Shows
Faith in ProcessWhitehead, Process Theology, and a Christ Soaked World — A Conversation on Faith, Reality, and Choosing LoveIn this episode of Faith in Process, Harry and Millard sit down for a thoughtful and lively conversation on the process theology of Alfred North Whitehead. They explore three core ideas shaped by Whitehead’s work: that value is woven into the fabric of reality, that religion serves as the bridge between vision and action, and that God’s way in the world is persuasive love rather than coercive force. Concepts they both learned by listening to Tripp Fuller in his podcast episode “Finding Our Way Forward: How Whitehead Shows Us Religion as Life’ Creative Force”Together, Harry and...
2025-12-1434 min
Type Speaks02.08 // Design as Ideology // Jarrett FullerIn this episode of Type Speaks, host Rae sits down with Jarrett Fuller to talk for a wide-ranging conversation about process, teaching, and the philosophies behind design. We trace Jarrett’s earliest memories of being fascinated with letterforms, his winding path from “wannabe architect” to discovering graphic design, and how he sees creative work as slow, organic, and resistant to rigid formulas. Exploring his idea of design as “ideology made artifact,” the way branding and politics reveal belief systems, and why sameness in design might be more threatening than AI. Plus, we dive into teaching as practice, the dangers of Pintere...
2025-09-101h 01
Near Future Laboratory PodcastN°097 - Jarrett Fuller Going HomeThe Intersection of Imagination, Science Fiction, Strategy and Creativity.we wandered into something I keep circling back to: the idea that strategy is a kind of science fiction. Not in the “space battles and robots” sense, but in the deeper way that science fiction gives us permission to imagine futures—plausible or not—and then build toward them. Jarrett and I talked about design not just as a tool for solving problems, but as a mode of inquiry, a way of asking better questions and shaping new cultural narratives.We both share this instinct that branding...
2025-05-041h 19
Design Is Not Neutral02. Jarrett FullerJarrett Fuller is a designer, writer, educator, editor and podcaster. He is an assistant professor of graphic design at North Carolina State University; contributing editor at AIGA Eye On Design; director of the design and editorial studio twenty-six; and host of the design podcast Scratching the Surface. His research focuses on design discourse, media, and publishing, with a special interest in institutional histories, alternative practices, and critical design.In this episode, we discuss 'design thinking', how to teach a better design history and how to create design classrooms that encourage students to be successful.
2022-04-1633 min
Scratching the Surface200. Jarrett FullerJarrett Fuller is a designer, writer, educator, and host of Scratching the Surface. In this special episode celebrating both Scratching the Surface’s fifth anniversary and our 200th episode, Jarrett turns the tables on himself and and answers questions submitted by listeners like who would he like to bring back from the dead to interview? How’s the show changed in five years? What’s the role of design school? What did he want to be in middle school? What non-design books influenced his thinking? Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/200-jarrett-fuller.
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If you enjoy the show, pl...
2021-10-2748 min
Scratching the Surface170. Jarrett EarnestJarrett Earnest is an artist and writer. His book, What It Means To Write About Art: Interviews with Art Critics, was released in 2018 and features longform interviews with art writers, historians, theorists, and critics. Jarrett’s writing has appeared in The Brooklyn Rail, The Village Voice, Vulture, and The Los Angeles Review of Books. In this episode, the Jarretts talk about the strange similarities in their work, the differences between writing about art and design, and the value in having deep conversations about art. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/170-jarrett-earnest.
2021-01-0659 minScratching the Surface163. Annelys de VetAnnelys de Vet is a Belgium-based designer, educator and researcher. From 2009 to 2019, she was the the director of the design program at the Sandberg Instituut and is the editor of Design Dedication a new book collecting the work and thinking during her tenure. Now she’s leading a new masters program on Disarming Design that is committed to design practices in situations of oppression. In this episode, Jarrett and Annelys talk about thinking about design education as a system of community and care and structuring a curriculum that leaves room for experimentation. Links from this episode can be found at sc...
2020-09-3055 minScratching the Surface162. Ippolito Pestellini LaparelliIppolito Pestellini Laparelli is an architect, urbanist, teacher and is the curator of the Russian Pavilion for the 2020 Venice Architecture Biennale. He worked at OMA from 2007 to 2020, and became partner in 2014. Earlier this year, he established 2050+ his own multidisciplinary studio operating at the intersections of design, technology, politics, and the environment. In this conversation, Jarrett and Ippolito talk about the ideas behind the Russian Pavilion and the transition to an online exhibition, the value of a multidisciplinary practice, and the intersection of research and practice. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/162-ippolito-pestellini-laparelli.
2020-09-1650 minScratching the Surface160. Danielle AubertDanielle Aubert is a graphic designer, educator, writer, and political organizer. She’s the author of, most recently, The Detroit Printing Co-Op: The Politics of the Joys of Printing and an Associate Professor in Graphic Design at Wayne State University. In this episode, Jarrett and Danielle talk about the Detroit Printing Co-op and expanding design history, the politics of graphic design, and when to teach the basics in a design class. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/160-danielle-aubert.
2020-08-191h 03Scratching the Surface159. Maryam Fanni and Sara KaamanMaryam Fanni and Sara Kaaman, are two thirds of the design collective MMS, along with Matilda Flodmark, collaborating since 2012 on investigations and writings on visual culture, graphic design, and historiography from feminist perspectives. MMS recently published Natural Enemies of Books: A Messy History of Women in Printing and Typography. In this episode, Jarrett is joined by Maryam and Sara to talk about the book, the ideas behind MMS, and seeking a more expansive view of design history and practice. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/159-maryam-fanni-sara-kaaman.
