Monsters of Design

A podcast about design and the monsters that keep us from doing our best work.

Author: Jon Sontag, Adrian Crabtree, and Jon Delman

Monsters of Design is a podcast, hosted by Jon Sontag, Adrian Crabtree, and Jon Delman. Each episode features a guest from the the design industry. Together we call out a specific monster that keeps us from doing our best work. We also talk about comic book stuff, movies, and other random current events.
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Language: en

Genres: Arts, Design, Visual Arts

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

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Gatekeeper
Episode 18
Wednesday, 6 August, 2025

In this episode of Monsters of Design, the core trio—Jon Sontag, Adrian Crabtree, and Jon Delman—march into the labyrinth to face the dreaded GATEKEEPER. This isn’t your friendly neighborhood doorman; this is the hip, pencil-wielding minotaur guarding the gates of design, deciding who gets in and who gets left wandering outside. The three dig deep into the monsters that keep brilliant talent out: sky-high barriers to entry, overcomplicated tech requirements, and the cult of “culture fit” that ignores the magic of true culture adds. Most importantly, they shine a spotlight on the interview process as the arena where this monster can be slayed—where a surprising candidate could reveal themselves as the missing spark your team never knew it needed. As always, the episode ends with a romp through their latest monster sightings, including the one haunting Jon Sontag this week: Ben Affleck’s brooding performance in The Accountant 2.