Underscore

Our guest is JJ Salgado , a recent Columbia College Chicago graduate, designer, and the newest member of the Chicago Graphic Design Club team. In this episode, JJ speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his journey through design education and into Chicago's creative community. JJ discusses the pivotal role mentorship has played in his development, particularly his relationships with design...

Our guest is Blaze Smith , a web designer and content creator who has built an audience of 80,000 followers by making web design education accessible through short-form video content. In this episode, Blaze speaks with host Christian Solorzano about going from a small town to becoming a recognizable voice in web design education on social media. He shares insights about his creative process—how he...

In this episode of Underscore, host Christian Solorzano speaks with Dave Pabellon , a designer, educator, and core organizer of the Design As Protest Collective , about his journey leading up to his current role as Assistant Professor of Design at Notre Dame. He reflects on his father's paradoxical advice to "be good, but not very good"—a philosophy that has shaped his humble approac...

Our guest is Matt Avery , founder of Monograph, a Chicago-based design studio specializing in publishing and typography. After 14 years as Principal Designer at the University of Chicago Press, where he designed The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, Matt launched his independent practice in 2018. Matt joins host Christian Solorzano to discuss his journey from engineering dropout to book desig...

Our guest is José Rosa , a Chicago-based graphic designer, DJ, and artist. They join host ⁠ Christian Solorzano⁠ to talk about their journey from Milwaukee and Puerto Rico to Chicago’s creative scene, and how magazines like The Source and Vogue sparked their path into design. José shares how their Caribbean upbringing shaped their vibrant aesthetic, why they push back against minimalism, and how t...

Our guest is Ashley Bedore , a graphic designer and illustrator working at Lincoln Park Zoo. In this episode, Ashley speaks with host Christian Solorzano about her journey from studying illustration at Columbia College Chicago to discovering graphic design through album cover artwork and concert posters. She shares insights about her creative process and her evolution from production designer to l...

Our guest is Sun Segura , Managing Director of design studio Segura and the digital type foundry T26 . She is also the founder and curator of AHA Time , a nonprofit organization focused on promoting essential core values. In this episode, Sun speaks with host Christian Solorzano about her journey from growing up in South Korea to leading two companies that helped shape the digital design landscape...

Our guest is ⁠ Suzie Shin⁠, a designer, educator, and artist who moved to Chicago after studying at RISD, drawn by the city's community of small design studios and creative collaboration. In this episode, Suzie speaks with host ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠ about her journey from aspiring illustrator to discovering her voice through collage and color. She shares insights about her analog-to-digital design...

Our guest is Betsy Schuster , a type designer and founder of Queer Type , an independent type design studio based in the Detroit area. Originally from suburban Michigan, Betsy discovered his calling in typography after studying graphic design and darkroom photography. In this episode, Betsy speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his evolution from graphic designer to specialized type designer,...

Video available on ⁠⁠ YouTube ⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠ Spotify ⁠⁠ . Search, The Chicago Graphic Design Club. — Today's episode is a conversation between Rick Valicenti and Christian Solorzano about the production of the Chicago Graphic Design Club 's second issue of their publication, Faculty . In this episode, they share stories about their collaboration and memorable highlights that center around craft...

Video available on ⁠ YouTube ⁠ and ⁠ Spotify ⁠ . Search, The Chicago Graphic Design Club. — Our guest is ⁠⁠ Cristobal⁠⁠ Mora , co-founder of ⁠⁠ Bueno Days⁠⁠, the community-centered coffee shop and creative space in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. As a photographer, graphic designer, and community builder, Cristobal represents a new generation of Mexican-American creatives shaping Chicag...

Video available on YouTube and Spotify . Search, The Chicago Graphic Design Club. — Our guest is Aliona Solomadina , an independent graphic designer, artist, and researcher originally based in Kyiv who has been living in Chicago since 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Aliona was featured in our inaugural Faculty publication through her work City of Forms . In this episode, Aliona sp...