2020-08-0549 minScratching the Surface158. Bon KuDr. Bon Ku is an emergency room physician, assistant dean for Health and Design and director of the Health Design Lab at Jefferson University. He’s also the co-author, with Ellen Lupton, of the new book Health Design Thinking. In this conversation, Jarrett and Bon talk about the intersection of design and healthcare, how COVID-19 exposes the faults in our healthcare system, and how medical school could be redesigned. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/158-bon-ku.
2020-07-2257 minScratching the Surface157. Eric HeimanEric Heiman is a designer, writer, and educator. He’s principal and co-founder of Volume, a San Francisco-based design studio, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at CCA, and has written for Emigre, Design Observer, Eye and other publications. In this conversation, Jarrett and Eric talk about how graphic design in San Francisco has changed, the gaps between education and practice, and the role of writing in his work. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/157-eric-heiman.
2020-07-081h 06Scratching the Surface156. Deanna Van BurenDeanna Van Buren is an architect, activist, and the design director and co-founder of Designing Justice + Designing Spaces, an architecture and real estate development non-profit working to end mass incarceration by building infrastructure that attacks its root causes: poverty, racism, unequal access to resources, and the criminal justice system itself. In this conversation, Deanna and Jarrett talk about design as ideology, the relationships between architecture and criminal justice, and how a building can cause real change. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/156-deanna-van-buren.
2020-06-2451 minScratching the Surface155. Paul ThompsonPaul Thompson is the Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art. Before this, he was the director of the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum and the director of the Design Museum in London. In this conversation, Jarrett and Paul talk about his background in comparative literature and how that’s influenced his career in design and administration, learning on the job, and how expanding definitions of design are changing education and curation. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/155-paul-thompson.
2020-06-1055 minScratching the Surface154. Winka DubbeldamWinka Dubbeldam is an architect and educator. She’s the principal of Archi-Tectonics, the research-based architecture firm she founded in 1994 and is the chair of the architecture program and a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania. In this conversation, Winka and Jarrett talk about her interest in philosophy, how research shapes her work as both a designer and teacher, and the importance of sharing knowledge. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/154-winka-dubbeldam.
2020-05-2749 minScratching the Surface153. Denise Gonzales CrispDenise Gonzales Crisp is a graphic designer, educator, and writer. She’s a professor of Graphic Design and director of graduate programs for Graphic Design at North Carolina State University. Her writing has appeared in Eye, Emigre, Design Observer, Design and Culture, and Items Magazine. In this episode, Denise and Jarrett talk about the differences between her writing and design processes, designing with spreadsheets, and using improvisational methods in the classroom. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/153-denise-gonzales-crisp.
2020-05-131h 00Scratching the Surface152. Perrin DrummPerrin Drumm is a writer, editor, and publisher. She’s currently the head of publishing at A24 and is the co-founder and previous director of Eye on Design. In this episode, Perrin and Jarrett talk about studying creative writing and fine art, the origins and editorial direction of Eye on Design, and the role of criticism. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/152-perrin-drumm.
2020-04-2948 minScratching the Surface151. Rachel BergerRachel Berger is a designer, writer, and educator based in California. She’s currently the chair of Graphic Design at CCA and her writing as appeared in Design Observer, Significant Objects, and CLOG. Previously, she was a designer at SYPartners and Pentagram. In this episode, Rachel and Jarrett talk about her early interest in writing, how teaching has changed her practice, and why she takes graphic design so seriously. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/151-rachel-berger.
2020-04-151h 04Scratching the Surface150. Susan SellersSusan Sellers is a founding partner and executive creative director at 2x4, a senior design critic at Yale School of Art, and from 2013 to 2016, was Head of Design for The Metropolitan Museum of Art. In this episode. Jarrett and Susan talk about the changing definitions of design, putting ideas into the world, and the importance of craft and story. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/150-susan-sellers.
2020-04-0145 minScratching the Surface149. Margo HalversonMargo Halverson is a designer, educator, photographer, and artist. She’s a professor of graphic design and Chair of the Graphic Design department at Maine College of Art and the co-founder of DesignInquiry, an amorphous collective centered around ideas of disciplinary discourse, expanded practice, and design research. In this episode, Jarrett and Margo talk about her journey from photography to design, the origins on DesignInquiry, and blending personal and professional work. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/149-margo-halverson.
2020-03-181h 00Scratching the Surface148. Henry N. CobbHenry N. Cobb, who passed away yesterday at 93, was a founding partner of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, the architecture firm he co-founded with I.M. Pei and Eason Leonard in 1955. From 1980-1985 he was the chair of the department of architecture at Harvard University and in 2018, published Henry N. Cobb: Words and Words 1948-2018 where he uses his career to trace what he calls ‘the predicament of architecture’. In this episode, Jarrett and Henry talk about the origins of the book, how writing and teaching influence his practice, and why architecture has sustained his interest for nearly seventy years. Links from...
2020-03-041h 11Scratching the Surface147. Leslie RobertsLeslie Roberts is an author, journalist, essayist, and educator. She’s the chair of the graduate writing program at California College of Arts in San Francisco and the author, most recently, of Here Is Where I Walk. At CCA, Leslie teaches courses on writing for designers and is the cofounder of Ecopoesis, a multidisciplinary group focusing on making and messaging around ecologies. In this episode, Jarrett and Leslie talk about her background as a journalist, teaching writing to designers, and finding new stories around how we talk about the environment.
2020-02-191h 06
Scratching the Surface146. Justin DavidsonJustin Davidson is the architecture and classical music critic at New York Magazine. He previously studied music at Harvard and Columbia and began his journalism career as a staff writer at Newsday. In this episode, Jarrett and Justin talk about the role of the critic, the similarities between writing about music and architecture, and what happened after he broke the story about The Met’s new logo. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/146-justin-davidson.
