Underscore

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Antonio Garcia , a Chicago-based designer, Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer at TXI , and Founder of Dadwell . In this episode, Antonio speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the intersection of business, strategy, and design and their value in creating outcomes rooted in intellectual curiosity and reason.  ...

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Hamid Alavi , a Chicago-based graphic designer, and Chicago Graphic Design Club programming team member. In this episode, Hamid speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about his multimedia creative practices, moving to the US from Iran, his research methods, Chicago, the importance of self-initiated projects, and much more. M...

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alexis Gonzalez , a Chicago-based graphic designer, and Chicago Graphic Design Club programming team member. In this episode, Alexis speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about her introduction to graphic design through a computer program she learned in the first grade and her thoughts on what the responsibility of a graphic desi...

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠ Tony Bynum, Associate Professor of Practice and Director of the ID Executive Academy at Illinois Tech's Institute of Design (ID) .   In this episode, Bynum speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the role of design as a philosophy and agent for change. We discuss the importance of creating meaning through our work and collaborati...

Our guest is ⁠ Mira Kida, a Chicago-based recruiter and design collaborator. In this episode, Mira speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about her background growing up in her family's art supplies business — and how that led to an appreciation for creativity/design. Today, she's a recruiter and shares advice on how designers can craft a compelling sto...

Our guest is Chris Leather , a Chicago-based graphic designer currently working at The University of Chicago’s Physical Sciences Division as Director of Graphic Arts. In this episode, Chris speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about his introduction to graphic design, background in concert posters in the 90s, publication design, and his move to Chicago...

Our guests are Kim Terzis (Executive Creative Director) and Alex Sommerville (Director of Brand Development) of Simple Truth , a Chicago-based design studio. In this episode, Kim and Alex speak with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the importance of clarifying and understanding your simple truth and how that influences collaboration, culture, and design. They...

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Valerie Craig , a Chicago-based designer and community organizer. In this episode, Valerie speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the power of community building and its importance in creating spaces that welcome sharing experiences and insight. Valerie walks us through her introduction to graphic design and the milestones and journ...

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...