For my 30th ep 🎉 I get into why I even do these podcasts/streams/videos (hint: therapy). I also get into A.I. music, Timbaland and his new A.I. artist, Milli Vanilli (the group Milli Vanilli, not saying that Tims new artist is Milli Vanilli...but 🤔 😁), and even Macromedia Dreamweaver. It's a rather scatterbrained episode, but I think I tied it together in a fittingly tangential manner 🤞🏽✌🏽

Watch or Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDdIExRnyJY

Apple Podcasts: https://rb.gy/2yffl0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandancraft

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social

https://www.brandancraft.com

Straight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.

All music, design, and editing: @BrandanCraft

TANGENTS:

00:00 Intro

02:57 The designer/dev relationship

08:32 The producer/artist relationship

22:49 Why I even do these things

Year 2: First Semester

The Tangent I go off on for this ep revolves around HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), my introduction to them and some of my past experiences attending one as an undergraduate (Alabama A&M) and professor (Florida A&M). I delve into issues such as representation and funding as well as lighter topics like HBCU "Classics" and kicking it on The Ave.

As someone who began at an HBCU, graduated from PWIs (undergrad and graduate), started full-time teaching at a second HBCU, and is currently teaching at a third PWI, my unique perspective regarding the topic of HBCUs could be deemed as valuable to some.

Watch or Listen on Spotify: https://rb.gy/hu0itv
Apple Podcasts: https://rb.gy/2yffl0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandancraft
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social

https://www.brandancraft.com

Straight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.

All music, design, and editing: @BrandanCraft

TANGENTS:

00:00 Intro

02:02 (Very brief) Why do we have HBCUs?

03:47 What drew me to HBCUs

04:00 The Classics

05:59 The Cosby Show, Different World, & School Daze

06:59 Alpha Esquires

08:33 Alabama A&M (undergrad)

09:13 EVERYONE IS BLACK!

12:29 Why I left

19:04 Florida A&M (professor)

20:46 How many black male teachers have you had EVER?

21:25 The (2) black male teachers I had K-16

23:18 A family atmosphere (homecoming, bands, step shows, etc)

26:35 Funding issues

29:30 Teaching all-black classes

31:24 Why I left (again)

Year 2: First SemesterClass: Intro to Design

Dive deep into a fascinating discussion exploring the intersection of "Art" and "Design" across the worlds of Hip-Hop and the NBA!In this video, we break down how these two concepts manifest in the careers and legacies of cultural giants. Is Kendrick Lamar's lyricism pure art, or is there an element of calculated design in his album rollouts? Does LeBron James's sustained dominance represent a meticulously designed career, or is it a raw, artistic expression of talent?We touch on:- The raw artistic genius of figures like K Dot (Kendrick Lamar), Andre 3000, J Dilla, and Lauryn Hill.- The strategic "design" elements seen in the careers of icons like LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Drake, and Jay-Z.- How figures like Kanye West blend both art and design in their music and brand.- The unique contributions of producers like Dr. Dre, Timbaland, and DJ Premier.- The "Art vs. Design" lens applied to other figures across sports and entertainment, from Kobe Bryant to Beyoncé, and even Paul Rand.Join the debate and share your thoughts in the comments: Who embodies "Art" and who embodies "Design" in your eyes? And where do the lines blur?#ArtVsDesign #HipHopCulture #NBADebate #KendrickLamar #LeBronJames #Drake #KanyeWest #MichaelJordan #MusicTheory #SportsAnalytics #CultureTalk #YouTubeDiscussionWatch or Listen on Spotify: https://rb.gy/hu0itvApple Podcasts: https://rb.gy/2yffl0Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandancraftBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social https://www.brandancraft.comStraight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.All music, design, and editing: @BrandanCraft TANGENTS:00:00 Intro02:07 - Main Topic Intro: Art vs. Design02:34 - Art vs. Design: Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar (The Catalyst)05:40 - Revisiting Drake: Wanting to Be Famous vs. Being an Artist07:05 - Drake's Calculated Approach vs. K Dot's Expression07:38 - Introducing the "Artsy Slider" (Creative Scale 0-100)10:52 - Andre 3000 vs. Hip-Hop (Flute Album Discussion)13:22 - Speaker identifies himself as a "Designer," not an "Artist"14:09 - Andre 3000 (Flute) vs. Hip-Hop (Programmatic)17:30 - Black Eyed Peas: Artist to Designer Transition (with Fergie)22:52 - Miss Hill vs. Beyonce (Artsy Slider)27:21 - Artistic Producer vs. Designer Producer27:37 - Kirk Franklin & R. Kelly (Formulaic Producers)28:29 - DJ Premier vs. Dr. Dre (Art vs. Design in Production)29:07 - Nas vs. Jay-Z (Art vs. Design in Rapping)31:18 - B.o.B.'s Career Trajectory: Commercial to Artistry32:11 - Kanye vs. Kanye (Yay vs. Kanye, as artist/designer)33:17 - Steve Jobs vs. Tim Cook (Apple: Art vs. Design)35:59 - Basquiat vs. Paul Rand (Fine Art vs. Commercial Design)36:27 - Donald Glover vs. Childish Gambino (Actor vs. Rapper Persona)38:10 - Spike Lee vs. Tyler Perry (Filmmaking: Art vs. Design)54:15 - Michael Jackson vs. Prince (Art vs. Design)01:01:09 - NBA Artists & Designers: Jordan vs. LeBron vs. Kobe vs. KyrieEpisode: 28Year 1: Second Semester