2020-02-051h 00
Scratching the Surface145. Martin VenezkyMartin Venezky is a graphic designer, photographer, artist, and educator. Since 1997, he's operated Appetite Engineers to produce books, installations, and illustrations and since 1993, he's been on the faculy of the California College of Art in San Francisco. A new book of his photography, What I Know About Photography was released last year by Jon Sueda on Kickstarter. In this conversation, Jarrett and Martin talk about his career and work, the value in image and form making, and why he's focusing so much of his work on photography these days. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/145-martin-venezky.
2020-01-221h 11
Scratching the Surface144. Rosanne SomersonRosanne Somerson is a furniture designer, educator, and President of Rhode Island School of Design. After studying industrial design at RISD and running her own practice, she returned to the school in 1985 to teach furniture design, and became the first leader of the new furniture design department. In 2015, she was appointed the 17th president of RISD. In this episode, Jarrett and Rosanne talk about her early career and how she started teaching, how she approaches her presidency like a designer, and what she sees for the future of design education. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/144...
2020-01-0849 min
Scratching the Surface143. Reed KroloffReed Kroloff is a renowned educator, writer, critic, and consultant. He’s the newly appointed dean of the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture and previously served as the director of the Cranbrook Academy of Art and dean of the school of architecture at Tulane University. He was also the editor-in-chief of Architecture magazine and runs the consultancy Jones Kroloff. In this episode, Jarrett and Reed talk about his unease in becoming an architect, how he started writing, and how he thinks about running an architecture program. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/143-reed-kroloff
2019-12-1853 min
Scratching the Surface142. Mary BanasMary Banas is a graphic designer and educator. Her independent creative practice, Yes, is More, spans research, teaching, and design. She also collaborates with Breanne Trammell and is on the faculty at California College of the Arts. In this episode, Jarrett and Mary talk about her roundabout journey into teaching, the value of an expanded practice, and how to set up better critiques in the classroom. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/142-mary-banas.
2019-12-0452 min
Scratching the Surface141. Josh OwenJosh Owen is an industrial designer and educator. He runs his own design studio, Josh Owen LLC, and is a Full Professor and the Chair of the Industrial Design Department at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he also works with the Vignelli Center for Design Studies. In this episode, Jarrett and Josh talk about spending his summers on archeological digs with his father and how that influenced his interests in history and culture, how he started teaching, and how his work as a designer and teacher influence each other. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/141...
2019-11-2049 min
Scratching the Surface140. Johanna DruckerJohanna Drucker is an author, book artist, visual theorist, and cultural critic. She's currently a professor in the Department of Information Studies at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. Her research and writing has focused on visual language and letterforms, typography, visual poetry, the history of books and digital aesthetics. In this episode, Jarrett and Johanna talk about her interest in making books as objects, her work on design history, and the being both an artist and academic. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/140-johanna-drucker.
2019-11-061h 09
Scratching the Surface139. Lucinda HitchcockLucinda Hitchcock is a book designer, typographer, and educator. She's on the faculty at RISD, where she's currently the head of the graphic design department and has designed books for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MFA Boston, and Tufts University Art Galleries. Her research involves narrative, place, and the shape of language. In this episode, Jarrett and Lucy talk about graphic designers as cultural curators, compassionate teaching, and what she learned during her recent sabbatical. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/129-lucinda-hitchcock.
2019-10-3059 min
Scratching the Surface138. James VoorhiesJames Voorhies is a curator, art historian, writer, and educator. James is currently the chair of the Graduate Program in Curatorial Practice and a professor of fine arts at California College of Arts. He’s the director of the Curatorial Research Bureau, a bookshop, learning site, and exhibition space in San Francisco and is the author of Beyond Objecthood: The Exhibition as a Critical Form since 1968. In this episode, Jarrett and James talk about curation as a mix of mediation, caretaking, and administration, institutional critique, and how to balance teaching theory and practice in creative disciplines. Links from this episode ca...
2019-10-2357 min
Scratching the Surface137. Darran AndersonDarran Anderson is a writer and author of *Imaginary Cities* and the forthcoming *Inventory*. His writing on architecture, design, and space has appeared in The Atlantic, Vice, and CityLab. In this episode, Jarrett and Darran talk about his early interest in architecture and literature, experimenting with new forms of writing, and expanding how we talk about architecture and cities. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-10-1655 min
Scratching the Surface136. Nicholas KorodyNicholas Korody is a writer and artist. He writes for Archinect, where is also the editor of their print publication, Ed; and is one-half of Adjustments Agency, a studio and artistic practice he formed with Joanna Kloppenburg to investigate the architecture of architecture. Earlier this year, Nicholas launched Interiors Agency, his new independent practice interested in the role of interior design and decoration in culture. In this episode, Jarrett and Nicholas talk about his liberal arts background and sideways entry into architecture, the labor of design discourse, working across various mediums. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface...
