Typeradio Podcast

In this second part of the interview with Will Brown and Douglas Haddow of Adbusters magazine we talk about the actual achievements of Adbusters. Trying to inspire people to think differently and live more independently. Is it a lost cause? We also talk about the hate mail they receive, as well about the followers of Adbusters. For instance the article ‘Hipsters: The Dead End of Western Civilization’, that caused a huge fuss a few years ago. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Adbusters Facebook :: Adbusters Youtube :: Hipster article :: File Download (24:39 min / 34 MB)

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Adbusters magazine is a nonprofit, reader supported magazine which concerns itself with the erosion of our physical and cultural environments by commercial forces. We talk to Will Brown and Douglas Haddow, Art Director and Creative Consultant at Adbusters magazine. We ask them how they got involved with Adbusters in the first place and what they exactly do and contribute to the magazine. The past 20 years Adbusters are constantly fighting for the voice of independent media in legal battles. The end goal is to reform broadcast law. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Adbusters :: First Things First manifesto :: Kalle Lasn, Adbusters founder on CNN :: File Download (20:40 min / 29 MB)

‘Is there such a thing as an autonomous designer?’ After reading Jeroen Boomgaard’s text ‘Radical Autonomy’, we felt the need to have a discussion about the theme of autonomy and how important it is to use the term and define yourself as a designer or artist. We asked ourselves and the participants the following questions: + Are you an artist or a designer and can you be both? + Have you ever made autonomous work, or could you make autonomous work? + Is there something like non autonomous work of art? + Is there something like an autonomous designer? Here you can listen to the discussion that followed. Attending were Sandberg students Anja Groten, Michele Champagne and Lauren Grusenmeyer, Typeradio’s Donald Beekman, Liza Enebeis and Akiem Helmling, philosopher and applied ethicist Nikki Brörmann and Annelys de Vet, head of the design department of the Sandberg Institute. Moderated by Sandberg students Brigiet van den Berg and Maartje Smits. Recorded September 27, 2

In the second part of the interview Erik Kessels talks to us about the other side of advertising, and ‘In almost every picture’, a series of books on found photography, published by KesselsKramer themselves. Number 8 in the series is one about Oolong the rabbit, that can balance almost anything on his head. ‘In almost every picture #7’ is a lifelong document of the Dutch woman Ria van Dijk (89) situated in a fairground shooting gallery. Because of all these projects related to photography we ask him if he also photographs himself. He talks about what kind of images he likes to shoot and how the common family photo album is purely propaganda. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Documentary 'The view of Kessels (55 mins, dutch) :: KesselsKramer publishing :: Oolong the rabbit :: Ria van Dijk - Creative Review article :: File Download (15:25 min / 21 MB)

Erik Kessels is co-founder and creative director of advertising agency KesselsKramer. KesselsKramer, founded in 1996, is based in a church in Amsterdam. In 2007 KesselsKramer set up an office in London named KK Outlet. We talk with Erik about why they started an office in London. Also about the possibility to cross-over between various disciplines, which he thinks is very interesting. And the story behind mobile phone company ‘Ben’, which was reintroduced recently. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. KesselsKramer :: KK Outlet, London :: Ben :: File Download (33:30 min / 46 MB)

Is technology our next-nature? The 2010 Dutch royal christmas message, given by Queen Beatrix, inspired us to initiate a talk on the influence of technology on our daily lives. The Queens states that we alienate ourselves from our fellow men and our direct nature through the rise of social media. But how virtual is virtual life? How alienating is technology actually? Slavoj Zizek gives us an inspiring insight on these questions and directly challenges the Queen’s statement! A round-table discussion with first years students of the Sandberg Institute Design Departement about technology vs. ecology and ecology as an ideology. With Anja Groten, Michele Champagne, Brigiet van den Berg, Maartje Smits, Donald Beekman, Liza Enebeis and Janneke de Rooij and Lauren Grusenmeyer as moderators. Recorded March 3, 2010 at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam. Sandberg Institute :: Queen Beatrix Christmas message 2009 (in dutch) :: Slavoj Zizek in ‘Examined Life’ :: File

