134 episodes

Michael Bierut and Jessica Helfand of Design Observer discuss design, current events, and current enthusiasms.

The Observatory Design Observer

    • Arts
    • 4.6 • 149 Ratings

Michael Bierut and Jessica Helfand of Design Observer discuss design, current events, and current enthusiasms.

    Episode 134: Fast and Furious

    Episode 134: Fast and Furious

    With Gail Bichler: Remote creative direction for the New York Times Magazine, editorial design fine art, and motherhood; Ruth Bader Ginsburg, The Fast and the Furious, Yale Mental Health Symposiumt

    • 29 min
    Episode 133: Urban Reckoning

    Episode 133: Urban Reckoning

    With Allison Arieff: The Magic of Empty Spaces, cities during COVID-19, Solving All The Wrong Problems, harvesting honey, The Good Fight

    • 31 min
    Episode 132: Back to School?

    Episode 132: Back to School?

    With Lee Moreau: How to teach during the pandemic, robust design, jigsaw puzzles, The New York Times Spelling Bee

    • 32 min
    Episode 131: Word by Word

    Episode 131: Word by Word

    With Hrishikesh Hirway: games and puzzles, The West Wing Weekly, soap operas, Home Cooking.

    • 32 min
    Episode 130: Spatial Justice

    Episode 130: Spatial Justice

    With Bobby C. Martin, Jr.: rebranding Champions Design; football in Washington; demands for change at design schools; cooking during quarantine.

    • 33 min
    Episode 129: Spatial Justice

    Episode 129: Spatial Justice

    A conversation with De Nichols about cities, monuments, and designing for community.

    • 33 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
149 Ratings

149 Ratings

J. Barshop ,

Deeply inspiring, thought provoking, and meaningful

It’s obvious that Michael

7950mc ,

Thoughtful endless interesting conversation

These two people are just super thinkers, they are endlessly interesting to listen to.

obacker19 ,

Entertaining, insightful and empowering! 👏

Whether you’re well established as a change agent in the design ecosystem, or just getting started carving out your authentic niche - this is a must-listen podcast for you! Michael and Jessica do an incredible job leading conversations that cover a huge breadth of topics related to the ins and outs of building a thriving portfolio as a designer, and life you can be proud of - from leaders who’ve actually experienced success themselves. Highly recommend listening and subscribing!

Top Podcasts In Arts

Fresh Air
NPR
The Moth
The Moth
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Fashion People
Audacy | Puck
Snap Judgment Presents: Spooked
Snap Judgment
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy Fangirls

More by Design Observer

Design Matters with Debbie Millman
Design Matters Media
The Design Of Business | The Business of Design
Design Observer
Insights Per Minute
Design Observer
We the Constitution
Design Observer