Underscore

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 and their roles within creativity and much more.

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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.

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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 community and the reasons why he believes craft and passion are at the core of the city, and so much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 a collaborative spirit across the work she engages in. It's an insightful conversation in which we cover analog work, Chicago, community, and much more.

Alyssa is also featured in our publication, Faculty. You can purchase a copy here.

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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 means of creative inspiration, and much more.

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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 creative process and the methods through which he stays inspired to continue to create and use graphic design as a means of expression and communication.

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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 collaboration and particular attention to the mundane, he can take an idea from the notes app to a prototype in a matter of weeks. He shares valuable lessons on a meditative presence and explains why he uses Internet Blue, Helvetica Neue 57 condensed bold, and value as a method of communicating an idea.    

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 of working security at a museum and the path toward her career as a designer championing accessibility and authenticity within the creative process. Sharlene shares valuable lessons from her adolescence and explains her enthusiasm for new technologies that will evolve creativity, the commonalities between design and taxidermy, and life as neurodivergent.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Music by the band ⁠Eighties Slang⁠.

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 shares the importance of listening and understanding as crucial methods of honoring and respecting the history and legacies of cultures of communities. We also hear about her perspective on teaching and the classroom as being a space for inquiry into the ethics and implications of design across a range of contexts.

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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 high school and how teachers helped him connect the dots between his interests and the possibility of a career in design.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 takes us behind the scenes of teaching children curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Additionally, we dive deep into the process of co-creating murals, Chicago, embracing failure, taking risks, and much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 scenes of some of his projects, explaining to us how he combines narrative with craft and sheds light on the journey of discovering one's creative voice, while providing practical advice on how to activate and sustain it and walks us through his process of infusing this creative spirit into both client work and personal projects.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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. He also tells us the story of how a pirated copy of Photoshop given to him by his brother was the catalyst that kicked off his graphic design passion as a teenager.

Bud shares his definition of what excellence in graphic design looks like, going into detail and breaking down typography, color, and effective visual communication.

He speaks about what makes Chicago unique in contrast to other major cities and shares his perspective on Span’s commitment to being environmentally conscious and the ways in which, through their work, they are engaged with organizations and clients that are agents of change, not just locally but globally.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 once done.

In this episode, Tyler speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the hard-to-describe feeling of making things with your hands as opposed to on the computer and the familiarity and freedom that comes from working within the limitations of particular mediums, whether it is letterpress, music, or writing.

He shares the insights and surprises that he gains from working with letterpress and the process of seeing an idea all the way through production.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 in problem-solving and problem-making and the importance of making decisions that are value-driven and equitable. We learn about his teaching philosophy and methods for encouraging critical thinking amongst his students and the reason why he believes authenticity and experimentation are crucial within the design process.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 hear about the lessons he learns in empathy and compassion from dogs and pets and the ways in which he carries those teachings into his work.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is designer and business owner Cheryl Bever.

In this episode, Cheryl speaks with host ⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠ about her transition from fashion design to graphic design, her thoughts on the pressures of social media, confidence, running a business, working independently, and much more.

She shares with us the importance and value that she places on community and belonging, and as a collaborator of the Chicago Graphic Design Club, she dives deep into her approach to our programming.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is designer and partner at the Chicago-based studio Span John Pobojewski.

In this episode, John speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his background and education in music and the ways it influences his approach to his graphic design practice. 

From 2003–2019 John was a designer and later partner at Thirst alongside Rick Valicenti — and he shares with us his experiences and lessons learned from that time. He dives deep into his belief that design is one of the many ways to look at the world as a place of discovery and possibilities, in which designers have an opportunity to respond through their creative disciplines and values. 

We also hear about the power of listening, which serves as an imperative skill that allows us to create thoughtful and purpose-led solutions to problems, and so much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guests are design educators and practitioners Sharon Oiga and Guy Villa.

In this episode, Oiga and Villa speak with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about their collaborative dynamic, the story of how they met while studying at UIC in the 90s, the emphasis they place and looking for inspiration outside of design, and so much more. As educators, Oiga and Villa both give us a glimpse into their teaching ethos and the ways in which they foster curiosity in their students through experimentation and play. This conversation centers much around graphic design craft, theory, and practice.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is educator, typographer, photographer, and interdisciplinary designer Nathan Matteson.

In this episode, Matteson speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about his approach to graphic design that emphasizes the materiality of what we work with, his focus on typography as a tool of communication, his transition from painting into graphic design, and his skepticism of whether design can ever truly be solution-oriented. He shares with us his thoughts on craft and the consequences of plugins and templates used within the design process and offers us alternative ways through which we can approach our work as graphic designers.

