Working File

This episode, featuring Linda Eliasen and Jon Gold, addresses the relationship between the design process and production. Does an understanding of the materials and techniques used to manufacture your designs make you a better designer, or hold you back from doing truly innovative work? When should we push limitations of production and when should we just stick with a tried-and-true, established solution? Links Ueno Designer News Stranger Things MailChimp Dropbox Impostor Syndrome Tron The Matrix What Next for Design? with Jonathan Ive Ruby on Rails Objective-C SDK Caylee Betts on Twitter React Frank Gehry Pixar Concept Cars Artificial Intelligence Arup Develops 3D Printing Technique for Structural Steel Reality Distortion Field Everything is a Remix Fractals Samuel Mockbee Rural Studio

Victoria Rushton and Annie Yiling-Wang join us to discuss criticism in a professional context. For many of us, what was once formal critiques with peers during our education has been replaced by a confusing array of criticism from a variety of people. How does feedback differ when it comes from our clients, our peers, or our superiors? Links Orange is the New Black Font Bureau IDEO Telephone (aka “Chinese Whispers”) User Research Rule of Thumb Clients from Hell Fan Fiction

Andy and Matt are joined by Kristy Tillman and Lola Landekic for a conversation about side projects and the culture that surrounds them. We talk about the virtues and pitfalls of pursuing a self-initiated projects and whether we should hold people accountable for the things that they make. What role should side projects play in your portfolio, and how should we regard them when we’re hiring a designer? Links Art of the Title Model View Culture Side Project Culture: Opportunities and Obstacles for Marginalized People in Tech Tomorrow Looks Bright Detroit Water Project (now The Human Utility) State Mottos Project “Going on dates with eachother and documenting it.” Redesigned Beer Cans On the Grid Elaine Bass on Wikipedia (Thank you, Lola!) Gender Bias on Wikipedia MICA A Painting with Ampersands Douy Swofford General Assembly Matt’s Fake Alternate NFL Logos “Really Depressing Article, Do Not Read” Gaslighting

On this episode of Working File, which is actually the first one we ever recorded, we’re joined by Satchell Drakes and Jen Mussari to discuss being a designer in the public eye. How is being a famous designer different than being a famous dentist? Is one particular personality type or kind of design work rewarded by social media? What are we saying when we only show our polished, perfect selves online? Links Satchell’s Video on That Dragon, Cancer Charity Water Small City — Jen's Studio in Brooklyn “Being a famous designer is like being a famous dentist.” — Noreen Morioka Neil deGrasse Tyson The Kanye West Wiz Khalifa Twitter Beef of 2016 What it Looks Like on Reply All Jamie Keiles on Instagram Depressiongrams 24 Creative Pros Get Real About Their 2016 Goals on HOW (see: Dylan Lathrop’s response) Creativity and Depression Clients from Hell Bruno Munari’s Children’s Books CSS for Babies James Victore — The Dinner Series Design Matters

This episode is all about the distinction between working individually and working collaboratively. Gitamba Saila-Ngita and Meg Lewis join us for a discussion where we talk about our preferred work environments, the difference between design education and practicing design professionally, and conflict resolution amongst coworkers and clients. When should we compromise and when should we stand up for our ourselves? Links Ghostly Ferns Sagmeister & Walsh Louise Fili Experimental Jetset Steve Jobs Ringo Starr MailChimp Etsy Cards Against Humanity Nike Pentagram Malcolm Gladwell Redscout

Our inaugural show is all about the state of the design community, design journalism, and what Working File should be. Chappell Ellison and Maurice Cherry join us for a conversation about the difference between design discourse in public and private spaces. We find out that Andy has high expectations for designers and discuss the nature of criticism across different creative industries. Is there a distinction between criticsm for consumers and criticism for creators? Is the internet even an appropriate medium for critical discourse? Links Fast Company A New Look for Instagram New Logo and Identity for Uber Designer News Dribbble Smashing Magazine AIGA The Great Discontent Revision Path Design Matters with Debbie Millman Flat Design Open (NYC Based Design Studio) Design for People University of California Rebrand Ralph Caplan Revision Path 107: Dori Tunstall Google Reader Design Observer Where are the Black Designers?