2019-10-091h 01
Scratching the Surface135. Marco SteinbergMarco Steinberg is a strategic designer who works on the complex challenges that face governments, society, and the environment. Currently working independently, he previously founded and led the Helsinki Design Lab and was an Associate Professor at the Harvard Design School from 1999-2009. In this episode, Jarrett and Marco talk about the evolution of his career and move from architecture to strategic design, what strategic design means and how he thinks about his work, and why governments are in need of a redesign. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-10-0258 min
Scratching the Surface134. Eddie OparaEddie Opara is a Pentagram partner whose work spans design, technology, and strategy. He previously ran his own studio, The Map office, and worked as a designer at 2x4 and Imaginary Forces. In this episode, Jarrett and Eddie talk about questioning the brief, why his work is considered enigmatic, and thinking about your legacy. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-09-2543 min
Scratching the Surface133. Vishaan ChakrabartiVishaan Chakrabarti is an architect, urban planner, author, and academic. He's the founder of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, the author of A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for Urban America, and was just announced as the next dean of UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design. In this episode, Jarrett and Vishaan talk about his circuitous path to architecture, the intersection of practice and teaching, and how he plans to approach his new deanship. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-09-1854 min
Scratching the Surface132. Jenny OdellJenny Odell is a multidisciplinary artist and writer based in Oakland, California. She's the author of How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, teaches digital/physical design at Stanford and has been the artist in residence at the Recology SF (aka 'the dump'), San Francisco Planning Department, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. In this episode, Jarrett and Jenny talk about her background in literature and design, the intersection of text and image, and the value of seeing what is front of you. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-09-1154 min
Scratching the Surface131. Danah AbdullaDanah Abdulla is a designer, educator, and researcher. She's a Senior Lecturer in Communication Design at Brunel University London; founder of *Kalimat*, non-profit magazine about Arab thought and culture; and a founding member of the Decolonising Design platform. In this episode, Danah and Jarrett talk about localizing design education, studying social design, and what it means to decolonize design. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-09-041h 00
Scratching the Surface130. Rick PoynorRick Poynor is perhaps the foremost writer, critic, and editor on graphic design and visual culture. He is Professor of Design and Visual Culture at the University of Reading. In addition to founding and serving as the first editor in chief of Eye, Rick also cofounded Design Observer, continues as a columnist for Eye, and has written for Print and Blueprint. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jarrett and Rick talk about the early days of Eye and his early interest in visual culture, the evolution of design discourse over his career, and the new publications that excite him today. Links from...
2019-08-211h 02
Scratching the Surface129. Mark Foster GageMark Foster Gage is an architect, author, and educator. He's an Assistant Dean at the Yale School of Architecture, principal of Mark Foster Gage Architects, and the editor of the new book, Aesthetics Equals Politics. In this conversation, Jarrett and Mark talk about the history of aesthetics and how it shapes our experience in the world, the problems with critiques, and how narrative can obscure how a building functions. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-08-071h 01
Scratching the Surface128. Ali Qadeer & Chris LeeAli Qadeer and Chris Lee are designers and educators. Together, they edited a recent issue of C Magazine with the theme graphic design. In this episode, Jarrett talks with Ali and Chris about the issue and their ideas around the editorial point-of-view, their teaching practice, and why they like finding new definitions for graphic design. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-07-2459 min
Scratching the Surface127. Jerome HarrisJerome Harris is a designer, educator, and curator. He’s currently the design director of Housing Works and recently taught at MICA and curated the show As, Not For, a survey of African American graphic design. In this episode, Jerome and Jarrett talk about his background as a flyer designer and dancer, , how thinking about design history changed his own approach, and why we need to include as wide a range of work as possible when teaching design. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-07-1057 min
Scratching the Surface126. Edwin HeathcoteEdwin Heathcote is the architecture critic for the Financial Times and the founder and editor-in-chief of Reading Design. Originally trained as an architect, Edwin has also written for GQ and is the author of multiple books on architecture and design. In this episode, Jarrett and Edwin talk about his writing process, looking at architecture through a wider cultural lens, and the value of reading criticism from history. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-06-2649 min
Scratching the Surface125. Erik BrandtErik Brandt is a graphic designer and educator. From 2013 to 2018, he curates the internationally recognized experimental typography project, Ficciones Typografika, which has just been commemorated with a book by Formist; and is the chair of the graphic design department at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. In this episode, Jarrett and Erik talk about expanded practices, teaching alternative forms of design, and staying creative as you get older. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-06-1252 min
Scratching the Surface124. Bruce TharpBruce Tharp is an Associate Professor in Art & Design at the Stamps School of Art and Design and is the co-author, with his wife Stephanie, of the new book, Discursive Design. Bruce originally studied mechanical engineering before getting an MID in Industrial Design and a PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology. In this episode, Jarrett and Bruce talk about discursive design and what that means, the strange trajectory of his career, and bridging the gaps between research and materiality. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-05-291h 08
Scratching the Surface123. Na KimNa Kim is a graphic designer based in Seoul and Berlin. She's a member of Table Union, was responsible for the design of Graphic magazine from 2009 to 2011 and was artistic director of the Fikra Graphic Design Biennial with Prem Krishnamurthy and Emily Smith. In this episode, Jarrett and Na talk about her journey to graphic design, the self-reflexivity in her work, and the relationships between curating and graphic design. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-05-2255 min
Scratching the Surface122. Paul GoldbergerPaul Goldberger is perhaps the leading architecture critic working today. He's served as architecture critic for both The New York Times and The New Yorker and is now a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. He's the author of several books including a biography of Frank Gehry and his new book is Ballpark: Baseball in the American City. In this conversation, Jarrett and Paul talk about how architecture criticism has evolved, working with Ada Louise Huxtable, and what baseball parks can teach us about cities. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-05-1556 min
Scratching the Surface121. Kerry William PurcellKerry William Purcell has written books and essays about photography, film, design, philosophy, and critical theory. He's the author of biographies on Alexey Brodovitch and Josef Muller-Brockmann and is a senior lecturer in design history at University of Hertfordshire. In this episode, Jarrett and Kerry talk about how he found himself writing designer biographies, why he doesn't like to call himself a design historian, and how design can be a lens to ask questions around culture, politics, and history. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-05-0843 min
Scratching the Surface120. Natalia IlyinNatalia Ilyin is a designer, writer, and teacher based in Seattle. She's currently a professor at Cornish College of Arts in Seattle where she teaches design history and criticism, design for social activism, and transition design and is a founding faculty of the MFA in Graphic Design at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her new book, Writing for the Design Mind, was published by Bloomsbury in February. In this episode, Natalia and Jarrett talk about the book and the relationships between design and writing, teaching design history, and finding your place in the design community. Links from this episode can...