Initially Jan Hespeel and Randoald Sabbe started their careers separately. Ever since they both taught at Sint-Lucas art college in Ghent, a certain synergy appeared and they began to collaborate. They have been working together as Janenrandoald for over five years now. We asked them what they think is typical Belgian design and we also hear everything about their collections. From the collection of their feet to the various stuffed animals like the penguin, the deer, the lamb and the ‘grote trap’ (great bustard). Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Janenrandoald :: St.Lucas art college :: grote trap / great bustard :: File Download (28:36 min / 39 MB)

Armand Mevis is one half of design studio Mevis & Van Deursen. He talks to us about the people he admires and what he would like to do if he would win the lottery. Also the understanding as a Graphic Designer what kind of work you make. ‘What is actually your work in the work?’ We end the interview with the question how he would liked to be remembered. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Armand Mevis talk at Walker Art Centre :: Viktor & Rolf :: M&vD introduction at Integrated 2009 :: File Download (25:16 min / 35 MB)

Armand Mevis is one half of design studio Mevis & Van Deursen. While Linda Van Deursen is the head of the Graphic Design department at the Rietveld Academy, Armand Mevis teaches at the Werkplaats Typografie in Arnhem. We talk with Armand about the collaboration, on the commitment towards each other. For them working together is much more a conversation then sketching on the computer. How they hand over work to others and the position of this temporary third partner in their work. As a teacher Armand talks to us about his vision on teaching and his opinion on the level of design education in the Netherlands. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Mevis & Van Deursen :: M&vD at Designmuseum :: Werkplaats Typografie Arnhem :: Gerrit Rietveld Academy :: File Download (19:56 min / 28 MB)

Hugo Puttaert is a graphic designer, teacher and organiser, based in Brussels. He talked to us about organising the Integrated Conference 2009 in Antwerp. How he chooses the guest speakers from a list of 200 names! Hugo explains the conference history which began 12 years ago under the name C-Type focusing on type and urbanisation, later evolving into a wider field of graphic design. As a graphic designer, teacher and organiser he questions the future role of the graphic designer. You should be severe with your clients but you should first be severe with yourself in order to achieve the best results. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Hugo’s studio Vision Factory :: Integrated 2009 website :: Integrated 2009 info :: Sint Lucas Academy, Antwerp :: File Download (24:35 min / 34 MB)

Graphic design students of the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam discuss design topics. This first edition of the Design Discussions is about European identity, organised and edited by Anja Groten and Maartje Smits. Attending students of the Sandberg Institute: Janneke de Rooij, Lauren Grusenmeyer, Camilla Bustamamte, Michèle Champagne, Mike Oustamanolakis. As background information for the discussion they asked the students to read the lecture of Jozef Mrozek who talks about the identity of Europe. Mrozek tries to define Europe and the Design of Europe by looking at its traditions. Is it a good choice to define Europe through its past/history/heritage? Is there a way of giving it an identity which is focused on the present time and is there necessarily a need to define it anyway?  Recorded February 2nd, 2010 at the Sandberg Institute. Sandberg Institute :: A Tradition Imagined - lecture by Józef Mrozek :: Pan-European identity :: European preamble proje

Glasgow-based artist David Shrigley works in various media, but is best known for his slightly bizarre and humourous illustrations. David enjoys his artistic freedom, he considers himself lucky. He talks about humour, how he is perceived, his DJ-ing and taste in music. He sometimes says he’s not really good at it, but drawing does come naturally to him. 30 sheets of paper every day, he tries to put a lot of variety in his drawing. There are lots of people he admires, but he contemplates about the meaning of heroism. He ends talking about the meaning and themes of his work, and his ventures into the medium of animated film. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. David Shrigley :: Worried Noodles book/cd :: Modern Thought films :: On how he draws :: Who I Am and What I Want :: Pringle of Scotland animation :: File Download (35:02 min / 48 MB)

