Underscore

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sabine Lenz, founder of Paper Specs , an organization and community dedicated to print, paper, and graphic design. In this episode, Sabine speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the power of printing and the ways in which designers can cut through today’s digital noise by working with paper, ink, and printers. Sabine shares her love for...

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ designer George Aye, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Greater Good Studio . In this episode, George speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the ethos that drives Greater Good Studio's social mission to use design as an agent for change. Together, they talk about the importance of defining what “good” means within the context and p...

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠ graphic designer, educator, and founder of Studio Bema, Michal Janicki . In this episode, Michal speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about moving to Chicago from Poland at the age of 13, his introduction to art, design, and creativity — and how they were forms of expression and self-discovery, which eventually led to a career in graphic design. Mi...

Our guest is ⁠ graphic designer and co-founder of Studio Apertif , Denny Liu . In this episode, Denny speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the journey to co-founding Studio Apertif alongside his wife and the reality, challenges, and victories. We also hear about his introduction to design, from drawing his favorite band logos on his binder to being raised by an...

Our guest is Newberry Library graphic designer educator ⁠ Andrea Villasenor . In this episode, Andrea speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about her fascination with libraries going back to her childhood. We learn about her interests in graphic design, typography research, and history and how they inspire her work, process, and approach to teaching. She shares her thou...

Our guest is graphic designer and photographer Johnny Mei . In this episode, Johnny speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about his unconventional path into the world of graphic design — starting with his fascination with browsing magazines at Tower Records. Johnny’s creative output is multidisciplinary, and we learn about his approach to self-initiating projects such as hi...

On this episode of Underscore, we celebrate four years of the Chicago Graphic Design Club . Host ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠ reflects on the impact of CGDC alongside team members Alexis Gonzalez , Carson Koppin , Cheryl Bever , Jeffrey Hitchens , and Hamid Alavi . We discuss what community means to us and how the Chicago Graphic Design Club has shaped our relationship to design. We share memories an...

Our guests are Rotimi and Candace Solola of the Chicago-based multidisciplinary design studio, SO Dsgn . In this episode, they speak with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about how they bring a unique approach to brand and industrial design. Together, we dive deep into their collaborative process and approach, the origins of their studio, and much more. Music by the band  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Our guest is ⁠ Vida Sačić Chicago-based, artist, typographer, and design educator.  In this episode, Vida speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about using letterpress materials to explore language, process, and meaning-making. Vida shares her perspective on teaching and the importance of being passionate about the work you teach. Together, they also discuss hope and optimism a...

Our guest is Chuck Anderson of ⁠⁠Chicago-based creative practice No Pattern Studio In this episode, Chuck speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and co-host Carson Koppin about his introduction to the internet and creative cultures beyond the Midwest, the importance of routine, physical health, social media, and the influential early internet culture blog The Brilliance. Music by...

Our guest is Christian Solorzano , Underscore host, designer, and founder of the Chicago Graphic Design Club. In this episode, Solorzano speaks with guest-host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Carlos Segura about his upbringing, background, motivation behind founding the Chicago Graphic Design Club, and the inspiration that drives much of his community-centered work. Solorzano shares his vision for Chicago's design...

Our guest is Alyssa Low , Chicago-based designer and muralist. In this episode, Low speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about designing and painting murals and the meditative approach to working with your hands. Low also shares her perspective and principles on determining what creative projects are worth focusing on, and we also learn about how her dedication to soccer fosters...

Our guests are James Langford and Larry Tchogninou of ⁠⁠the Chicago-based studio ⁠ Points of Sail . In this episode, James and Larry speak with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and this episode's co-host Carson Koppin about designing everything from concrete boats to storefronts, Dafont, Larry's 3 Practices theory, graphic design not having to obey the laws of gravity, play as a...

Our guest is Rick Valicenti , founder of Thirst (1988–2019). In this episode, Valicenti speaks with host ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠ and reflects on the journey and highlights of his career, which has spanned decades. Valicenti shares insights from his collaborations, friendships, and encounters with designers such as Paul Rand, Art Paul, Saul Bass, and Tibor Kalman. Valicenti walks us through his creat...

Our guest is Chicago-based designer and Object Company founder, Benjamin Edgar . In this episode, Benjamin speaks with host Christian Solorzano and co-host Carson Koppin about industrial design, his creative process, Jeff Koons, solving emotional problems, Powell Peralta's "The Ripper," and much more. Benjamin talks through the lifecycle of a product and how, through purposeful colla...

Our guest is ⁠⁠Chicago-based designer and innovation executive at Salesforce, Sharlene King — she is skillful, wise, and unapologetic. In this episode, Sharlene speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the art of listening, education, art/design school, generosity, taxidermy, her love for her 1989 Honda Civic, and much more. She walks us through her introduction to design by way...

Today's episode reflects the Chicago Graphic Design Club's 2023 and looks into the new year and some of the programming we have planned. Host Christian Christian is joined by CGDC team member Cheryl Bever, and they discuss some of this year's highlights plus share community comments. Thank you for supporting our program and listening in 2023. We look forward to connecting with you in t...

Our guest is ⁠⁠Chicago-based community organizer, educator, and designer ⁠ Amira Hegazy . In this episode, Amira speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about “love and care” as guiding principles that shape and drive the design process and work we do as designers. She walks us through her research about Chicago neighborhoods and the typography that represents their identities. She shar...

Our guest is ⁠⁠Chicago-based graphic designer Sean Fermoyle ⁠⁠. In this episode, Sean speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about logo redesigns, ways for designers to share their expertise with clients and stakeholders to get buy-in, how to manage ideas and find balance across professional and personal projects, and much more. Sean also shares the story of discovering graphic design in...

Our guest is ⁠ Rich Alapack ⁠, entrepreneur, artist, designer, public speaker, creative consultant, and the founder of we all live here . In this episode, Rich speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about creativity and design being catalysts that spark inspiration and positive community impact. He shares stories of working with community leaders, libraries, schools, and businesses and tak...

Our guest is Brian Shutters , Director of Shuttershot Productions. In this episode, Shutters speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠ about his insight into the power of being a generalist. He shares how this approach not only leads him to what he refers to as 'side quests' but also enables him to experiment and create across diverse mediums and industries. Brian takes us behind the sc...

Our guest is Bud Rodecker , Design Director and Partner at the Chicago-based studio Span . In this episode, Bud shares with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ his approach to finding inspiration in unexpected places and dives deep into his approach to the creative process and the importance that he places on research through the method of keeping ongoing archives of experiments and references. H...

Our guest is Tyler English⁠ , a letterpress designer and founder of Ulterior Press . In this digital age of screens, software, user experiences, and obsessions with pixel perfection — it is inspiring to hear from Tyler about his letterpress practices and the ways in which he meticulously works with typography, ink, and paper to create work that is rooted in the ways in which graphic design was onc...

Our guest is educator and graphic designer Sajad Amini . In this episode, Amini speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠ about ethics, the role and responsibility of the graphic designer, and the variety of ways in which language and semiotics come together to create realities that, more often than not, are unexpected. Amini shares examples that showcase graphic design as both being complicit...

Our guest is Will Miller , Senior Director of Design at the Chicago-based creative studio, Firebelly . In this episode, Miller speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠ about his design process, the importance of drawing inspiration from personal interests, ways to build trust with clients and stakeholders, craft, typography, designing in Chicago for over two decades, and so much more. We also he...