2019-05-0159 min
Scratching the Surface119. Michèle ChampagneMichèle Champagne is a designer who moves between research, creative direction, and publication design across media. Michèle works with publication as a public conversation, and meanders open source dynamics, collaborative authorship, and reader participation and her research interrogates anti-criticism culture, positive psychology, happiness measurement, and their communication phenomena. In this episode, Michèle and Jarrett talk about her design criticism publication, That New Design Smell, creating an infrastructure for critical discourse, and the challenges with building a multidisciplinary career. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-04-2444 min
Scratching the Surface118. Oliver WainwrightOliver Wainwright a writer and photographer based in London. He has been the architecture and design critic of the Guardian since 2012. He trained as an architect at the University of Cambridge and the Royal College of Art, and worked in strategic planning at the Architecture and Urbanism Unit of the Greater London Authority and at a number of architecture practices, including OMA in Rotterdam and Muf in London. In this conversation, Oliver and Jarrett talk about the relationship between writing and architecture, the tensions between practice and criticism, and what it means to write for a major newspaper. Links from...
2019-04-1057 min
Scratching the Surface117. Vera SacchettiVera Sacchetti is a design critic and curator. She's currently the co-curator of TEOK Basel, one-half of the curatorial initiative Foreign Legion, and was the associate curator of the 4th Istanbul Biennial. Her writing has appeared in Domus, Disegno, Metropolis, and the Avery Review. She is a graduate of SVA's Design Criticism program. In this episode, Jarrett and Vera talk about her move from designer to critic, her curatorial approach, and the process for assembling the Istanbul Biennial under the theme "A School of Schools". Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-04-031h 00
Scratching the Surface116. Paul BaileyPaul Bailey is a designer, educator and researcher. He's currently the Course Leader for the MA Graphic Media Design program at the London College of Communication, an advisor at the Jan van Eyck Academie, and is a founding member of the Design Displacement Group. Paul's expanded practice mixes client work with self-initiated projects and take various forms such as exhibitions, publications, performances, workshops and writings. In this episode, Jarrett and Paul talk about this expanded practice and his early education, how he started teaching and how being in the classroom influences his own work, and the value of research and...
2019-03-2751 min
Scratching the Surface115. Kurt AndersenKurt Andersen is a writer, radio host, and journalist. He's the author of novels True Believers, Heyday, and Turn of the Century, and has written for film, television, and stage. He is the host and co-creator of arts and culture radio show Studio 360, co-founder of Spy Magazine, and author of Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire. Oh, he was also the design critic at Time for eight years. In this episode, Jarrett and Kurt talk about how he started writing about design, how design is a constant theme that runs through all of his, and why Fantasyland might be a book...
2019-03-2049 min
Scratching the Surface114. Reinier de GraafReinier de Graaf has been a partner at OMA since 1996. He co-founded the studio's think tank AMO and has overseen projects ranging from an exhibition of the history of the European Union to masterplans for projects around the world. He has also taught in Harvard's architecture department and is the author of Four Walls and a Roof: The Complex Nature of a Simple Profession. In this episode, Jarrett and Reinier talk about the origins of AMO and when clients don't need buildings, the intersections of theory and practice, and why he doesn't always preach what he practices. Links from this...
2019-03-1341 min
Scratching the Surface113. Craig ModCraig Mod is a writer, photographer, and designer based in Japan. He’s written extensively about books, publishing, walking, and technology for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Medium. He also publishes two newsletters, Roden and Ridgeline, and hosts On Margins, a podcast about making books. In this episode, Jarrett and Craig talk about his background as a designer and programmer, the evolution of his own writing and where he’d like to take it, and taking the longview in all of his work. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-03-061h 04
Scratching the Surface112. Kimbro FrutigerKimbro Frutiger is an architect and writer. He studied classical languages and archeology at Amherst College, with a focus on reconstruction of Greek-era sites in Sicily, before receiving an MArch from Yale University’s School of Architecture. Since 2000, he's written about architecture history and culture for a variety of publications and is currently working on a book. In this episode, Kimbro talks to Jarrett about how his varied educational background influences his work as both an architect and writer, the different types of criticism, and the relationship between his writing and architectural practices. Links from this episode can be found at...
2019-02-2744 min
Scratching the Surface111. Nate PyperNate Pyper is an alphabet artist working in publishing, performance, and video. He maintains an ongoing research practice on queer anarcho-punk zines and is a 2018 Graduate of the Yale School of Art. He previously worked as a designer at the Milwaukee Art Museum and organized the Designers Talking series. In this episode, Nate and Jarrett talk about his expanded practice, the role of writing and research in his work, and the importance of dialogue and conversation in his work. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-02-2051 min
Scratching the Surface110. Sam JacobSam Jacob is an architect, writer, and teacher. He is the founder and director of Sam Jacob Studio, an architecture and design practice based in London, has written for all sorts of architecture publications, and is currently Professor of Architecture at University of Illinois at Chicago and Visiting Professor at Yale School of Architecture. In this episode, Sam and Jarrett talk about how he started writing, the writing classes he's taught in Chicago, and how reading and writing influence his architecture practice. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-02-1357 min
Scratching the Surface109. Jeffrey SchnappJeffrey Schnapp is the founder/faculty director of metaLAB (at) Harvard and faculty co-director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. He holds the Carl A. Pescosolido Chair in Romance Languages and Literatures and Comparative Literature in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and is on the teaching faculty in the Department of Architecture at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. In this episode, Jeffrey and Jarrett talk about his background as a medievalist and how that influences his research around media and technology, why he likes to call himself a 'knowledge designer', and how fo...
