Sway Podcast

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.

This 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.

In 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.

After 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.

In 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.

Recorded 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.

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 informed 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.

After 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.

Rory 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.

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. [Editor’s Note: this podcast was an outlet to help me build a framework for an essay I am writing about design culture and amateurism. Some comments in this episode should be taken with a grain of salt. —Rory] Links from this episode are available at this-is-sway.tumblr.com.