V1 of this was my attempt at a scripted/essay-type cast. I generally read from a script I wrote (should've memorized it, but...), something that I've never done before. I wasn't sure how it turned out so I immediately re-did it without the script to see what style translates best. I TRULY understand that no one really cares, but I guess this is part of my personal discovery process. If you do read this AND watch both casts 😆 let me know which version flows better. The one with the script, graphics, and animation or this one. ✌🏽Thinking creatively is easier said than done. Expanding our thoughts beyond ourselves is a valuable skill to have in these days of automation and algorithm driven processes. Design thinking techniques help us tap into alternate pathways to problem solving. These more organic routes help to keep us grounded and expansive at the same time. This cast touches on tapping into these aforementioned alternate pathways of thought by treating a design thinking activity more like a Hip-Hop cypher, where collaboration and dopeness serve as valuable problem solving techniques.I decided to expand on my previous podcast's premise for a session I was invited to lead at a recent conference. This is that session's presentation redone as a cast. Watch or Listen on Spotify: https://rb.gy/hu0itvApple Podcasts: https://rb.gy/2yffl0Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandancraftBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social https://www.brandancraft.comStraight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.All music, design, and editing: @BrandanCraft Year 1: Second SemesterClass: Summer School

Thinking creatively is easier said than done. Expanding our thoughts beyond ourselves is a valuable skill to have in these days of automation and algorithm driven processes. Design thinking techniques help us tap into alternate pathways to problem solving. These more organic routes help to keep us grounded and expansive at the same time. This cast touches on tapping into these aforementioned alternate pathways of thought by treating a design thinking activity more like a Hip-Hop cypher, where collaboration and dopeness serve as valuable problem solving techniques.

I decided to expand on my previous podcast's premise for a session I was invited to lead at a recent conference. This is that session's presentation redone as a cast. Watch or Listen on Spotify: https://rb.gy/hu0itvApple Podcasts: https://rb.gy/2yffl0Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandancraftBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social https://www.brandancraft.comStraight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.All music, design, and editing: @BrandanCraft TANGENTS:00:00 Intro03:06 The lines06:38 The design thinking process07:15 How Herc and Flash solved a problem07:55 They identified the problem08:14 They identified the user08:22 The idea09:42 Testing the prototype10:21 Hip-Hop lives between the lines11:27 DJs live between the lines11:35 Breakdancing lives between the lines11:43 Grafitti lives between the lines12:01 MC means Move the Crowd!12:13 Hip-Hop cyphers12:31 Design thinking groups13:15 Spark the Skypher!15:04 This (AI) is something differentYear 1: Second SemesterClass: Summer School

This ep was inspired by a technology and A.I. panel I sat in on at a conference I had just left. I couldn't wait to share my thoughts with friends, but, none of my friends want to discuss such things so....I stopped by the podcast booth to let it out. Unfortunately, the booth I normally use was in service so I took the opportunity to test the new one. I touch on A.I., but from the perspective of where it may not be yet.Watch or Listen on Spotify: https://rb.gy/hu0itvApple Podcasts: https://rb.gy/2yffl0Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandancraftBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social https://www.brandancraft.comStraight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.All music, design, and editing: @BrandanCraft TANGENTS:00:00 Intro: From Conference to Podcast Booth