Nathan on the web:

https://brut.ist/

https://skeptic.ist/

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guests are Design Director Nermin Moufti and Strategic Director Kristin Lueke of the creative studio Field of Practice.

In this episode, Nermin and Kristin speak with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about their studio's ethos, which views the creative process not as a destination but as an ongoing practice. Together, they share the ways in which they are challenging notions of business as usual and their need to stray away from the false sense of urgency. We explore the meaning of a creative obituary as opposed to a creative brief and what it means to leave behind a legacy through the work that we do as creatives.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is a multi-disciplinary writer, educator, consultant, futurist, and lecturer, Heather Snyder Quinn⁠. Her work focuses on the future of design, emerging technology, ethics, fiction, interdisciplinary practices, and theory and has been recognized by Nasa, the World Economic Forum, MIT Press, Yale Law School, and the Washington Post. Heather is often found playing in unexpected places, physical or virtual, and collaborating with people from an array of backgrounds. Her work uses design fiction to empower communities to imagine possible futures and understand technology’s impact on human freedoms.

Currently, she is editing Technologies of Deception, a publication bringing together art, design, technology, ethics, futurism, and policymaking. 

In this episode, Quinn speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠ about her early love for phonebooks, the future of graphic design, education, AI, interdisciplinary approaches to creative problem-solving, and much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is Patrick Smith, designer and founder of C2 Creative Studio. For over two decades, Smith has been working as a designer and calling Chicago his home. Today, in addition to working with clients and running his own studio, he is a contributing committee member of the Chicago Graphic Design Club, where he helps drive our mission and programming.

In this episode, Smith speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠ about his introduction to graphic design, his first creative projects, drawing band logos and album covers as a teenager, the evolution of Chicago's design industry over the last two decades, leadership, and much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠⁠iicky⁠, a Chicago-based artist who works with the concept of impermanence and non-traditional materials. His ethos centered around embracing decay, aging, and his father’s advice of “use what you have” and “there are no mistakes.” 

Born in Trinidad but raised in the Virgin Islands, today he resides in Chicago. He was one of the featured in the Chicago Graphic Design Club’s art exhibit, ⁠Chicago’s Tomorrow, Today⁠. His piece is titled “floating taxis in hyperspace near Pluto while eating vegan hotdogs.”

In this episode, iicky speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠, about his earliest memories of creativity, the value of the imperfect, sustainability, analog media, technology, and much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On this episode of Underscore, host ⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano is joined by committee member John Hatherly⁠⁠⁠⁠ to reflect on the last three years of the Chicago Graphic Design Club. They share their favorite moments and vision for the club's future and respond to community comments.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is Nicolette Stosur-Bassett, a business strategist and communications professional working primarily in the social impact space. In 2018, she founded Do It Better Design, a Chicago-based branding and communication studio. She graduated with a BA in Social Enterprise and an MA in Social Innovation and Sustainability from Goddard College. 

In 2022, she spoke with the Chicago Graphic Design Club about her project, Designing For, an examination of the ways in which the global pandemic shaped the personal practices of designers and their approach to community engagement. 

In this episode, Nicolette speaks with host ⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠ ⁠about her approach to learning, the meaning of socially conscious work, graphic design's relationship with communication, and more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠.

Our guest is Joseph Michael Essex, someone who has played a pivotal role in the history of Chicago graphic design for the last five decades. Joseph has spent his career asking questions and finding meaning and reason throughout the process. In the 1970s, he started his career as an art director for the station that produced Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and the National Geographic Specials. Today, he leads J.M.Essex, where he consults corporations, institutions, associations, and independent creative offices and agencies — helping others implement plans personalized for their creative leadership goals.

In this episode, Essex speaks with host ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠ about his childhood, learning from Paul Rand, Herb Lubalin, and John Massey design competitions, the value of learning, writing, leadership, and more.

Music by the band ⁠Eighties Slang⁠.

Our guest is Grace Hamilton, host of the podcast Design Is Not Neutral, a thesis project created during a design master’s program at the University of Notre Dame. Hamilton focuses on challenging perceptions of design, conversations on the meaning of socially conscious work, design education, and history. 

In this episode, Hamilton speaks with host Christian Solorzano about her early introduction to graphic design, growing up in South Bend, Indiana, her approach to teaching design to designers and non-designers, equity within our industry, and much more.

Music by the band ⁠Eighties Slang⁠.

Our guest is designer and community leader David Sieren. In 2002 he graduated from RISD with a BFA in graphic design. Over the past two decades, he’s been an educator at DePaul University, Spudnik Press, the Chicago Portfolio School, has been Co-President of AIGA Chicago, and Co-Founder of the creative collaborative, The Post Family. Today, he’s a Managing Director and Partner at One Design Company, where he leads teams focused on creating powerful experiences rooted in research, design, and strategy.

