KUDOS AM/PM

On this episode of KUDOS AM/PM, John sits down with Joyce Shi—founder of Function Lab and G-Axis Press—to explore how design can evolve beyond client work into a lifelong practice of authorship.Drawing from her background as a classically trained pianist, Joyce shares the thinking behind BWV988, her book-length interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, and reflects on how music continues to shape her approach to design, publishing, and creative inquiry.Together, John and Joyce discuss independent publishing, self-initiated projects, and the role of writing, teaching, and making in building a meaningful creative practice. They also trace Joyce’s journey from Parsons School of Design and Cooper Union to founding her own studio and press in New York, demonstrating how personal pursuits can become the foundation of a lasting design career.📖 Learn more about Joyce’s latest publication, Letter Size Essay Vol. 8https://gaxis.square.site/product/letter-size-essay-vol-8-design-practice-vs-design-writing/P2KV6UL3FIMGQYUGCJZEKFWZ

In this episode of Kudos AM/PM, John Kudos interviews Jan Wilker, co-founder of Karlssonwilker, about the journey of building a design studio that has thrived for over two decades.Wilker offers an honest perspective on sustaining curiosity, evolving a creative practice, and balancing design with business, covering topics from the studio's unplanned start to the embrace of inefficiency in the creative process.The discussion explores early career choices, the creative workflow, client relationships, and how unconventional experiences, like opening an ice cream window, can fundamentally alter one's view of people, design, and impact. Ultimately, this conversation frames design not merely as a profession, but as a holistic approach to engaging with the world.

In this episode, host John Kudos sits down with Lynne Yun and Kevin Yeh, the duo behind Space Type, a Brooklyn-based type foundry and design studio working across typography, computation, and hands-on publishing.From type design and calligraphy to generative tools, risograph printing, and teaching, Lynne and Kevin share how their very different backgrounds shaped a practice that resists easy categorization. They talk about learning through making, navigating client work while protecting personal curiosity, and why some of the most meaningful projects begin as experiments with no clear outcome.The conversation explores mentorship, community-building, and the importance of creating work that feels sustainable, joyful, and honest over time. A thoughtful look into how contemporary designers can move fluidly between analog and digital worlds without losing their sense of craft.

In this episode, host John Kudos sits down with Mulyana, a remarkable crochet artist from Indonesia known for his larger-than-life yarn installations and global exhibitions. From humble beginnings in Bandung to showcasing immersive textile art across United States, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and more. Mulyana shares how he crafts vibrant underwater worlds and emotional landscapes using yarn, recycled plastic, and performance.

In this episode, host John Kudos sits down with Pinot and Dita—a dynamic creative duo blending art, animation, and family into one seamless adventure. From Indonesia to New York, they’ve carved out a unique path, embracing old-school tech, DIY magic, and the joy of making things together with family. Pinot’s hand-drawn animations have landed on Into the Spider-Verse, Stranger Things, and even a Fatboy Slim concert, while Dita’s surface design work has graced brands like Disney+, Biore, and Keen USA.They open up about navigating life as immigrants, raising a creative family, and how limitations fuel their artistry. Whether it’s stop-motion with post-its, stitching upcycled fabrics, or turning analog quirks into digital magic, Pinot and Dita prove that fun is the best foundation for great work.

In this episode of Kudos AM/PM, host John Kudos sits down with Martin Flores, a graphic designer exploring the boundaries between liminality, humor, and public space interventions.Martin shares his unconventional path—from studying industrial design at NJIT to finding his creative voice at MICA, where he developed a thesis centered around liminality. He dives into his fascination with graffiti, street art, and culture jamming, and how his work challenges traditional design norms through pranks, humor, and interactive installations.

In this episode, host John Kudos sits down with Zipeng Zhu—a bold, colorful designer on a mission to “make every day a razzle-dazzle musical.” Zipeng shares his journey from student in China to celebrated NYC creative, opening up about navigating life as a queer immigrant, defying minimalism, and staying authentic in his vibrant, unapologetic design work. ----- Subscribe to our channel to explore the intersection of art, business, and technology! Theme song: SPIDERHORSE KUDOS AM/PM Team Host: John Kudos Producer: Dita Julia Editor: Dita Julia Title Sequence: Dazzle Studio Branding: Owen Febiandi & Muhammad Syamil Haqqoni

In this episode, host John Kudos dives into the fascinating world of sustainable design with Julia Marsh, the CEO and Co-founder of Sway, a company making waves in material innovation. From her beginnings as a design student with a passion for circular materials, Julia shares how she developed a solution to plastic waste using an unlikely resource: seaweed. They discuss Julia's journey from a graduate thesis to founding Sway, the pivotal moments that shaped her path, and her research trip to Bali and building a team driven by purpose. Discover how seaweed is not only replacing plastic but also supporting ecosystems and coastal communities. ----- Subscribe to our channel to explore the intersection of art, business, and technology! Theme song: SPIDERHORSE KUDOS AM/PM Team Host: John Kudos Producer: Dita Julia Editor: Dita Julia Motion Graphic: Irpan Alfian & Dita Julia Branding: Owen Febiandi & Muhammad Syamil Haqqoni

In this episode John Kudos chats with Mark De Winne, a Singaporean type designer and educator. They discussed the launch of Type Design Asia, a program dedicated to empower the rising type design communities in South East Asia through accessible education and mentorship. Mark was the head of Relay Room, a design shop in Singapore, but found his way to the Type and Media program at the Royal Academy of Art (Netherlands) and Type@Cooper program at the Cooper Union in New York where he met his typography mentors catapulted his journey. ––– Subscribe to our channel to explore the intersection of art, business, and technology! Theme song: SPIDERHORSE KUDOS AM/PM Team Host: John Kudos Producer: Dita Julia Editor: Dita Julia Branding: Owen Febiandi & Muhammad Syamil Haqqoni Motion Graphic: Irpan Alfian & Dita Julia

In this episode, John Kudos chats with David Jon Walker, a designer and lettering artist producing politically-charged work as a Black designer with 3 kids, a stylus, and a French bulldog. David shares his journey from a designer in Nashville TN to a tenured professor and an Arts Fellow at Yale School of Art. His exhibition, “Shining Light on Truth”, spotlights the buried knowledge about the roles of the enslaved and free Black people in creating New Haven and Yale. --- Subscribe to our channel to explore the intersection of art, business, and technology! Theme song: SPIDERHORSE KUDOS AM/PM Team Host: John Kudos Producer: Dita Julia Editor: Dita Julia Motion Graphic: Irpan Alfian & Dita Julia Branding: Owen Febiandi & Muhammad Syamil Haqqoni