00:30 Conference Insights and AI Discussion

03:14 The Unique Human Element: Feeling

06:34 Creativity and Teaching Perspectives

11:04 A.I. is Great on the Lines

11:36 In Between the Lines

13:26 Holding Out Hope

14:17 Draft Kings Needs People to FEEL

16:54 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsYear 1: Second SemesterClass: Interaction Design III

This isn't necessarily a Pixel vs iPhone debate...it's more of a personal and pragmatic examination of how the Android and iOS operating systems feel and fit.

In this ep I detail my journey from being an Android guy, specifically a Google Pixel fan boy, to switching to an iPhone, to switching back to a Pixel, to switching BACK to the iPhone. I use the notes that I took after I went back to the Pixel and before I switched back to the iPhone to help explain my reasoning and thought processes.

The phones primarily mentioned:

- 🍎 iPhone 13 mini

- 🤖 Google Pixel 9 ProWatch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzXVvv7QlPa7rFLI3COsE4MXcgr5hTpbm&si=q9lWIOpjBcVNY-SB Apple Podcasts: https://rb.gy/2yffl0Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandancraftBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social https://www.brandancraft.comStraight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.All music, design, and editing: @BrandanCraft TANGENTS:14:29 🤖 Android Auto starts up more consistently and uniformly than Apple CarPlay

15:40 🤖 Apple doesn't make it easy to transfer to Android

17:28 🍎 iPhone has a more consistent User eXperience inside and outside of the OS

18:42 🍎 The ability to access the entire phone with one hand (thumb) on the iPhone Mini is a big deal to me

19:33 🍎 Cross platform apps seem to have a better UX on iPhone

22:21 🤖 Homepage customizability is better on the Pixel

24:01 🍎 AIRPLAY!!!!!!

26:37 🤖 Having facial recognition AND a fingerprint sensor AND pattern to wake on Pixel is a BIG deal

28:27 🤖 The Pixel filters out spam messages almost 100% of the time, and most calls, but the calls that slip through get the AI lady who's dope

30:21 🤖 AI features seem more mature on the Pixel

31:10 🤖 I've always preferred the more deliberate "feel" of the Pixel camera interface

32:22 🤖 The Pixel has a proper Google Search widget built into the nav bar while the iPhone search "button" seems to search everything BUT Google...wack. At least make it an optional widget...Apple being petty

34:13 🤖🍎 The swipe motion used to access each app switcher is slightly different, and it's a preference, but it's a good representation of how the two OSs "feel"

37:36 🤖 I prefer the Pixel keyboard feel and functionality

39:35 🤖 Having 5 apps instead of 4 reserved in the bottom nav is a noticeable difference

40:14 🤖 Android Auto Google Map allows Satellite view AND pinch-to-zoom

42:38 🤖 Android Auto messaging allows you to see the first line of a message whereas CarPlay only supports verbal transcription Year 1: Second SemesterClass: Interaction Design III

Following a discussion regarding the direction of social media and the subsequent episode that followed, I invited the students into the booth to further discuss the future of social media from their perspectives. YouTube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/brandancraft⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠https://rb.gy/2yffl0⁠

Instagram:⁠https://www.instagram.com/brandancraft⁠

Bluesky:⁠https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social⁠

⁠https://www.brandancraft.comStraight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.All music, design, and editing done by Brandan Craft Year 1: 2nd Semester

Kendrick Lamar's halftime show was the tangent we (I) went off on in class and provides fodder for this episode. I start with Michael Jackson and end with MUSTAAAAAAAAAAARD so, yeah, it's focused chaos, but good focused chaos.

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/brandancraft

Apple Podcasts:https://rb.gy/2yffl0

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/brandancraft

Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/brandancraft.bsky.social

https://www.brandancraft.com

Straight from class to the cast, Brandan Craft, a visual communication design professor continues his thoughts, instruction, stories, and TANGENTS regarding topics relating to art, design, and tech.

All music, design, and editing done by Brandan Craft

Year 1: 2nd Semester

In class we got into a discussion regarding the direction of social media. I started telling them about Black Planet and MySpace and their blank stares prompted me to table the discussion for this podcast episode.