Humanity Beyond The Screen
In Episode 12, Humanity Beyond the Screen, I’m closing out this season with a conversation that felt intentional, grounding, and deeply aligned with the heart of this podcast. I sat down with Human-centered designer, emotional visionary, and storyteller Isaiah McClean to explore what it truly means to design for people, not just platforms, screens, or trends.
Together, we discuss the emotional, cultural, and ethical layers behind creative work. This episode is a reminder that design is never just visual, it’s relational. It’s about acknowledging the identities, histories, and lived experiences behind every interaction.
Isaiah brings a reflective, thoughtful lens to the conversation. Our dialogue moves between personal stories, cultural commentary, and design philosophy, offering a meaningful close to the season as I prepare for the hiatus and the next chapter.
Listen to the Episode
Emotional Intelligence in Design
Isaiah and I explored how emotional intelligence shapes every part of the design process. We talked about understanding human behavior, noticing subtle emotional cues, and staying aware of the feelings people bring into digital spaces. This theme came up naturally as we reflected on what it means to design beyond aesthetics, creating work that resonates, comforts, and makes people feel seen.
We also discussed how emotional intelligence influences decision-making: how you choose colors, how you phrase copy, how you structure interactions, and even how you collaborate with clients or teammates. Isaiah emphasized that emotional intelligence isn’t just a soft skill; it's a core part of creating meaningful experiences.
We touched on the importance of listening deeply, paying attention to how people respond, and designing in a way that acknowledges stress, joy, confusion, curiosity, and everything in between. Emotional intelligence allows design to feel human, not mechanical. It creates space for empathy, nuance, and care in a digital world that often prioritizes efficiency over connection.
Special Guest: Isaiah mcclean, human-centered designer, storyteller & emotional visionary
Isaiah McClean is a human-centered designer and storyteller with roots in Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean, a background that deeply informs his cultural awareness and the way he sees people, space, and identity. He earned his Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Bauhaus University in Germany, one of the most respected institutions for experimental and research-driven design.
His work explores how people interact with both digital and physical environments, blending technology, research, psychology, storytelling, and playfulness into experiences that feel human and emotionally resonant. Whether designing for urban spaces or digital platforms, Isaiah approaches creativity as a collaborative, people-first process grounded in curiosity and lived experience. His journey reflects a designer who honors where he comes from while shaping thoughtful, globally informed design rooted in empathy and intention.
Key Highlights of isaiah’s Work:
Creative Lead & Cultural Designer: Since 2016, Isaiah has shaped the visual identity of Trinidad & Tobago’s National Poetry Slam, along with branding youth programs like Cool Creatives, blending storytelling, character design, and community-centered creativity.
Human-Computer Interaction Researcher: With a Master’s in HCI from Bauhaus University, he explores playfulness, emotional engagement, and human behavior through projects like Rhyme Time, integrating research-led prototyping with interactive design.
Multidisciplinary, Human-First Designer: His work spans branding, interaction design, sensory storytelling, and cultural identity projects—such as the Caribbean-inspired ierearoma fragrance concept—guided by empathy, curiosity, and lived experience.
You can connect with Isaiah on LinkedIn.
Takeaways from isaiah
In our conversation, Isaiah shared a series of grounded, thoughtful insights that beautifully reflect how he approaches design and the role of humanity within it. His perspective invites us to slow down, pay attention, and remember that behind every interface is a real person with feelings, history, and culture. Isaiah’s reflections weren’t just about the mechanics of design, they were about intention, responsibility, and the emotional weight creativity carries. These takeaways summarize the values he brings into every project and the lessons he hopes other designers will hold as they create:
Design begins with people. Isaiah believes meaningful design starts with understanding human behavior, emotion, and lived experience—not trends or surface-level aesthetics.
Slow, intentional creation leads to deeper work. He emphasized the importance of slowing down, observing, and allowing ideas the space to develop naturally.
Culture and identity shape experience. Isaiah shared how honoring cultural context and lived identity creates more authentic and resonant design.
Emotional intelligence is a design skill. He spoke about the role of empathy—listening deeply, noticing subtle cues, and staying aware of how people feel within digital spaces.
Design is communication. For Isaiah, design carries meaning. Every choice communicates values, intentions, and the care behind the work.
Cultural Context & Identity
We also discussed the important role of cultural context. Our identities and backgrounds shape how we interpret visuals, language, and experiences, and ignoring that reality can strip design of its depth. Isaiah and I talked about how design becomes shallow when culture is overlooked, and powerful when culture is honored. We explored how everything from color choices to storytelling to interaction patterns carries cultural meaning, whether designers acknowledge it or not.
Isaiah shared how his own Caribbean roots inform his sense of rhythm, expression, and visual storytelling, and how culture can act as both a foundation and a compass in the creative process. We discussed how representation isn't just about placing diverse imagery on a screen; it’s about embedding lived experience, authenticity, and nuance into the decisions behind the work.
Most importantly, we talked about the responsibility we have as designers to create work rooted in truth and awareness, especially when designing for communities outside our own. Culture adds layers, emotional resonance, and context that can’t be faked; it must be understood, honored, and woven into the design with care.
Ethics, Responsibility & Digital Humanity
One of the most impactful parts of this episode centered around the responsibility designers hold. Every interface affects how people behave, connect, and feel, even in ways we may not immediately recognize. Isaiah and I talked about how design choices ripple into daily life: how a layout can create clarity or confusion, how a notification system can promote balance or burnout, and how visual language can either empower or alienate the people engaging with it.
We explored the importance of ethical awareness, digital well-being, and the moral weight behind decisions that may seem small but carry emotional and psychological impact. Isaiah emphasized that designers aren’t just shaping screens, they’re shaping experiences, habits, and sometimes even identity.
A big part of our conversation was about designing with care rather than pressure, building digital spaces that support people instead of overwhelming them. That includes thinking about accessibility, friction, inclusivity, and the emotional tone of interactions.
The concept of digital humanity came up repeatedly throughout this episode, a reminder that the things we design travel with people into their daily lives. Our creative decisions influence real thoughts, real emotions, and real experiences. And with that influence comes a responsibility to create intentionally, with empathy and awareness at the center.
Final Thoughts
Humanity Beyond the Screen felt like the perfect way to close out this season—a grounded, reflective conversation that brings us back to the heart of why design matters. Speaking with Isaiah reminded me that creativity isn’t just about producing visuals; it’s about connecting with people, honoring culture, and designing with clarity, purpose, and care. This episode is a reminder that design lives in every interaction, every emotion we spark, and every choice we make on behalf of the people experiencing our work.
As my co-producer and I step into a hiatus, this episode marks the final release of 2025. But, not to worry, we’ll be back in Spring 2026, returning with even deeper conversations, more intentional storytelling, and an expanded vision for the next chapter of The Four Percent Amplified.
In the meantime, feel free to explore more resources on The Creative Kaleidoscope, where I’ll continue sharing design insights, behind-the-scenes process breakdowns, and creative secrets.
Thank you for listening, reflecting, and being part of this creative journey. Until we return, may your creativity stay rooted in truth, curiosity, and humanity. May every design you create honor the people behind the screen.