Annelys de Vet is head of the design department of the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam. She tells us how she became a graphic designer, and why. Spending her time between Brussels and Amsterdam, she talks about the differences and boundaries between art and design, and Belgium and Holland. She thinks design should be service minded and functional. Annelys always tells her students to question their approach, to see design in a bigger context, and the role of design in society. She talks about her Right To Copy project and discusses copying, originality and copyright. Subjective Maps project, the European Union and its effect on the design community. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium. Annelys de Vet :: Sandberg Institute :: Subjective Atlas of Palestine :: Subjective Atlas of Serbia :: File Download (34:04 min / 39 MB)

Büro Destruct is a graphic artists’ collective based in Bern, Switzerland, comprising of four members. Lopetz and HeiWid share their thoughts about swimming, fonts, heroes, their fascination with Japan, the similarities between Swiss and Japanese design, Amiga and Commodore computers. And finally the answer to what happens to designers after the age of sixty. Büro Destruct :: Büro Destruct III book :: BD fonts :: BD shop :: Lopetz :: Minaret controversy :: Amiga / Commodore :: File Download (37:58 min / 52 MB)

Going out to bars and cafés is Bob’s ritual, and this social interest plays a part in his design work. He talks about why he became a graphic designer. The most important lesson he learned is not to take design too seriously, there are many different ways to approach it. His work is changing a lot over the years, but in general he likes different layers, stories within stories. Bob talks about his former The Hague studio NLXL and his life after closing it down, making drawings with his son and father, and his job at Lava in Amsterdam. What are the differences between NLXL and Lava, The Hague and Amsterdam? He reflects on his avid collecting, his design heroes and the start of his career at Dumbar studios. Recorded at Underware, The Hague. Note: Bob van Dijk left Lava and runs his own studio again since December 2009. Personal website :: Lava :: File Download (31:23 min / 36 MB)

Professor David Crow is Head of the Art and Design faculty at the Manchester University. He discusses his motivation for his move from design to teaching, and his eventual move into being an academic manager. He reveals his experiences as a teacher and the importance of encouraging cross-disciplinary education. Crow talks about his initial interest in typography, his later work with semiotics and theory and the specifics of Manchester and British graphic design. Recorded at the 33pt conference 2009 in Dortmund. David Crow MMU :: Left to Right book :: Visible Signs book :: File Download (20:45 min / 29 MB)

Sven Ehmann is editor at Die Gestalten publishers in Berlin. He talks about his working process and how he juggles multiple projects. He moves on to discussing the origins of the book Dataflow at Die Gestalten and talks about the field of design publishing and his personal motivations in making books. Recorded at the 33pt conference 2009 in Dortmund. Die Gestalten :: Etc publications :: File Download (22:55 min / 32 MB)

Barbara Hahn and Christine Zimmermann are Von B und C, a design studio in Bern, Switzerland. They start by explaining how they got interested in infographics, visualising data as their graduation project, and how they work together (of coarse their collaboration can be best viewed in their self-designed ‘collaboration visualisation’). Analysis and visualisation is a much more complicated and time consuming process than design. They don’t have a preference for either, form and content go hand in hand. Next Von B und C reflect on the role of women, the ideal typeface in infographic design and their Leadership Alphabet. What kind of information do they like to work with most, what is their dream project and what are their information design heroes. What’s next? Have they cheated to improve visualisation? We end with their personal escapades. Recorded at the 33pt conference 2009 in Dortmund. Von B und C :: Leadership Alphabet :: Otto Neurath :: Jac

Jeroen Breen, Rob Stolte and Maarten Dullemeijer are Autobahn, design collective from Utrecht, The Netherlands. They first describe the special project they did for their presentation at 33pt in Dortmund, they tell us how they met and how they got interested in typography. They elaborate on their typographic experiments, and how they collaborate. Do they have specialities? Heroes? We finally hear about their big dream. Recorded at the 33pt conference in Dortmund. Autobahn :: File Download (17:11 min / 20 MB)

Rob Meek talks about the roots of Fontstruct with his MeekFM typographic synthesizer. He speaks about the genesis of Fontstruct and his thoughts on the success of the platform. Recorded at the 33pt conference 2009 in Dortmund. Fontstruct :: Meek FM :: Typographic synthesizer instruction video :: File Download (10:54 min / 15 MB)