Episode notes
Phil Garnham, executive creative director of Monotype Studio, joins the podcast to discuss the changing landscape of type design, the joys of creating typography for broadcasting companies, and the difficulties of releasing typefaces into the world to have a life of their own. Phil's picks for his crit were: Best design: FS Emeric Worst design: FS Lola, a typeface used for Sainsbury’s and Greggs Most successful design: Designing logos for broadcast companies such as ITV and Channel 4 Most impactful feedback: Look at a typeface or logo with fresh eyes by flipping it on its side or upside down…
Podcast
The Crit
Disegno · Arts & Books · English
The Crit invites designers to review their own careers, picking out their highlights, lowlights and ambitions for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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E39 · 30 Jun 2026 · 46 min
Leyu Li
Leyu Li, a London-based food designer, joins the podcast to discuss using social media in her work, the challenges and opportunities involved in food design, and the pleasures of doing commercial work. Leyu's picks for her crit were: Best design: cM Donald's Worst design: F.A.M Supper Club Most successful design: Broccopork, Mushchicken and Peaf Most impactful feedback: Someone commenting on her TikTok saying her work is “So Goldsmiths” Dream design: Hana no Hana bakery The Crit Graphics: Leonhard Rothmoser Music: Yuri Suzuki and Team Suzuki This episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music…
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E38 · 16 Jun 2026 · 47 min
John Tree
London-based industrial designer John Tree visits the studio to talk about the challenges of mobile phone design, his belief in the social potential of industrial design, the opportunity to completely reconceive electric vehicles, and the importance of not obsessing over your business card. John's picks for his crit were: Best design: Billet chair Worst design: A mobile phone for Samsung Most successful design: Apex lamp Most impactful feedback: His friend Chopper from Rosie Lee saying that it’s not enough to be a good designer, you have to get your work out there Dream design: Electric…
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E37 · 2 Jun 2026 · 46 min
Tessa Silva
London-based designer Tessa Silva joins the podcast to discuss making objects out of milk protein, understanding the possibilities and limitations of materials, and her dream of redesigning pubs. Tessa's picks for her crit were: Best design: Feminised Protein Worst design: Martini glasses made from milk Most successful design: Smock Most impactful feedback: Comments from fellow designers during an informal crit group she started to get feedback on her work in progress Dream design: Pubs The Crit Graphics: Leonhard Rothmoser Music: Yuri Suzuki and Team Suzuki This episode of The Crit was…
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E36 · 14 Apr 2026 · 49 min
Tetsuo Mukai
Tetsuo Mukai, co-founder of London-based design studio Study O Portable, joins the podcast to discuss creating objects that interrogate our relationship with design, his background in fashion, and his perspective on debates around how critical design practice is framed and presented to a broad public. Tetsuo's picks for his crit were: Best design: Quartz Mirror Worst design: Crystal room dividers Most successful design: Fuzz Most impactful feedback: People asking whether his work is art or design Dream design: A free art school The Crit Graphics: Leonhard Rothmoser Music: Yuri Suzuki and…
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E35 · 31 Mar 2026 · 46 min
Simone Brewster
Simone Brewster, a designer, artist and educator, as well as the subject of the second Platform exhibition at London's Design Museum, joins The Crit to discuss finding a wider purpose behind her varied work, her attraction to answering the same questions in different ways, and the importance of language and representation in design. Simone's picks for her crit were: Best design: Negress & Mammy Worst design: Decorative plates for William Morris Gallery’s Althea McNish exhibition Most successful design: Temple of Relics pavilion Most impactful feedback: One of her architecture tutors saying…
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E33 · 17 Feb 2026 · 55 min
Johanna Gibbons
Johanna Gibbons, founder of landscape architecture practice J&L Gibbons and the current keeper of the Faculty of Royal Designers, joins the podcast to discuss the pluriverse, the entanglements of community and landscape, and the potential for education through ecology. Johanna's picks for her crit were: Best design: Dalston Eastern Curve Garden as part of Making Space in Dalston or Urban Nature Project, Natural History Museum Worst design: Edward Square Most successful design: Urban Nature Project, Natural History Museum Most impactful feedback: A difficult community meeting as part of…
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E32 · 3 Feb 2026 · 45 min
James Melia
James Melia, founder and creative director of London-based design agency Blond, joins the podcast for a conversation about packaging, brand names, and greater attention towards design in medical tech. James's picks for his crit were: Best design: Fussy refillable deodorant Worst design: A desk he designed for his final project at university Most successful design: An upcoming packaging design for a US brand Most impactful feedback: His colleague Dana Salmanzadeh asking why James is the only person in the studio who pitches and presents projects to clients Dream design: A catheter The Crit…
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E31 · 20 Jan 2026 · 51 min
Liliana Ovalle
Designer and researcher Liliana Ovalle visits the studio to discuss exploring different making cultures, learning the limitations of working with craft processes, and her dream of making altars for the home. Liliana’s picks for her crit were: Best design: Sinkhole Vessels Worst design: Encuentros bar set Most successful design: Fragment of a Staircase Most impactful feedback: Curator Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher saying she creates designs that look playful but are actually quite serious, similar to the work of designer Shiro Kuramata The Crit Graphics: Leonhard Rothmoser Music: Yuri Suzuki and…
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E30 · 6 Jan 2026 · 51 min
Jon Marshall
Jon Marshall, industrial designer and partner at Pentagram, visits the studio to discuss the importance of trusting the process, the experience of moving from a designer to a creative director role, and the pleasures of seemingly intractable design problems. Jon's picks for his crit were: Best design: Honda. A Great Journey Worst design: Exhibition design for UNIQLO Most successful design: Yoto Most impactful feedback: Daniel Weil telling him to trust the process (and all feedback from his wife) Dream design: A range of cookware inspired by Richard Sapper’s La Cintura di Orione for Alessi…
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E29 · 22 Dec 2025 · 57 min
Charlene Prempeh
Charlene Prempeh, founder of A Vibe Called Tech, joins The Crit for our 2025 holiday episode, examining the pleasures and importance of “good enough” work; the porous barrier between commercial and artistic practice; and answering a series of festive questions about redesigning the holidays!. Charlene's picks for her crit were: Best design: Now You See Me: 100 Years of Black Design Worst design: A project with a beauty brand during Black History Month (Best holiday gift: An advent calendar ) Most successful design: We Are All They (Best holiday decoration: A wooden star, made by her son )…
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