contributions at work
• How personal creativity and side projects can fuel professional growth
• Why representation matters for empowering underrepresented voices in the industry

Whether you’re just starting out or leading teams, this episode will remind you that self-doubt doesn’t define your creativity—and that advocating for yourself is an act of both courage and career growth.

🌐 Connect with Keisha & Brass Tacks Collective

• Website: https://brasstackscollective.com
• Instagram: @brasstackscollective

In this episode, Sunni shares her creative process, showing how sound shapes the way she designs.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How music sparks visual concepts that shapes her design direction
• The connection between sound, emotion, and visual storytelling
• Why genres feel like distinct visual “worlds”

Whether you’re a musician, designer, or just someone who can’t imagine life without a good playlist, this episode will inspire you to see—and hear—your creativity in a whole new way.

🌐 Connect with Sunni:

• Design Website: www.sunniaesthetics.com
• Instagram: @SunniAesthetics
• Podcast: www.sunniaesthetics.com/podcast 

In this episode of The 4% Amplified, Sunni sits down with Esosa, Creative Director and visionary founder of Iconiq Creative Group, to explore what it really means to build unapologetic, culture-driven brands that spark genuine connection—especially for leaders driving social and cultural impact.

Through her leadership at Iconiq, Esosa transforms followable brand concepts into magnetic experiences rooted in mission and identity. From her signature Voice-Driven Strategy to raw, authentic visual storytelling, she reframes branding as a tool for deep connection—not just decoration.

At the heart of her work is a belief that great branding begins with confident leadership: “Designing beyond logos, brand strategy now starts with leadership.” She helps organizations move from simply speaking at communities to engaging in real, transformative conversations.

Her client roster spans organizations like the Black Freedom Collective, Advancing Women in Investing, CAS, and others dedicated to cultural and social change—each benefiting from Iconiq’s heart-centered, mission-driven approach.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Esosa built a creative studio that blends brand strategy with social impact

• Why authentic leadership is the foundation of powerful branding

• The difference between decoration and connection in brand storytelling

• How mission-driven organizations can shift from broadcasting to genuine dialogue

  
  

Connect with Esosa:
Website: iconiqcreative.com

🎧 Tune in on your favorite podcast platform and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. Every listen helps us amplify more voices.

In this episode of The 4% Amplified, Sunni sits down with UX design manager and career coach Marvin Hassan to explore what it really means to build a sustainable, impactful design career—especially for those navigating mid-career plateaus.

With over two decades of experience in the design field, Marvin has led UX teams that not only deliver strong design outcomes but also serve as trusted partners to the business. Beyond his leadership roles, Marvin is deeply committed to supporting mid-career UX professionals who feel stuck or undervalued—helping them recognize their worth, leverage their strengths, and reclaim joy in their work.

Together, Marvin and Sunni also touch on a growing trend in the design world: the shift toward freelancing and redefining success on your own terms. If you’re considering making that leap, Sunni recommends this step-by-step guide on how to start freelancing.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Marvin built and scaled UX teams that drive business success
• Why mid-career stagnation is more common than we think—and how to move through it
• What it takes to turn frustration into clarity, action, and renewed purpose
• The power of coaching and community in helping designers step into their full potential

Connect with Marvin Hassan:
LinkedIn: Marvin Hassan
Website: marvin-hassan.com

🎧 Tune in on your favorite podcast platform—and if Marvin’s story resonates, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. Every listen helps us amplify more voices like his.

In this episode of The 4% Amplified, Sunni turns the spotlight on designing for accessibility—not as a checklist, but as a deep and compassionate practice rooted in inclusion, empathy, and justice.

At the heart of this conversation is our featured guest: Rachel Radway, a leadership and executive coach with years of experience leading content strategy and design operations in tech. Recently discovering she’s an AuDHDer—someone with ADHD and some autistic traits—Rachel brings a lived, nuanced perspective to what accessibility really looks like in leadership, design, and life. She helps women who are wired a little differently tap into their strengths and navigate the challenges that come with neurodivergence.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Why designing for accessibility starts with cultivating curiosity and compassion- How inclusion extends beyond physical access to cognitive and emotional spaces- Rachel’s story of discovering her neurodivergence and how it shapes her work- What it really takes to create a world—and an industry—where everyone belongs.

Connect with Rachel Radway:

LinkedIn: Rachel Radway

Website: rercoaching.com

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform. And if this episode moved you, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. Every listen helps amplify the stories that need to be told.

What happens when activism isn’t just part of your story—it is the brand?

In this episode of The 4% Amplified, Sunni explores the transformative power of branding at the intersection of design, legacy, and justice. Through sound, story, and history, we trace how creative expression has long been a force for social change—from Emory Douglas and the Black Panthers to the rainbow flag of the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement.

At the heart of this conversation is our featured guest: Leila Kharem, founder of ⁠KHI Design Group⁠. Leila’s journey is deeply rooted in a lineage of visual storytelling. Her late father, Omar Kharem, was a photographer during the Civil Rights Movement whose images have been featured at The Met, the Museum of Natural History, and the Brooklyn Museum. His legacy lives on through her work—where design is more than visual, it’s a vehicle for memory, resistance, and identity.

