Educated Guess :: A Liberal Arts School for the Future

Lütjens Padmanabhan Architekten was established by Oliver Lütjens and Thomas Padmanabhan in 2007. The recent work of the practice focuses on housing in the residential districts surrounding the cities of Zürich, Basel and Munich.  Despite their love for a more refined, urbane architecture, Oliver Lütjens and Thomas Padmanabhan have light-heartedly embraced the fact that most of their commissions are set in the mundane anonymity of suburbia. Their interest in complex architectural expression has distanced the practice from the craft-oriented mainstream of Swiss architecture.  The current projects explore the impossible task of reconciling the autonomy of the exterior facade with the typological uncertainty of interior spaces and loose urban contexts. After teaching assignments at ETH Zürich and TU Munich Oliver Lütjens and Thomas Padmanabhan are currently teaching as guest professors at EPF Lausanne.

Established in 2007, UnderConsideration is a graphic design firm generating their own projects, initiatives, and content while taking on limited client work. Since 2002, they have been publishing content online, starting with the design blog Speak Up, that ran through 2009 and was one of the most active, entertaining, and well-regarded blogs, even earning a spot in the Cooper-Hewitt’s National Design Triennial in 2006 — the only blog included in the exhibition. Their most popular blog, Brand New, was launched in 2006 and has grown to be the leading site for opinions on logo and identity redesigns with a readership of over 1.25 million page views a month and, like its predecessor, it was also the only blog included in Graphic Design: Now in Production, co-organized by the Walker Art Center and Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Active blogs in their network include Art of the Menu, FPO (For Print Only), and Quipsologies. Learn More about UnderConsideration Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow Us on Instagram

Robert Newman is a painter, director, and designer. After graduating from Morehouse College in 2014, Robert moved to Harlem to continue both his career as an artist and his career on Wall Street (Morgan Stanley and Neuberger Berman).  His work has been featured in galleries, events, and museums across the city of New York and internationally. In addition to producing his own shows, he has also worked with a number of global organizations to advance the arts. Some of the organizations include, but aren't limited to:  Verizon Media The Museum at Fit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of NYC Broadway Advocacy Coalition  Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art And More Shop Robert's Work Follow Robert on Instagram Follow Educated Guess on Instagram Subscribe to the Educated Guess Newsletter

Curry Hackett is a transdisciplinary designer, public artist, and educator. His practice, Wayside Studio is formerly based in Washington, DC, and currently operates out of Knoxville, TN collaborates with communities and organizations to engage matters pertaining to culture, infrastructure, ecology, and the public realm. Noteworthy work includes the Howard Theatre Walk of Fame, the DC High Water Mark system, the DC Clean Rivers Project, and his ongoing research project Drylongso, which explores the relationship between Blackness, food, plants, and land. He has lectured at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Carleton University, Howard University, Fashion Institute of Technology, and Maryland College Institute of Art. Currently, Hackett is an adjunct architecture professor at University of Tennessee after spending several years teaching at his alma mater, Howard University, Yale, and Carleton Universities in Spring 2021  in partnership with the anti-racist design justice school, Dark Matter University. Wayside Studio Subscribe to Our Newsletter Follow Us on Instagram

Why aren't we able to be decisive? How come it takes us such a long time to mull over critical decisions? And, why do we choose to procrastinate in hopes of receiving some grand revelation in the future? In this episode, we uncover a critical rule of thumb that will help you overcome guilt, decision fatigue, and low self-esteem.  Claim Your Salonnière Discount Code Follow Us on Instagram Subscribe to our Newsletter

Commitment is not a decision--it is a lifestyle adjustment. If you were to look back at your life for the past 10 years, then you'd probably find that your only regrets seem to come in scenarios when you weren't able to keep a promise to yourself. Why is it that we have such a difficult time keeping our own promises? Why are pledges different than commitments? And, why can every creative problem related to a life problem? Claim Your Salonnière Discount Code Follow Us on Instagram Subscribe to our Newsletter

Born and raised in Switzerland, Daniel Baer is a partner at the design studio No Plans. Fascinated by design through code since the MySpace era, Daniel has worked in digital design for over 15 years. In 2014, Daniel co-founded No Plans alongside Daniel Pianetti—with Andrew McCarthy joining as a third partner in 2018. Together, the dynamic trio creates websites that are original and useful for some of the world’s biggest clients. Some of their clients include Givenchy, Bodega, Fantastic Man, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Tom Dixon, Sotheby’s, and Christie’s. For over an hour, we speak with Daniel about a variety of topics, including, but not limited to: How to get client buy-in when proposing new ideas How to fill the pipeline with potential clients How to make corporate processes work for small studios How the Denim Tears project came together Why it’s important to sharpen the intellectual diet How the filtering system was created for the Chen Chen + Kai Williams project Follow No-Plans on Instagram Follow Us on Instagram Claim Your Salonnière Discount Code

Most people believe that passions are the impetus for everything we are now. We determine our success as an artist by how closely aligned to our "passions" we seem to be. Yet, why is it that when we feel aligned, we still are still desiring something more?  In this lecture, we'll cover the delusions of following one's passion.  Claim Your Salonnière Discount Code Follow Us on Instagram Subscribe to our Newsletter

Bodega Ltd. is a multi-disciplinary creative studio. Creating worlds through integrated strategy + communications, creative direction + branding, interior design, and product development is what they do. Some of the topics covered in this episode include, but aren’t limited to: Dealing with the intersection of art and melancholy How to capture the soul within a building How to delegate, schedule, and "manage" day-to-day studio activities Why great art and design studios always cut against the grain of common practice You can find out more about Bodega's body of work and story at http://www.bodegaltd.com/ Claim Your Salonnière Discount Code Follow Salonnière on Instagram Follow Bodega on Instagram Subscribe to our Email Newsletter

How often do you spend time thinking of ways to avoid pain you've felt in the past? Maybe it was a deal that fell through. Maybe it was a partnership that didn't work out. Or maybe your self-belief has run its course.  This lecture is dedicated to artists who feel trapped by their own thoughts. Claim Your Salonnière Discount Code Follow Us On Instagram Subscribe to Our Newsletter