Spandana Gopal

Spandana Gopal, founder and creative director of the Tiipoi homeware brand, visits the studio to discuss rejecting exoticised portraits of India's design and craft traditions; the need to prioritise ethical, community-focused production; and the challenges of translating global sales of local craft into a thriving domestic market.Spandana's picks for her crit were:Best design: General ItemsWorst design: “Silly candles”Most successful design: Tiipoi, thriving as a business and abiding by its principlesMost impactful feedback: Mentorship by Simon Alderson, cofounder of twentytwentyoneDream design: Rice cooking equipment for AlessiThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ab Rogers, creative director of the Ab Rogers Design studio, joins the podcast for a discussion focused on the architecture of healthcare, the horrors of wackiness, the need to welcome new people into architecture and design, and the creative potential for delight in everyday spaces.Ab's picks for his crit were:Best design: Maggie’s at The Royal MarsdenWorst design: Waiting room at the Charing Cross Hospital breast unitMost successful design: Tate Modern Public Concourses or Comme des Garçons ParisMost impactful feedback: Aric Chen describing his work as “wacky”Dream design: A culture-centred health hubThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Material researcher and designer Ori Orisun Merhav sits her crit, exploring the ethos, experimentation and commitment to bio-inclusive co-creation that underpin her creations with lac, a natural polymer produced by insects.Ori's picks for her crit were:Best design: Something yet to come within Made by Insects Worst design: The daily failures of material researchMost successful design: Lac chandelier for Design Sediments Most impactful feedback: Nacho Carbonell’s advice to “Become the insect”Dream design: A space and mindset to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration in material researchThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Designer and artist Samuel Ross, founder of fashion brand A-Cold-Wall*and design studio SR_A, visits the studio to discuss the challenges of working as an innovator within internal teams, the influence of architecture on his work, and creating designs that speak to a particular generation of British culture. Samuel's picks for his crit were:Best design: Partnership with Nike GroupWorst design: Designs where Ross’s team hasn’t managed to convince the client to adopt new processes Most successful design: SR_A Hublot TourbillonsMost impactful feedback: Provocative feedback from Kohler toilet Dream design: Ethical and accessible garment production or creating public communal spaces through urban planningThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Futures designer Nick Foster sits his crit to mark the launch of his new book Could Should Might Don't, exploring the limitations of futurism, and the need for more mundane, rounded design thinking within the realm of the tech giants.Nick's picks for his crit were:Best design: Google’s Selfish LedgerWorst design: Early-career, “thirsty could” design workMost successful design: Projects that have left stakeholders with a better understanding of the breadth of what design is Most impactful feedback: “Are you sure?”Dream design: Black MirrorThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danish designer Lise Vester visits the studio to discuss the impact of neuroaesthetics, hospices and CBT therapy on her work, as well as the role that designed sensory experience can have on improving people's everyday wellbeing.Lise's picks for her crit were:Best design: Dream View BenchWorst design: Silhouette CutleryMost successful design: Idea Generator Chandelier Most impactful feedback: Receiving feedback about how her Dream View collection changed people’s mindsetDream design: Working within healthcare facilitiesThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Benjamin Hubert, founder and creative director of Layer, joins The Crit to discuss moving beyond personality-driven aesthetics, creating objects for pets, his relationship with the media, and his desire to do more pro bono design work. Benjamin's picks for his crit were:Best design: LayerWorst design: Diamond ChairMost successful design: Dog toys for Earth Rated Most impactful feedback: A Financial Times article Dream design: Pro bono design work for charities, NGOs or community groupsThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomoko Azumi, founder of TNA Design Studio, visits the studio to talk about designing furniture for small spaces, the differences between the design industry in Japan and the UK, creating a space for the UK Supreme Court, and the importance of making models by hand. Tomoko's picks for her crit were:Best design: Flow Chair for Ercol and a trolley for the UK Supreme Court Worst design: Chairs for the UK Supreme CourtMost successful design: LEM stool for La Palma Most impactful feedback: The V&A and the Crafts Council putting pieces from her graduation show in their permanent collections Dream design: DIY kits for paper modelling The CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jo Barnard, founder and creative director of Morrama, a London-based design agency, joins the podcast to discuss customer feedback, failed shelving, the formation of a studio, and product design's social and environmental responsibilities.More information about Morrama's new book, From people to planet; lessons from a design agency, can be found here.Jo's picks for her crit were:Best design: Morrama Worst design: A flat-packed shelving unit made while at secondary school Most successful design: Angle razor Most impactful feedback: Customer reviews for Wild refillable deodorant Dream design: A waste systemThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Bates, design director of consumer tech company Nothing, visits the studio to discuss the difficulties of innovating in the smartphone category, the perils of spec creep, the joy of design references from the past, and the importance of carving out your own niche.Adam's picks for his crit were:Best design: Headphone (1)Worst design: A vacuum cleaner for the Japanese marketMost successful design: Dyson Supersonic and Phone (1) Most impactful feedback: “Carve your niche” and “You look like you're having too much fun”Dream design: A cameraThe CritGraphics: Leonhard RothmoserMusic: Yuri Suzuki and Team SuzukiThis episode of The Crit was recorded at KEF Music Gallery, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.