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

🎙 A brief but powerful history of design as a tool for activism 

🎙 How branding can honor legacy and amplify underrepresented voices 

🎙 The story behind Omar Kharem’s iconic photographs and their influence on Leila’s work 

🎙 What it means to design with purpose in a world still fighting for justice

This isn’t about trendy branding—it’s about truthful branding. Activism doesn’t just influence the aesthetic—it is the foundation.

Connect with Leila Kharem: 

LinkedIn: ⁠Leila Kharem⁠

Website: ⁠khidesigngroup.com⁠ 

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform. And if this episode moved you, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. Every listen helps amplify the stories that need to be told.

In this episode of The 4% Amplified, we’re tapping into one of the most transformative forces for underrepresented minority creatives and entrepreneurs: community—and why building our own intentional spaces is no longer optional, but essential.

Your host, Sunni, sits down with two incredible guests:
Natesha Mortimer, Founder of Data Swale.
Doneil Chapman, a freelance frontend software engineer.

Together, they explore what it means to create spaces where connection, mentorship, and shared resources aren’t just possible—they’re powerful tools for resilience, growth, and liberation.

This is a heart-centered, real-world conversation about shifting from isolation to collective strength. Whether you’re building a startup, launching a creative project, or simply navigating a system not designed for you, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insight.

You’ll learn:
Why “it takes a village” is more than just a saying—it’s a survival strategy
How mentorship within our own communities can bridge systemic gaps
The value of sharing knowledge, vendors, and funding opportunities openly
How shifting from a scarcity mindset to collaboration fuels long-term success

This isn’t just about having a seat at someone else’s table—it’s about building our own.

Connect with the guests:
Natesha Mortimer: dataswale.com | LinkedIn
Doneil Chapman: Website

🎧 Love what you heard? Listen, rate, and subscribe to The 4% Amplified on your favorite podcast platform. Every subscription and review helps amplify the voices and ideas that deserve to be heard.

In this episode of The 4% Amplified, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most urgent issues of our digital age: misinformation—and why ‘common sense’ isn’t cutting it anymore.

Your host, Sunni, dives deep into how misinformation shapes our beliefs, biases, and behaviors—and how AI is complicating an already messy landscape. But this isn’t just about calling out the problem. It’s about rethinking how we process information in a world where truth feels increasingly subjective.

This is a bold, eye-opening conversation about media literacy, tech accountability, and the power of critical thinking. Sunni is joined by two insightful guests:

Risha Brown, creator of Currently Processing Podcast and Founder of 40 Greens, a wellness and sustainability brand.
Itwela Ibowu, a freelance designer and developer working at the intersections of tech, culture, and identity.

Together, they unpack the invisible forces shaping our perception of reality—from clickbait headlines to algorithmic bias.

You'll learn:

• Why “common sense” no longer protects us in the misinformation age

• How deepfakes, echo chambers, and AI bias are warping our trust in truth

• The role of cognitive bias in why we fall for false information

• Real-world consequences of misinformation—political, financial, and personal

  
  

Love what you heard? Listen, rate, and subscribe to The 4% Amplified on your favorite podcast platform! Every subscription and review helps elevate underrepresented voices in design.

In this episode of 4% Amplified, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the design industry’s biggest problem: the lack of representation of Black and marginalized creatives.

Sunni, your host, gets real about what it means to navigate a career in an industry that often overlooks talent from underrepresented backgrounds. But this isn’t just about obstacles it’s about transformation.

This is a powerful and honest conversation about representation, resilience, and why we can’t rely on good intentions alone. Sunni shares her personal journey, the systemic issues she’s faced, and the deep need for community, mentorship, and real accountability in corporate DEI efforts.

By the end of this episode, you’ll be inspired to take action whether in your company, your classroom, your creative circles, or your own life.

You’ll learn:

Why diversity efforts often fail and how to fix them. How representation in media and design shapes our worldview. The power of mentorship and community for marginalized creatives. How to hold companies (and yourself) accountable for real change.

Resources & References from This Episode

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Labor Force data by race and ethnicity (00:00:25)
• AIGA Design Census 2021 – Snapshot of diversity in the design industry (00:01:00)
• U.S. Department of Labor – Affirmative action study showing white women as primary beneficiaries (00:03:07)
• McKinsey & Company – Diversity Wins Report – Only 20% of companies had actionable DEI strategies (00:04:00)
• Birth of a Nation (1915) – Discussed as one of the earliest films spreading harmful racial stereotypes (00:10:21)

• IATSE Union – Shared in the context of design union work in film and TV (00:15:00)

Connect with Sunni:
Website: sunniaesthetics.com
LinkedIn: Shari Fairclough

Love what you heard? Listen, rate, and subscribe to The 4% Amplified on your favorite podcast platform! Every subscription and review helps elevate underrepresented voices in design.

The 4% Amplified is a podcast dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices, challenging industry norms, and exploring how design can create positive change. Through real stories and impactful conversations, we celebrate diverse perspectives and spotlight designers and allies working to make a difference. Join us as we break barriers and inspire change.

Stay tuned: The first episode drops on April 28, 2025.