Our guest is ⁠Barry Deck ⁠, graphic designer and typographer known for creating Template Gothic and serving as the final art director of Ray Gun Magazine. In this episode, Barry speaks with host ⁠ Christian Solorzano ⁠ about his unexpected journey from theater student to design icon, beginning with his discovery of graphic design while wandering the dorms at Northern Illinois University. He shares...

Our guest is Jamie Gannon , an artist, designer, and photographer who has spent over 30 years in Chicago exploring the intersection of architecture, memory, and creative practice. In this episode, Jamie speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his unique approach to documenting buildings through what he calls "defamiliarization" - taking familiar structures and making them unexpected again. He s...

Our guest is ⁠ ⁠Wendy Robles⁠ ⁠, a visual artist and designer who explores themes of connection, memory, and an invisible presence through her work. She maintains a dedicated creative practice between fine art and design in Chicago. In this episode, Wendy speaks with host ⁠ ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠ about her journey from fine arts to graphic design, exploring how her family's rich storytelling t...

Our guest is Aggie Toppins , a designer and educator who explores the origins, impact, and evolution of visual communication. She is an Associate Professor and Chair of Design at Washington University in St. Louis. In this episode, Aggie speaks with host Christian Solorzano about her journey from commercial design in Chicago to academia, exploring how her working-class upbringing in Ohio shaped he...

Our guest is ⁠ ⁠Andrew Dembitz⁠,⁠ a paper specialist, creative consultant, and founder of ⁠Resource Engine Group⁠ , who has been championing the value of printed media in Chicago for over 30 years. In this episode, Andrew speaks with host ⁠ ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠ about his journey from the fashion industry to becoming a respected voice in Chicago's paper and printing community. He shares insig...

Our guest is Jeffrey Hitchens , a photographer, designer, and community builder who moved to Chicago in 2011 after studying journalism in Long Beach, California. In this episode, Jeffrey speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his journey from photojournalism to graphic design, exploring how his background in telling visual stories shapes his approach to design work. He shares insights about hi...

Our guest is Violet Luczak , an artist, educator, and designer who currently directs the graphic design program at McHenry County College. In this episode, Violet speaks with host Christian Solorzano and co-host Hamid Alavi about her journey from graphic design to fine art, exploring how her formal design training influences her distinctive painting style. She shares insights about her creative pr...

Our guest is Cris Hernández , a type designer and researcher currently based in New York, working on expanding typography support for indigenous languages and underrepresented communities through various collaborative projects. In this episode, Cris speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his journey from being captivated by anime symbols as a child to his current research in typography. He sha...

Our guest is Lauren Gallagher , a Chicago-based designer and founder of Something Else Studio , a shape-shifting creative practice working with like-minded clients and collaborators. In this episode, Lauren speaks with host Christian Solorzano about her path from early design explorations to running her own studio, and how launching just before the pandemic shaped her approach to work. She shares...

Our guest is ⁠Nathaniel Haefner⁠ , a Chicago-based designer and educator who teaches graphic design while exploring the intersections of typography, web development, and music. In this episode, Nathaniel speaks with host ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠ about his journey from engineering student to design educator, and how his systematic approach shapes both his creative work and teaching. He shares insights...

Our guest is Chris Eichenseer, a Chicago-based designer and founder of Someoddpilot Design Studio and Public Works Gallery . In this episode, Chris speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his journey from thrash metal bands to building one of Chicago's most distinctive design studios. He shares insights on creative fearlessness, building mythology through design, and how maintaining a rebelliou...

Our guest is Robert Robbins , a Chicago-based designer and creative director at City Church Chicago. In this episode, Robert speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his journey from skateboarding culture to creative leadership, and how these experiences have shaped his approach to mentoring the next generation of designers. Robert shares his perspective on creating spaces where creativity can f...

Today, we share a special Underscore episode with some of the Chicago Graphic Design Club team: Cheryl , Alexis , Jeffrey , and Christian . Together, we reflect on 2024, all that we’ve accomplished, and our vision for 2025. We also spend time reading over comments from our community survey, giving you a glimpse into how the CGDC operates and works behind the scenes. As usual, thank you for listeni...