In this episode, Sieren speaks with host Christian Solorzano about growing up in Milwaukee, being raised by a painter and designer, moving to Chicago, design education, culture, history, and much more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is entrepreneur, muralist, and designer Jay Byrnes. In 2010, he founded Fourth is King, a Chicago-based streetwear brand. In 2003, he founded his studio Adapt Studio, where he collaborated with companies such as Avondale Type, Chicago Athetlic Hotel, the Museum of Science and Industry, Google, and Nature Valley. Most recently, he’s the Director of Brand at MNML, described as a product development and brand incubation agency.

In this episode, Byrnes speaks with hosts  Christian Solorzano and Jaime Cisneros about starting projects from scratch, building design culture, AI, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is designer, artist, and community organizer Lashun Tines. Chicago-born, Lashun has been working in design for nearly two decades. Since then, he’s worked at VSA Partners, Leo Burnett, Razorfish, and currently, he’s a Design Director at Wieden + Kennedy. Between 2014–2018, he was the Diversity Lead for AIGA Chicago.

His notable work as founder of the project the Art of Blackness has paved the way for African American graphic designers to obtain familiarity and exposure to the creative field through representation and inspiration by celebrating and highlighting African American creatives working today.

In this episode, Lashun speaks with host  Christian Solorzano about growing up in Chicago, high school, the power of finding your “creative tribe,” Emory Douglas, diversity and inclusion, leadership, mentorship, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guests are Dan McManus and Sofya Karash, partners in both life and business. Together, they run the design studio, the Narrative. Both as educators and designers, they are committed to contributing to and advancing culture through graphic design. Their expertise lies in storytelling and multidisciplinary visual communication languages — relying heavily on research and collaborations, they visualize their clients' narratives. 

In this episode, Dan and Sofya speak with host Christian Solorzano about their Chicago roots, creative inspiration, the meaning of community, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is Crissy Chahyadi. She is currently in the graduate program at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art), earning a Master’s in Graphic Design. Her connection to Chicago is through the work that she’s done for the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium. Originally from Indonesia, she came to the United States to study design at Dordt University in Iowa.

In this episode, Crissy speaks with host Christian Solorzano about her introduction to lettering, starting a design business at 16, studying graphic design in Iowa, her faith, the meaning of community, Chicago, and more. 

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is educator, designer, and ceramist Richard Zeid. For the last three decades, Zeid has taught design at Columbia College in Chicago and designed for many clients, from not-for-profit theatres to Fortune 500 corporations.

In this episode, Zeid speaks with hosts Christian Solorzano and Jaime Cisneros about his perspective on teaching, analog approaches to making, creative practices, graphic design curriculums, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is illustrator and designer Mick Champayne. She refers to her work as having beauty and brains while being strategic and thoughtful. In addition, Champayne uses illustration as a tool for storytelling that tackles everything from light-hearted memes to serious social commentary — believing that art can be a catalyst for conversation and connection.

Currently, Champayne is a Sr. Visual Designer at Google.

In this episode, Champayne speaks with host Christian Solorzano about her introduction to art as a child, the internet, memes, motherhood, speculative design, humor, the creative process, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is master storyteller and creative Steven White. Over the years, he's facilitated innovative creative workshops and sessions with military special forces and thousands of corporate executives and business leaders. 

Most recently, he published his first graphic novel, Ancient Futures, a sci-fi fantasy that tells the story of humankind through the lens of afro-cyberpunk assassins. An epic tale told on multiple levels — a dark global organization waging war on science, a rogue professor with unbelievable technology, angels sacrificing heavenly status, and the super-dimensional force coming to oppose them...and one dude caught up in it all, just trying to lead a Dope Life.

Currently, he runs Seven Studio, which expands minds via space and time through work in arts, entertainment, and metacognition. In addition, he has a Master’s in Design Methods from the Institute of Design.

In this episode, White speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his early introductions to storytelling, the discipline of following your creative aspirations, writing graphic novels, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is designer, illustrator, and artist Brian Morris. For the past 25 years, he’s devoted much of his time to working in digital agencies. Most recently, he held the role of Executive Creative Director at a big four consulting firm. Today, he is a full-time self-employed artist working in the NFT and AI space while collaborating with other artists and perfecting his craft.

