263 episodes

Scratching the Surface is a podcast about design, theory, and creative practice. Hosted by Jarrett Fuller, each episode features wide-ranging conversations with designers, architects, writers, academics, artists, and theorists about how design shapes culture. Previous guests include architecture critic Paul Goldberger, MoMA design curator Paola Antonelli, architect and OMA partner Reinier de Graaf, Pentagram partner Michael Bierut, RISD President Rosanne Somerson, writer Kurt Andersen, and designer Jessica Helfand. Featured in Architectural Digest, Dezeen, Curbed, and Eye. New episodes every other Wednesday.

Scratching the Surface Jarrett Fuller

    • Arts
    • 4.8 • 53 Ratings

Scratching the Surface is a podcast about design, theory, and creative practice. Hosted by Jarrett Fuller, each episode features wide-ranging conversations with designers, architects, writers, academics, artists, and theorists about how design shapes culture. Previous guests include architecture critic Paul Goldberger, MoMA design curator Paola Antonelli, architect and OMA partner Reinier de Graaf, Pentagram partner Michael Bierut, RISD President Rosanne Somerson, writer Kurt Andersen, and designer Jessica Helfand. Featured in Architectural Digest, Dezeen, Curbed, and Eye. New episodes every other Wednesday.

    248. Kathleen & Christopher Sleboda

    248. Kathleen & Christopher Sleboda

    Kathleen and Christopher Sleboda run Draw Down Books, a publishing project and bookshop focused on graphic design, typography, and printed matter. They also work as graphic designers for clients and teach at Boston University, RISD, and the University of Connecticut. Previously, Christopher was Director of Graphic Design at the Yale University Art Gallery for 15 years and Kathleen worked as an archivist at the Beinecke Rare Books Library at Yale. In this episode, Jarrett talks with them about experimental publishing, publishing as a form of community building, and the continued relevance of printed matter. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/248-kathleen-christopher-sleboda.


    
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    • 53 min
    247. Aaron Betsky

    247. Aaron Betsky

    Aaron Betsky is a critic, curator, and administrator. Until 2022, he was the director of Virginia Tech’s School of Architecture and Design. He previous was the president and dean of the School of Architecture at Taliesin, the director of the Cincinnati Art Museum, director of the Netherlands Architecture Institute, and a curator at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He’s the author, most recently, of The Monster Leviathan: Anarchitecture. In this conversation, Jarrett and Aaron talk about anarchitecture and the relationship between theory and practice, the role of modernism, and why the future is multidisciplinary. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/247-aaron-betsky.
    
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If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon and get bonus content, transcripts, and our monthly newsletter! www.patreon.com/surfacepodcast

    • 55 min
    246. Alison Place

    246. Alison Place

    Alison Place is a designer, educator, and researcher whose work explores the intersection of design and feminist theory. She is the editor of Feminist Designer: On the Personal and the Political in Design and teaches graphic design in the School of Art at the University of Arkansas, where she serves as director of the graphic design program. In this conversation, Jarrett and Alison talk about what feminist design looks like, designers as trouble makers, and rethinking school critiques. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/246-alison-place.
    
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If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon and get bonus content, transcripts, and our monthly newsletter! www.patreon.com/surfacepodcast

    • 52 min
    245. Michael Cina

    245. Michael Cina

    Michael Cina is a graphic designer, creative director, typographer, and artist. Since 2010, he’s run Cina Associates where he’s worked on projects for clients like Disney, Adobe, and Coca-Cola, as well as his long-running collaboration with Ghostly International. He previously co-founded YouWorkForThem, a designer-run online shop for typefaces, stock art, and other resources. In this conversation, Jarrett and Michael talk about the challenges and opportunities in working across mediums, how painting influenced his commercial design work, and how the internet shifted the state of design discourse. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/245-michael-cina.
    
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If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon and get bonus content, transcripts, and our monthly newsletter! www.patreon.com/surfacepodcast

    • 1 hr 2 min
    244. Freek Lomme

    244. Freek Lomme

    Freek Lomme is a publisher, editor, curator, and writer. He is the founder of Set Margins’, a support structure, a platform for production, a network and publisher focused on impulses from the margins with a focus on communication, cooperation, and involved politics. Previously, Freek was the co-founder and director of Onomatopee, an art and design space and publisher in The Netherlands. In this conversation, Jarrett and Freek talk about the infrastructure of bookmaking, the role of the publisher, and the continued affection for print culture. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/244-freek-lomme.
    
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If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon and get bonus content, transcripts, and our monthly newsletter! www.patreon.com/surfacepodcast

    • 51 min
    243. Nicholas de Monchaux

    243. Nicholas de Monchaux

    Nicholas de Monchaux is an architect, designer, and author. He is currently Professor and Head of Architecture at MIT. He is the author of Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo and Local Code: 3,659 Proposals about Data, Design, and the Nature of Cities. Until 2020, he was Professor of Architecture and Urban Design and Chair in New Media at UC Berkeley. In this conversation, Jarrett and Nicholas talk about reframing our definitions of design, what a contemporary architecture education could look like, and building a multidisciplinary practice. Links from this episode can be found at scratchingthesurface.fm/243-nicholas-de-monchaux.
    
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If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon and get bonus content, transcripts, and our monthly newsletter! www.patreon.com/surfacepodcast

    • 51 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
53 Ratings

53 Ratings

Andieo1997 ,

A Must-Listen!

This show is an invaluable treasure trove for the modern creative spirit. Every episode blends wisdom from top-tier creatives with actionable steps for those on the unconventional path. It's more than just inspiration—it's a call to action for every creative soul to follow their dreams and change the world!

Kaleb P. ,

Influential

I have seriously learned so much from this podcast! STS has helped me understand what I want out of my design career. The guests are all always very interesting and their ideas and careers are fascinating.

Although I really enjoy every topic that Jarret covers, I get particularly interested in the episodes that discuss alternative higher ed programs and the economics of design school education. Thank you for an incredible podcast!

connyc23 ,

Fantastic Variety

I enjoy the variety of speakers Jarrett invites to his show. Especially the ones who talk about inclusivity and diversity in design and about how important it is to bring different perspectives to the table. A memorable one for me is #18 Andy Chen + Waqas Jawaid, it felt like listening to friends I’ve yet met. The intro music is cheesy but it grew on me. :-)

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