Architect: Rem Koolhaas

A thinker and writer who through the lens of architecture explores questions around our built environments.

Design History - The 1980's: Function gives way to Emotions

History of the Zipper

The Future of Tech? A Presentation by Scott Galloway

The 21st Century is here do we know where we are going? What is happening in the tech sector, society and geopolics that we should consider? Finally, where are the design opportunities?

Book: Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook

Design educator Dori Turnstall has pen a book reframing an approach to more wholesticly understand and reflect, What Design is.

Article: How to Decolonize Design

Design Education: African Futures Institute

Lesley Lokko a Ghanaian-Scottish architect, sets out to tackle global issues through her new school in Accra Ghana.

Wallpaper Article: Lesley Lokko on decolonisation, decarbonisation and diversity

Architect History: Paul Revere Williams

One of his many noted accomplishment was being the first African American Architects to become a member of American Institute of Architects (AIA). Often called the architect of Hollywood, Paul William designed homes throughout Los Angeles for the celabriies of the time.

Design Collective: LoveForm,

World renown industrial designers Jony Ive and Marc Newson have joined their talents to create a design consultancy that will leverage the design possibilities of the 21st century.

Wallpaper Article

Industrial Designer - Noel Mayo

As the first African American to lead an industrial design firm, Noel Mayo's career has mentored many and continues to impact the profession.

History Makers Noel Mayo Associates

Recognizing and Reclaiming the Contributions of Black Creatives

A beautiful thing is happening that is a legitmite effort to bring to light the contributions and talents of many that have long been ignored the black creative. Two article appearing the New York Times demonstrates this enlightenment.

The Interior Lives of Black Homes

Putting Black Design in the Spotlight

Building A Better Future The Work and Legacy of Five African American Architects

Documenting the contributions of African American Architects has become part of the work of the Smithosian Musuem. "Pioneering African American architects, such as Harold L. Williams, Norma Merrick Sklarek, and John S. Chase, expanded the profession and paved the way for a new generation, including Philip G. Freelon and Michael Marshall." National Musuem of African American History and Culture

Black Designers Gather in Chicago in 2000

Book: The World History of Design

Architect Steven Holl

3D Printing as a Tool for Creating Products

Japan Toilet Project

Toilets are a symbol of Japan's world-renowned hospitality culture. Public toilets will be redesigned in 17 locations throughout Shibuya with the help of 16 creators invited from around the world. We invite you to take a look at the uniqueness of each of these facilities.

The Tokyo Toilet Website

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has Arrived in MS ChatGPT

Questions on how impact will this new product our work and life are beinf asked all around the internet. This also speaks to the new opening for designers to jump into the opportunities this technology brings with it.

The Issues with Fast Casual Architecture

The sameness of many buildings has raised the question as to what extent is architecture being limited by economic and not aesthetic decisions. Article: Washingtons DC's Whaarf Article: As Housing Looks the Same...

The Curious History of the Toilet

How Product Designers Move in a Changing Profession/Future

This discussion of a product is timely for me as I plot a path to actual practice in 2023.

A Product Designer Skill Set for Success

The video below identities the levels at which a product design can operate and the skills at each level: Doer/Executer, Thinker/Stategy and Leader.

Design Futures Symposium: Agency for the Future - Design and the Quest for a Better World

Auto Designer for Telsa

Digital Design: Computational Textiles

Felecia Davis' work using computational textiles

Smithsonian cooper Hewitt Design Awards

National Design Awards 2022

Cooper Hewitt Design Awards 2022

Design Podcasts

The Best of Design Podcast

Video: What is the Fourth Dimension of Product Design?

Digital Media Tools the Potential to Enhance Narratives

Article: NYTime 50 Years Ago Stevie Wonder Heard the Future of Music This on the impact of Stevie Wonder's music especially in the 70's is a wonderful example of how digital media tools can be used to add layer of context and content to a narrative.