In this episode, Morris speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his introduction to creativity, giving himself a tattoo when he was eight, leaving a job to pursue his passions, NFTs, artificial intelligence, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is Ashley Lukasik, CEO and founder of the consulting agency Murmuring and longtime collaborator and supporter of the Chicago Graphic Design Club. She has a Master’s in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and spent years at IIT Institute of Design as Director of Corporate Relations, Communications & Marketing. In addition, Ashley was also the co-producer of the 2019 documentary, The New Bauhaus, a film about the legacy of the designer and artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. 

In this episode, Lukasik speaks with host Christian Solorzano and discusses humanity’s relationship to technology, the importance of immersive experiences, and the role design plays in how we experience the world. 

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Our guest is Tanner Woodford, Executive Director and Founder of the Design Museum of Chicago. Woodford has been a key figure in Chicago’s design community for over a decade, creating spaces for critical dialogue, connection, and inspiration. He’s an optimist by nature and a believer that design has the capacity to improve the human condition. In addition, he’s an educator, artist, muralist, and coin collector.

In this episode, Woodford speaks with host Christian Solorzano and shares stories about his early introduction to graphic design, the beginning of the Design Museum of Chicago, his influences, and ways to strengthen design's role throughout the city.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

The designer Francis has deep Chicago roots. Although they are no longer in Chicago, their work continues to be heavily inspired by their relationship to Chicago's 90s design community and culture. Francis is a designer who prioritizes graphic design before anything else. They're unapologetic in their criticism of the design industry. Still, they make an effort to push the boundaries of what is possible and inspire the next generation to do good work.

In this episode, Francis speaks with host Christian Solorzano and discusses their education and upbringing in Chicago during the 90s, their influences, approach to working with clients, philosophy, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Over the past two decades, graphic designer, Nick Adam has been shaping and contributing to Chicago’s visual culture through collaborations with institutions, studios, and leaders. He describes himself as strategic and values-driven, focusing on and exploring identities and stories while producing work that leads to rich conversation and experiences by merging craft, theory, and optimism.

In 2018, he graduated with an MFA in Graphic Design from RISD. Currently, he is a Design Principal at the design studio Span. Before that, he was an Associate Principal at Rick Valicenti’s studio, Thirst, and before that, Strategic Director at Firebelly.

In this episode, Nick Adam speaks with host Christian Solorzano and Jaime Cisneros and, discusses his upbringing, early design influences, approach to design, the Chicago design community, and more.

Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Since 1991 Carlos Segura has been running his studio, Segura Inc. In 1994 he founded T26 type foundry, and today, he continues to create beautiful work with purpose, meaning, and immense attention to detail.

In this episode, Segura speaks with host Christian Solorzano and discusses his design philosophy, approach to working with clients, and shares stories about the Chicago design community. Music by the band Eighties Slang.

In this episode, Zeni speaks with host Christian Solorzano and discusses his journey, experience, and stories about the Chicago design community. Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Mx. Studio was founded by designers Jonathan Sangster and KT Duffy. Together they focus on projects that involve branding, identity development, front-end web development, VR and AR environments, design, print, social media, concept development, video, and digital fabrication. In this episode, Sangster and KT speak with host Christian Solorzano and discuss their approach to design, breaking conventions, sharing their solutions to building an equitable industry that champions diversity of thought, and more. Episode edited by Irina Goldman. Music by the band Eighties Slang.

Patric King is a graphic designer and typographer based in Chicago. In this episode, King speaks with host, Christian Solorzano and discusses coming to Chicago in the mid-1990s to work alongside Rick Valicenti at the design studio Thirst and the work that he did while there. King also shares how he founded House of Pretty, his design studio, and speaks about some of the early influences that shaped his career.

King is also the designer and typographer responsible for Big Shoulders, the official typeface for the City of Chicago, released in 2020.

In this episode, host, Christian Solorzano, speaks with Nick Haas, a Chicago-based designer, creative director, and artist. Originally from Cleveland Ohio, Nick has been calling Chicago his home for over 20 years. In 2002 he graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Graphic Design.

Today, his roles are Director of Design in the Products and Technology group at PwC — which is a large consulting firm, and Founder of Haastyle — his creative outlet where he produces artwork and photography for public companies and private collectors.

His work has been recognized by GD USA, Communicator Awards, W3 Awards, the Chicago Suntimes, and the Chicago Tribune, amongst others.

In this episode, we explore the evolution of the design discipline, ways to balance professional and personal creative practices, places in the city from which he draws inspiration, and general life advice.

In this episode, host, Christian Solorzano, speaks with Chicago-based designer, Brooke Kravitz, about a wide range of topics, from emotions, vulnerability, creativity, business, and more. She shares with us the story of how she was introduced to graphic design, how being a Girl Scout shaped her perspective of the world and her perspective on design.