Scratching the Surface

Katherine McCoy is a graphic designer and educator. From 1971 to 1995, she was the co-artist-in-residence with Michael McCoy of the pioneering design department at the Cranbook Academy of Art. With Mike, she is the co-author of Cranbrook Design: The New Discourse and continued to teach at a variety of schools around the world. In this conversation, Katherine and Jarrett talk about the state of graphic design in the seventies, learning how to teach design, and the influence of Dutch design on Cranbrook's curriculum. This episode originally aired on February 1, 2023.

Adrian Lahoud is an architect, urban designer, researcher, and the dean of the School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art. Previously he was director of the MA program at the Centre for Research Architecture at Goldsmiths and a research fellow at Forensic Architecture. In this conversation, Jarrett and Adrian talk about the intersection of decolonization and decarbonization, architecture as a site for posing problems, and fostering an interdisciplinary research culture. This episode originally aired on December 6, 2023.

Peter Mendelsund is a graphic designer, writer, and musician. Until recently he was the associate art director at Alfred A. Knopf where he designed book covers for everyone from James Joyce to Franz Kafka, Stieg Larsson and Simone De Beauvoir. In 2014, he published What We See When We Read and Cover and will publish his first novel, Same Same, next year. In this conversation, Peter and I talk about his relationship to graphic design, working across mediums and disciplines, and the differences between writing fiction and nonfiction. This episode originally aired on May 2, 2018. Since we spoke, Peter became the creative director of The Atlantic and published his second novel, The Delivery. This week, he has two new books out, Exhibitionist, a memoir, and Weepers, a novel.

Sarah Whiting is an architect, writer, editor, and the current dean of Harvard GSD. She is a design principal and co-founder of WW Architecture and from 2010 to 2019, she served as the dean of Rice University's School of Architecture. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on architecture's relationship with politics, economics, and society. Her writing has appeared in a range of publications from ANY to Wired and she's edited a variety of books, periodicals, and anthologies. In this conversation, Jarrett and Sarah talk about the value of interdisciplinarity, the intersection of theory and practice, and why editing is core to her practice. This episode originally aired on March 29, 2023.

Hans Ulrich Obrist is a a curator, critic, and art historian. He’s the artistic director of the Serpentine Galleries in London and the author of many books, including Ways of Curating, A Brief History of Curating, and Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Curating But Were Afraid to Ask. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jarrett and Hans talk about the role of conversation and interviews in his work, the evolution of the Serpentine Pavilion, and why it’s important that the art world is still his home base. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/271-hans-ulrich-obrist. 
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Sarah Ichioka is an urbanist, strategist, curator, and writer. She’s the author, with Michael Pawlyn, of Flourish: Design Paradigms for our Planetary Emergency and the founder of Desire Lines, a disciplinary studio that helps places, communities, and organizations chart paths toward thriving futures. In this conversation, Jarrett and Sarah talk about moving beyond sustainability towards regenerative practices, how thinking about the climate crisis as a cultural problem changes the role of designers, and why curiosity is a driving force in her work. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/270-sarah-ichioka. 
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Matt Owens, co-founder and Chief Design and Innovation Officer at Athletics, discusses the evolution of graphic design from the 1990s to today. He highlights the significant gap between design education and real-world application, stressing the need for critical thinking. The conversation dives into the influence of Flash on early digital creativity, contrasting it with today's tools. Matt also emphasizes the importance of curiosity and a rebellious spirit as designers navigate their careers, seeking personal expression amidst the industry's challenges.

Lara Lesmes and Fredrik Hellberg are the founders of Space Popular, an architecture studio that explores relationships between media and the built environment through research, design, and artworks. They are also professors at the Institute of Architecture at the University of Applied Arts Vienna where they run the Architectural Design Studio 2. In this conversation, Jarrett talks with Lara and Fredrik talk about the relationship between virtual and physical spaces, how media shapes architecture, and the role of the architect in shaping digital environments. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/268-lara-lesmes-fredrik-hellberg. 
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In this discussion, Julian Bleecker, a visionary researcher and founder of Near Future Laboratory, dives into the fascinating world of design fiction, blending art, technology, and imagination. He shares insights on its origins and how it can reshape corporate innovation and design education. Bleecker emphasizes the importance of storytelling and collaboration in envisioning future possibilities, drawing from pop culture influences. This conversation also explores how design students can rediscover creativity and reshape their approaches to architectural learning.

Mike Pepi, a critic and technologist known for his insights on art and technology, discusses his book, "Against Platforms: Surviving Digital Utopia." He emphasizes the essential role of criticism in shaping societal ideologies and argues that Silicon Valley needs the art world to help navigate its complexities. The conversation delves into the ideological implications of AI marketing, the conflict between user-centered design and corporate interests, and the need for stronger institutional frameworks to balance the influence of tech platforms.