Bits and Pieces: design-related podcasts
The Stack
- Format: Studio host, with guests, reports and discussion
- Tone: informative, intelligent and ever-so-slightly smug.
- Usual length: 25 – 40 mins
- Frequency: weekly
The first of 2 offering from Monocle, publishers of the high-brow monthly magazine. They run a radio station, but the shows are also released as podcasts. This has been a long-time favourite of mine.
Usually presented by Editor-in-Chief Tyler Brulee, its a 30 minute look at the world of magazine publishing. Guests bring along their favourite titles, and discuss design, content and the wider industry.
Section D
- Format: studio host and reports from global reporters
- Tone: dips a toe in the water of every type of design – a good overview
- Usual length: 60 mins
- Frequency: weekly
The second podcast from Monocle, this time the design-focused Section D. A recent change of presenter has improved this no end, with a more relaxed style. Covering graphic design, architecture, fashion and everything in between all over the world, it offers an interesting insight into the industry.
99% Invisible
- Format: radio programme on a different design related subject each week
- Tone: highly produced, intelligent with comic asides.
- Usual length: around 2o minutes
- Frequency: weekly
A recent funding push has meant this brilliant radio series is now weekly, maintaining it’s high standards. A high level of production and presenting means recent topics such as “barcodes”, Pizza Hut buildings and number stations, become fascinating subjects.
Data Stories
- Format: 2 hosts + guests
- Tone: incredibly friendly, passionate and geeky in places
- Usual length: 45 – 120 mins
- Frequency: monthly (not regular)
I adore this podcast because it lands exactly in my wheelhouse – data and design. The hosts, an academic and a professional data designer, clearly enjoy the podcast and create a friendly and warm environment. Both incredibly knowledgable, they bring in big name guests and cover a range of subjects including, recently, data journalism. As I’m not a coder, I am occasionally lost by some of the code-speak, but it’s handled well and moves quickly.
Do listen out for the adorable cross-nationality marathon goodbye session at the end of the podcast!
Design Matters
- Format: head to head interview
- Tone: intimate, warm and knowledgable
- Usual length: 45 mins
- Frequency: weekly
This podcast focuses entirely on one subject a week, with an in-depth head to head interview. I’ve found interviews to be interesting and insightful, irrespective of the interviewee, thanks to host bigwig Debbie Milner.
The Deeply Graphic Design Podcast
- Format: 3 hosts, discussion and listener questions
- Tone: friendly, industry-insight discussions and advice
- Usual length: 40 – 60 mins
- Frequency: fortnightly
This is a more serious version of Adventures in Design – with 3 professional designers discussing a specific graphic or web design issue each episode. The tone is friendly, with no silliness or banter and the issues are handled professionally.
Adventures in Design
- Format: 3 presenters with chat, occasional interviews and Q & A
- Tone: casual, yet informative with occasional (ok, quite a bit) of swearing
- Usual length: 1 hr 40 – 2hr
- Frequency: weekly
When I was working alone at home, this podcast acted as my colleagues, with enough banter and interesting facts and tips to make me feel human again!! It was great to hear 3 guys chatting about every day designer issues and moans, with some smart ideas and advice thrown in.
Recently the podcasts were recorded on the road as the crew took a trip to the Flatpack Festival in Austin, Texas as part of SXSW with some genuinely funny moments!