Welcome to the UnStruktured Podcast.
I'm Michelle Rose... musician, martial artist, and design leader shaping some of the largest brands in the outdoor industry from The North Face to Columbia Sportswear, former espresso slinger and barista trainer at Starbucks and stylishly badass girl.
In this episode I introduce you to my new co-host, the one and only Bob Smith... fellow musician, graphic designer, and creative leader defining iconic brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Pendleton, former band poster maker and slacker at Kinkos and still-ever-curious kid.
In this series, Bob and I connect with the creators behind the scenes of brands and bands across modern fashion and music. We'll bring you deep conversations and insights from the people behind the things you use, wear, and listen to every day.
00:00 Introduction to the Unstruktured Podcast
00:20 Meet the Co-Host: Bob Smith
01:00 Early Memories of Music
03:47 The Impact of MTV
04:45 The Evolution of Music Tastes
12:03 Discovering Jazz and Musical Journey
16:12 The Intersection of Music and Design
18:48 The Birth of Struktur
40:28 Challenges in the Design Industry
43:26 Creating the Event You Want to Attend
44:10 Sponsorship Challenges and Support
45:12 Networking and Outreach Efforts
47:06 Reflecting on the Golden Era
48:11 Interactive Events and Community Building
51:10 The Importance of Relevant Speakers
53:17 Personal Growth and Overcoming Challenges
01:01:35 Martial Arts Journey and Life Lessons
01:10:41 Portland in the 90s: A Magical Time
01:19:03 Intentions for the Podcast
01:25:44 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans
BOB SMITH
Bob is an LA-born, Portland-based entrepreneur, brand, and apparel creative with 25 years of experience building and enhancing brands at venerable companies like Nike, Pendleton Woolen Mills, and New Balance, to name a few.
After spending his early years as a drummer in the burgeoning Portland music scene, he got his first real grownup job as a walk-on at Nike, armed with a handful of design-school credit hours and a portfolio full of band posters. While at what he fondly refers to as “The University of Nike,” he birthed the Nike Sportswear “re-issue” collection, which tapped into the company’s soul and history.
In 2017, he took the plunge to found Ore-Cal Sportswear, a loving mash-note to the West Coast culture of his youth. He now serves as Chief Creative Officer at Open Source Election Technology Institute and its public outreach, Trust The Vote. Bob also consults for brands global and unheard of with his partner Adrienne Mercante at BAD Idea.
MICHELLE M ROSE
Michelle is an American fashion designer, martial artist, musician, podcaster, writer, mother, and connector of creative minds who has spent over 30 years leading, training, and mentoring artists to find their path.
Starting down a rough road, Michelle turned to the martial arts and eastern philosophy to focus her future, earning a fifth degree black belt and putting herself through college studying design and international business. She became one of the highest-selling designers for top outdoor companies such as Columbia Sportswear and The North Face, eventually founding the first design conference for the outdoor, active and urban industries called Struktur Event.
Michelle co-founded Struktur Event and the original Struktur Podcast with Sam Ward in 2013 and 2015 respectively as a creative resource of professional development, community, and connection for professional designers in the active, outdoor, and urban space. In 2021 Michelle relaunched Struktur Society from her belief that artists, designers, musicians, and writers are the visionaries who shape our future, and from her understanding for what it means and takes to live in this world as a creative.
STRUKTUR SOCIETY
This episode was brought to you by Struktur Society, the community for creators in art, design, and music. For almost a decade Struktur has brought together creatives from across the industrial, apparel, graphic, and sound design industries, building professional relationships, creating a platform for knowledge sharing, and raising the bar of product creation. From live events and workshops, to publication and podcasting, Struktur continues to evolve to build the strong creator community needed to craft our future.
Find us at struktursociety.com and subscribe to our Substack at struktursociety.substack.com.
© StrukturSphere llc 2025. Original music by Greg Brace Music.
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