The Crit

Jo Barnard, founder and creative director of Morrama, a London-based design agency, joins the podcast to discuss customer feedback, failed shelving, the formation of a studio, and product design's social and environmental responsibilities. More information about Morrama's new book, From people to planet; lessons from a design agency , can be found here . Jo's picks for her crit were: Best design:...

Adam Bates, design director of consumer tech company Nothing, visits the studio to discuss the difficulties of innovating in the smartphone category, the perils of spec creep, the joy of design references from the past, and the importance of carving out your own niche. Adam's picks for his crit were: Best design: Headphone (1) Worst design: A vacuum cleaner for the Japanese market Most successful...

Designer and artist Paul Cocksedge joins The Crit for a conversation about communicating through coal, financing an art practice, engendering material wonder in diverse audiences, and the case for redesigning London's streets. Paul's picks for his crit were: Best design: Coalescence Worst design: Manuscript Most successful design: Please Be Seated Most impactful feedback: Ingo Maurer saying he bel...

Designer Nipa Doshi of Doshi Levien is our latest guest, visiting the studio to talk about the importance of sketching, the challenges of moving between continents, the need for plural approaches and aesthetic in design, and the case for greater sensitivity in the design of healthcare. Nipa's picks for her crit were: Best design: Charpoy for Moroso Worst design: None (the importance of selectivity...

Designer Nina Tolstrup, one half of Studiomama, joins The Crit to talk small-scale living, new cutlery typologies, furniture made from leftover pallets, and the importance of local manufacturing and distribution. Nina's picks for her crit were: Best design: Pallet Project Worst design: Bio-Plastic Cutlery Tool Most successful design: 13m2 House Most impactful feedback: “Just try it” Dream design:...

Experience designer, artist and filmmaker Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian makes a flying visit to The Crit, discussing bouncing sound waves off the moon to create music mixed with the sounds of the Big Bang, to redistributing wealth to community groups using funding ring-fenced for Brexit celebrations. Nelly's picks for her crit were: Best design: Piccadilly Un:Plugged Worst design: University of the U...

Jay Osgerby – cofounder of Barber Osgerby, Universal Design Studio and Map Project Office – visits the studio to reflect on the challenges of forging an emotional connection with users and audiences through design, as well as speculating on who might play him in a film of his life. Jay's picks for his crit were: Best design:  Double Space Worst design:  Everything he designed while study...

Designer Andu Masebo joins  The Crit  to discuss designing objects that tell stories about their own creation, his love of harsh feedback and his dream of redesigning the creative education system. Andu's picks for his crit were: Best design:  Making Room Worst design:  Union Chair Most successful design:  Candleholder No.12 Most impactful feedback:  His wife saying a...

Luke Pearson from Pearson&Lloyd joins The Crit to discuss, amongst other things, using design to improve communal spaces which many people might regard as an unfortunate necessity, from airplane interiors to A&E wards. Luke's picks for his crit were: Best design: Virgin Atlantic upper class seat or Flow X stairlift  Worst design: Homer office workstation for Knoll Most successful desi...

Designer and educator Ilse Crawford stops by the studio to talk about her work creating products and spaces centred around communication, material provenance and wellbeing: a concept focused on creating healthy systems and understanding the psychology and physiology of space. The founder of the Studioilse collective of architects, designers journalists and filmmakers, Ilse speaks about the importa...

Sound designer, musician and artist Yuri Suzuki, the creator of The Crit's jingle, joins us in the studio for a discussion about using sound as a means to shape human interactions and public spaces. Yuri's picks for his crit were: Best design: Sonic Bloom Worst design: Devices for a performance in Japan with visually impaired dancers Most successful design: OTOTO Most impactful feedback: Jesper Ko...

Australian furniture designer Trent Jansen visits The Crit to discuss his deep collaborations with indigenous Australian artists and designers, working together to make collectible design pieces and public furniture which tell stories about Australian history and culture. Trent's picks for his crit were: Best design: Kurunpa Kunpu Worst design: Shelving system Most successful design: Balit-dhan&nb...

Architect Katy Marks from Citizens Design Bureau joins The Crit the studio to explore her passion for designing welcoming and inclusive spaces, from community-led housing and cultural venues such as the Manchester Jewish Museum to the conservation of listed buildings. She also shares the story of -Unobra, her design for a one cup asymmetrical bra for post-mastectomy bodies, which was informed by h...

Designer, curator, writer and educator Michael Marriott joins The Crit to discuss making stickers that are sweetly political, his dream of restyling electric cars, and what he would most like to redesign about Christmastime. Michael’s picks for his crit were: Best de sign: Olá Worst design: Sardine Tin Drawers  Most successful design:  Fusilli book stand  Most impactful feedback: Cr...

Ceramic artist, researcher and writer Bisila Noha joins The Crit to discuss her interest in challenging Western ideas about art and craft, honouring the contributions of women of colour to these disciplines, and the importance of finding different ways to design and make with clay. Bisila's picks for her crit were: Best design: Baney Clay Worst design: Two-Legged Vessel Most successful design:&nbs...

Stefan Diez, founder of Diez Office, joins  The Crit to discuss the importance of elegance and joyfulness in sustainable design, and his work convincing major manufacturers to deviate from standard commercial manufacturing methods to cater for circular products. Stefan’s picks for his crit were: Best design: Ayno lamp or Boa table Worst design: Couch or an unnamed wardrobe project Most s...

Seetal Solanki from Ma-tt-er is the latest designer to join The Crit, discussing her work mapping materials in Bali and fostering community Nigeria, to using quizzes and memes as an educational exercise.  Seetal's picks for her crit were:  Best design: Desa Potato Head or 16/16 residency  Worst design: An unnamed restaurant window display Most successful design: Materials Perso...

What do designers think about their own work? Which project are they most proud of; what early design do they regret; and what would they most like to design in the future? The Crit , a new podcast from Disegno , has the answers! This week, Martino Gamper joins The Crit as his retrospective Before, After and Beyond opens in London, sharing memories from his success with a self-initiated stool, to...

What do designers think about their own work? Which project are they most proud of; what early design do they regret; and what would they most like to design in the future? The Crit , a new podcast from Disegno , has the answers! This week, Bethan Laura Wood joins The Crit to talk everything from toothpaste-inspired handles and explorations into the aesthetic potential of laminate, to feminist sal...

What do designers think about their own work? Which project are they most proud of; what early design do they regret; and what would they most like to design in the future? The Crit , a new podcast from Disegno , has the answers! This week, Yinka Ilori comes on The Crit to discuss being tempted to buy his chairs back, the career advice Tracey Emin gave him in M&S, and the importance of joy and...