What's with the Organic Design Language?

Wallpaper Article: OPPO builds on its organic design language... Some designers are looking to nature for inspiration, as was the case with Art Nouevou more than a century ago. Then Hector Guimaird created structures that reflected his explorations in a new aesthetic that would end in 1914 when war came to Europe.

An Object of History: The Turntable

Wallpaper Article: Phaidon’s new history of turntable design

Book: Revolution, The History of Turntable Design, Gideon Schwartz

Video: The History of Steve Jobs

Product Designer: Stephen Burks

Article: ‘Stephen Burks: Shelter in Place’ ** High Museum of Art ** Craft at Berea College **

Product Designer: Naoto Fukasawa

Naoto Fukasawa Website

Is Kanye West a Designer?

As human beings we all have the potential to be a "designer", that being said the creative impluse in in each of us can be released and thus through are intention to change or reshape our environment we too can be called a designer.

Contemporary Design Educators/Professionals Discuss Their Experiences

The University & College Designers Association (UCDA)Website

Industrial Designer: Builds His Own Brand

After a tour of working with a variety of footwear teams Salehe Bembury moves to establish his own signature product line. Fast Company Article: Why Everyone...Wants to Work with Salehe Bembury

Architecture: Designed with Humanity in Mind

There are many new projects that are demonstrating a recognition for the possibility of buildings to leverage the soft power of values. NYTimes Article: Can Architecture Build Values?

Video: 60 Minutes, The MASS model of community-focused architecture

Graphic Designers: Discovering the Past

Tasheka Arceneaux-Sutton, a graphic designer and educator has brought to light designers not recognized for their contributions. Video: The History of Black Women in Graphic Design

Video: History of Technological Development

An overview of the history of technology and its impact in the evolution of society and the potential of artificial intellegence.

Fashion Design: Issey Miyake

Mr. Miyake known as much for the mock turtleneck sweater that was central to Steve Jobs uniform of Levis jeans and New Balance sneakers, as his innovations in fabic designs. This Japanese designer was the first foreigh designer to show at Paris Fashion Week in 1974. NYTimew Article: Isseye Miyake GQ Article FastCompany Article Isseye Multi-Faceted Legacy

Product Design: Chukudu A Scooter made in Congo (Africa)

Documentary Film: Mau

Bruce Mau, a graphic designer who has avoided celebrity and cricitism has his career and ideas memorialized in film. NYTimes Article: A Designer Puts Life on the Drawing Boards

A Book About Design for Children

Jason Mayden has pen a book for the littles ones that can be enjoyed by all.

Article: This Kids Book...

Design at Apple - The Next Chapter

The departure of Joh Ive marked the transition of Apple's design leadership established under it's founder Steve Jobs.

NYTimes Articale: Why Jony Ive Left Apple Article: Design Team Shaping Apple's Future From the outset, Apple’s aesthetic ethos set it apart. Arguably, the company has done more to democratise the understanding and perception of design, both in its physical manifestation and as a way of guiding and shaping behaviours.

deem - A Design Journal

Conceived as a project exploring design as social practice, Deem's first issue, Designing For Dignity, reads like a manifesto on the future through the lenses of empathy, collective consciousness, and collaboration.

deem - the journal

An Artist of the Time - Basquiat

During the last quarter of the 20th century an artist who expressed the psyhic trauma of the time in the most direct, unique and possibly the compelling way did it through cast off materials, basic visual techinques and minimum language to great impact. NYTimes Article: How to Look at Basquist

Automotive Design During the Electric Age

There are new freedoms car designer can explore as the combustion engine give way to batteries as the power source. NYTimes Article: EV's offer a Blank Canvas

A Design Problem: Clothing Being Dump into Africa by the Tons

The OR Foundation

Video: What is Design History?

Product Design that Imagines a New Path for Music - STEM Player

Article: Ye’s Stem Player paves the way for music’s alternate future