2019-02-061h 05
Scratching the Surface108. Mark MinkjanMark Minkjan is an urban and architectural geographer. He is Editor-in-Chief at Failed Architecture and produces the Failed Architecture Podcast. He is also part of Non-fiction, office for cultural innovation, and has written for numerous publications including VICE, The Guardian and The Architectural Review. In this episode, Mark talks to Jarrett about the origins of Failed Architecture and his goals for the publication, the state of architectural and design criticism, and finding new ways to talk about buildings. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-01-3055 min
Scratching the Surface107. Nancy Skolos and Tom WedellNancy Skolos and Tom Wedell are designers, authors, and educators. They operate Skolos+Wedell where they are interested in demising the boundaries between graphic design and photography through collaged three-dimensional images influenced by painting, technology, and architecture and are long-time faculty members at RISD. In this episode, Nancy and Tom talk to Jarrett about how they met at Cranbrook and the influence of that education on their career, how design education has changed over the last 30 years, and how they balance history and innovation in their own work and with students. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface...
2019-01-231h 03
Scratching the Surface106. Adam Michaels and Shannon HarveyAdam Michaels and Shannon Harvey are the principals of Inventory Form and Content, a Los Angeles-based design and editorial studio focusing on graphic design, spatial design, strategy, and content development. They also operate Inventory Press, a publishing imprint that specializes in books on art, architecture, design, and music. Previously, Adam and Shannon were a part of the New York design studio Project Projects, where Adam was Founding Principal. In this episode, Adam and Shannon talk with Jarrett about the ethos behind IN-FO.CO, expanded practices, and publishing. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-01-161h 00
Scratching the Surface105. Kate WagnerKate Wagner is the creator of the viral blog McMansion Hell and has written about architecture, design, and culture for a variety of publications including Curbed, The Atlantic, Architectural Digest, and more. She recently graduated from Johns Hopkins with a Masters of Arts in Audio Science, specializing in architectural acoustics. In this episode, Jarrett and Kate talk about origins of the site, diverse forms of architecture criticism, and using humor to educate. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2019-01-0953 min
Scratching the Surface103. Chappell EllisonChappell Ellison is currently a content strategist at Huge. She previously worked as a designer and was part of the inaugural class of SVA's MFA in Design Criticism Program. In this episode, Chappell and Jarrett talk about her move from design to writing, the role of the critic, and how a dreamlike memory from Disneyworld made her realize she wanted to be a designer. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-12-121h 12
Scratching the Surface102. Laurel SchwulstLaurel Schwulst is a designer, writer, teacher, and webmaster. She runs an independent design practice in New York City and teaches in design programs at Yale and Rutgers. She previously was the creative director for The Creative Independent and a web designer at Linked By Air. In this episode, Laurel and Jarrett talk about how horses got her into graphic design, what websites can be, the potential of the peer-to-peer internet, and how writing and teaching influence her practice. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-12-051h 01
Scratching the Surface101. Martin Lorenz and Lupi AsensioMartin Lorenz and Lupi Asensio are the founders of the Hamburg-based design studio TwoPoints.net. Founded in 2007, the studio's work blends graphic design, typography, and editorial. The couple are also teachers and have taught in design programs around the world. In this episode, Jarrett talks to Lupi and Martin about their work and process, the role of teaching in their practice, and how writing informs their work. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-11-281h 05Scratching the Surface100. Rory KingFor the 100th episode of Scratching the Surface, Jarrett Fuller is joined by one of his oldest and closest friends Rory King to talk about their parallel journeys in design and evolving design practices. Rory is currently a graduate student in Cranbrook's 2D Design Department and has worked as a designer at Pratt Institute and 2x4. Together, Rory and Jarrett collaborated on Sway, an experimental zine and short-lived podcast that heavily influenced the work they both doing now. They also reflect on their undergraduate education, talk about Rory's current research work, and the role of writing and teaching in their...
2018-11-141h 03
Scratching the Surface99. Kelsey KeithKelsey Keith is the editor-in-chief of Curbed. Before that, she wrote about design and architecture for Dwell, Architizer, and a variety of other publications. In this episode, Kelsey and Jarrett talk about the late 2000s New York media landscape, cobbling together a freelance career, and her editorial vision for Curbed. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-11-0752 min
Scratching the Surface97. Andrew BlauveltAndrew Blauvelt has been a designer, writer, curator, and educator. He's currently the director of the Cranbrook Art Museum, a position he's held since 2015. Before that, he worked at the Walker Art Center in a variety of roles including Senior Curator of Design, Research, and Publishing; Chief of Communications; and Design Director. He also served as Director of Graduate Studies and Chair of the Graphic Design Department at North Carolina State University and has written for a variety of publications on design. In this episode, Jarrett and Andrew walk through his career and talk about how he moved between various...
2018-10-241h 05
Scratching the Surface96. Christopher HawthorneChristopher Hawthorne is the Chief Design Officer for the city of Los Angeles, a brand new position appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti. Before that, he was architecture critic for the Los Angeles Times from 2004 to early 2018. He is Professor of the Practice at Occidental College and has taught at U.C Berkeley, Columbia University, and Souther California Institute of Architecture. In this episode, Jarrett and Christopher talk about this new job and how he's approaching it, reading Paul Goldberger in high school, and the changing role of the architecture critic. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-10-171h 02
Scratching the Surface95. Justin W. CookJustin W. Cook is an architect, designer, and educator. He's currently the Founding Director of the RISD Center for Complexity & Systems Practice, an initiative that is thinking about design in the widest sense. Previously, he worked at the Helsinki Design Lab and has advised students at MIT and Harvard. His work centers around design as a transformative act, sustainability, and systems thinking. In this episode, Justin talks to Jarrett about realizing he wanted to be an architect and his move into strategic design, thinking about organization change, and the role of the designer. Links from this episode can be found...
