2025
Closing Talk: Design Matters 25 Reflections
Tey Bannerman & Rahul Lindberg Sen, Co-Hosts
After winning a long battle with cancer, designer Eason Yang was told by employers that his prime years were behind him. This perception directly contradicted what he knew about himself and other cancer survivors: their hard-won grit, resilience, and the soft skills cultivated through adversity make them invaluable employees.
After overcoming cancer and being labeled “unhireable” due to a career gap, Eason Yang founded Not Entirely Dead (NED) to support cancer survivors in navigating life and work transitions. A leading designer in social innovation, Eason has become the face of professional comebacks, with Fast Company naming NED a World Changing Idea and Most Innovative Design in 2023. In addition to his work with NED, Eason teaches design, mentors young creatives, and speaks globally, reshaping the narrative around creativity and societal issues.
