Wine has always been two things at once: what's in the bottle and everything around it. In this episode of Design Darlings, we uncork the full design story of wine. Our guest Matthew Stebenne is a product-developer-slash-sommelier who brings rare fluency in both design craft and what's actually in your glass. He helps us decant each topic, even touching on the graphic design of labels—a surprisingly contested space where tradition, typography, and pure panache collide in a 4 inch square. We dig into ways that regional identity shapes great grapes and discuss why a Burgundy bowl looks nothing like a Champagne flute. Robyn makes a case for postmodernism as a quiet but undeniable force reshaping winemaking. Pour your favorite vino, then press play.

About the Hosts

Robyn Richardson is an experience design strategist, AI product developer, TEDx speaker, and Graduate Professor at Georgetown University. She holds an MFA in Design Management from SCAD and has spent her career making design thinking accessible, opinionated, and a little bit fun.

Allie Miller is a designer, researcher, and strategist who believes in the transformative power of design to solve complex problems. She holds a Master's in Design from Georgia Tech and brings human-centered thinking, a sharp eye for systems, and a commitment to meaningful change to every conversation—and your podcast feed.

About the Guest

Matthew Stebenne is a product manager and design strategist with a Master's in Design Management & Communications from Georgetown University and WSET wine certifications—both earned with Distinction. He sits at a rare intersection of design craft and sensory expertise, which means he can critique your wine label and what's inside the bottle.