2018-10-101h 07
Scratching the Surface94. Allison ArieffAllison Arieff is the editorial director of Spur and a columnist for the New York Times where she writes about architecture, design, and cities. Before that, she was the editor-at-large for both Good and Sunset Magazines and was the editor-in-chief at Dwell. In this episode, Allison and Jarrett talk about how she wanted to be a writer since eighth grade, the expanding definition of design, and the relationship between design and policy. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-10-0347 min
Scratching the Surface93. Daniel EatockDaniel Eatock is a designer and artist based in London. He studied design at Ravensbourne College and earned his MA from the Royal College of Art. In this episode, Daniel talks to Jarrett about studying design and discovering conceptual art, his resistance to labeling his practice, the role of teaching in his work, and how he's working towards being more present. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-09-2652 min
Scratching the Surface92. Marcin WicharyMarcin Wichary is a designer, writer, programmer, and typographer. He most recently was a designer at Medium and previously worked on design teams at Google and Code for America. He's currently writing a book on the history of keyboards and typing, due to be released next year. In this episode, Marcin and Jarrett talk about how writing has supplemented his design work, the value of personal projects, and writing about his obsessions. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-09-191h 13
Scratching the Surface91. Brian LaRossaBrian LaRossa is a designer, illustrator, writer, and reader. He's the design director at Scholastic, writer for Design Observer, and on the adjunct faculty at CUNY. In this episode, Brian and Jarrett talk about his early resistance to the design world and how discovering its history and culture opened up a new love for the discipline. They also talk about how he started writing, his love of reading, and the similarities between his writing process and design process. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2018-09-1257 min
Scratching the Surface02. Alexandra LangeIn this week's episode of Scratching the Surface, Jarrett talks with architecture critic Alexandra Lange. Alexandra is currently writing for Curbed and has previously written for publications like The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Dwell. In this conversation, we meet in a Brooklyn coffee shop to talk about how one becomes a critic, the role of criticism within the architecture profession, writing for an audience, and Alexandra's own writing process. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2016-11-021h 05
Scratching the Surface01. Rob GiampietroIn the first episode of Scratching the Surface, Jarrett talks with designer and writer Rob Giampietro. Rob is currently the Design Lead for Material Design at Google New York. In this conversation, we talk about how Rob approaches writing and designing, design as a critical activity, and the design writing he'd like to see more of. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm.
2016-10-2648 min
Scratching the Surface00. IntroductionWelcome to Scratching the Surface, the brand new design podcast interested in the intersection of criticism and practice hosted by Jarrett Fuller. Released weekly, each episode will feature conversations with designers, writers, critics, educators and people who do a combination of these. We’ll talk about the role of design criticism, the state of design writing, and try to figure out new ways to talk about graphic design. For more information and links from this episode, visit scratchingthesurface.fm or follow us on Twitter @surfacepodcast.
2016-10-1903 min
Sway PodcastEpisode 21: Quite frankly, I don't know what they're expectingAfter a long haitus, we are back with a new episode about the pros and cons of working in-house. We look at our own careers and the work we’ve done and how our opinions of in-house design jobs have changed since graduating. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2016-04-1050 minSway PodcastEpisode 20: I want to see designers fighting!In this episode we critique the critics. We look at the articles about Google's new logo and try to figure out what's missing in current design criticism. By looking at history and imagining the future, we debate the role of the critic and what types of criticism we'd love to see and make. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2015-09-0849 minSway PodcastEpisode 19: Nothing but naked womenThis episode starts with two questions: what happened to all the good design blogs and how has social media changed graphic design culture? This leads to a discussion about how to find inspiration, stay current on design trends, and be inspired by things you don’t like. We wrap everything up by sharing some of our favorite blogs to follow on Tumblr. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2015-08-0848 minSway PodcastEpisode 18: We were touched by Paul Rand's ghostIn this episode, we are joined by designer and educator Mitch Goldstein to talk about thinking versus making, theorist versus practitioner, and critic versus designer. Mitch shares his origin story, how he started teaching, and what he hopes to impart on his students that lead into a discussion on how labels and words sometimes get in the way of the work we’re supposed to be doing. We wrap up with some thoughts on design education and the value moving beyond Comic Sans jokes. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2015-06-131h 45Sway PodcastEpisode 17: The Term is Dead, Part 2After a few weeks of reflecting and writing, we return with some answers to the question of if graphic design is still a good term for everything we do. We look at each of our essays and offer some examples of how the field as a whole can be open and ready for the changes in the field and the world. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2015-05-181h 06Sway PodcastEpisode 16: The Term is Dead, Part 1In this episode, we look at the current state of graphic design: what is it and what is it for? Using a recent Rem Koolhaas exhibition as our guide, we wonder what the future of graphic design looks like and what we can learn from it’s history. Jarrett questions whether graphic design as we knew it is actually dying while Rory sees a new type of design emerging. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2015-04-2858 minSway PodcastEpisode 15: UncatalogedRecorded in January 2015, this is a short conversation we had about archiving. We discuss a New Yorker article on the Internet Archive, how we save digital work for future generations, and who gets to decide what is worth saving. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2015-04-1534 minSway PodcastEpisode 14: I just hit keys until things sound good.For the final episode of the year, we want to take time to talk about the things that aren't design that inspire us and influence our work. We discuss the work of Hans Ulrich Obrist, Brian Eno, Wes Anderson, and more. This leads to a discussion on journalism and the importance of designers being good citizens. We end the episode talking about our frustrations with design conferences and discussions and why we don't care what font you typeset your t-shirt graphics in. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2014-12-1456 minSway PodcastEpisode 13: There are lots of amazing giant peirogies nowWe’re joined by our former professor Josh Miller for a great conversation on design education, how web design fits into modern curriculums, what students should learn while in school, trends, and what we hope to see within design education in the future. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2014-11-101h 06Sway PodcastEpisode 12: I'd rather go to McDonald's and have it my way than go to the Rubin and sit in the cornerAfter a summer hiatus, we're back with a new episode on video and how motion fits into graphic design. Looking at the short teaser 2x4 created for the new identity they created for the Rubin Museum, we look at the idea of teaser videos for logos, video as a medium, and how bad content will never lead towards good design. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2014-11-0240 minSway PodcastEpisode 11: I'm just trying to sound philosophical nowRory has a flash of inspiration while drinking lemonade at dinner so we jump on a call to talk about design education and the advantages of teaching design in a broad sense—ignoring typography and layout and color and focusing on thinking, ideas, and process while looking outside the field. We then question if a course like this could benefit more than just designers and whether graphic design could be seen as a liberal art. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2014-08-1944 minSway PodcastEpisode 10: Thoughts or Comments?Just back from Typography Summer School in New York City, Rory rants about graphic design culture which leads to the idea of amateurism within the profession and how an outsider perspective can lead to open experimentation and unusual results. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2014-08-111h 01Sway PodcastEpisode 9: It doesn't have a penguin; it doesn't have randomness; and it doesn't have a houseIn this episode, we critique the new identities for Cooper Hewitt and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, both designed by Pentagram, and the growing trend of designing evolving logo systems. Looking back and looking ahead, we speculate about the future of the identity design and remember some of our favorite logos of recent years. This all wraps up with a debate on clever versus smart work and what type of work we want to do. Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.
2014-07-231h 03Sway PodcastEpisode 8: I have those emotional breakdowns, tooIn an emotionally charged episode, Rory kicks it off talking about the Group Material monograph, Show and Tell, that leads to a discussion on art and design and how to define them. The conversation meanders through a variety of topics including the public’s perception of graphic design, the idea of multiple publics, who design is for, and what is the goal of our work. The episode wraps up with both of us reflecting on why we find design so interesting in the first place and some thoughts on why we started Sway a year ago. Links from this episode ar...
2014-06-231h 15Sway PodcastEpisode 7: Design looks like a jokeWe open this episode reflecting on Massimo Vignelli's death and the influence he had on our work through the years. This leads to a discussion on how the internet has changed our approach to design and how we view a design's longevity. We spend the second half of the episode discussing the public face of graphic design and the how we communicate the value of our profession to those who no nothing about design.
2014-06-031h 02Sway PodcastEpisode 6: The Five ObstructionsWe spend this episode reflecting on our recently completed Five Obstructions project. We talk about our favorite weeks, the hardest part of the project, and how we approached each week’s obstructions. In addition to talking about what we learned and the challenges we faced throughout the project, we look at how this would translate to a class assignment and the value of working within constraints for design students.
2014-05-101h 17Sway PodcastEpisode 5: I feel like a creepInspired by the last episode’s discussion on manifestos and our guiding design principles, we use this episode to talk about the one piece of design that has had the most influence on our own practices and was fundamental in shaping our view of design. Rory talks about Tibor Kalman’s lecture Good History/Bad History and how that has guided his thinking on process, aesthetics, and design history. Then Jarrett talks about how Project Projects’s identity for SALT showed him that design was much bigger than he originally thought and how one can use design to foster your own in...
2014-04-221h 04Sway PodcastEpisode 4: Whatever the hell his name isIn this episode, we spend a lot of time talking about the new 2014 edition of the First Things First manifesto. We compare it to the 1964 and 2000 versions and how we approach it different now that we are working designers. This leads to a discussion on our personal manifestos and the things we value in our own practices. We wrap up this episode comparing the design and science disciplines, using Anthony Bourdain and Neil deGrasse Tyson as examples for a hypothetical television show that can teach the public about visual culture.
2014-04-011h 03Sway PodcastEpisode 3: I’m sorry, this is about to get very metaAfter a quick follow up on The Five Obstructions, we jump into a conversation about how to insert ourselves into the design discussion and whether or not we have anything valuable to add and if we are even worth being heard. This leads to a conversation about diversifying the content we consume and how the internet has turned publishing into a level playing field. The second half of the episode revolves around the separation between professional and personal work and the false divisions we put up around our work.
2014-03-3055 minSway PodcastEpisode 2: Barbara Walters in Photoshop interviewing Saddam HuisseinIn the second episode of the Sway Podcast, we talk about Squarespace and the rise of DIY design tools and what the democratization of design means for designers and the profession at large. A discussion on the redesign of Newsweek’s website leads to some thoughts on the idea of "designer as journalist" and what we can learn from journalism to make ourselves better designers. Once again, we close the episode with some more ideas for design education and using Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth’s film The Five Obstructions as a framework for a new type of assig...
2014-03-051h 11Sway PodcastEpisode 1: Processing the ProcessIn the first episode of the Sway Podcast, a discussion about design philosophies leads into how to think critically about your design process and then making your process a part of the design. By looking at design as a vessel that needs to be filled with content, we discuss the idea of design being a tool and a lens through which to explore the world and develop a point of view. This is all wrapped in some thoughts on design education and we talk about ideas of how to teach students to think about their work as more than strictly...
2014-02-2743 min