The Crit

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 exhibitionMost successful design: Temple of Relics pavilionMost impactful feedback: One of her architecture tutors saying that she needed to take herself seriouslyDream design: Serpentine Gallery pavilionThe 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.

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 MuseumWorst design: Edward SquareMost successful design: Urban Nature Project, Natural History MuseumMost impactful feedback: A difficult community meeting as part of Making Space in DalstonDream design: An extentsion of her Schiehallion Seed to Tree ProjectThe 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 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 KuramataThe 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.

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 DesignWorst 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)Most impactful feedback: Non-existent feedback, teaching her to listen to her instincts when something feels wrongDream design: The Golden Stool(Dream design change for the holidays: Food design)The CritGraphics: Leonhard Rothmoser 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Designer Nipa Doshi of Doshi Levien is our latest guest, visiting the studio to talk about the importance of sketching, the challenges of moving between continents, the need for plural approaches and aesthetic in design, and the case for greater sensitivity in the design of healthcare.Nipa's picks for her crit were:Best design: Charpoy for MorosoWorst design: None (the importance of selectivity) Most successful design: Colour system for Kettal and Quilton sofas for HayMost impactful feedback: “ There's always a way to make a good idea.” —Jonathan LevienDream design: A hospital and mammogram machineThe 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.

Experience designer, artist and filmmaker Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian makes a flying visit to The Crit, discussing bouncing sound waves off the moon to create music mixed with the sounds of the Big Bang, to redistributing wealth to community groups using funding ring-fenced for Brexit celebrations. Nelly's picks for her crit were:Best design: Piccadilly Un:Plugged Worst design: University of the Underground (the early years)Most successful design: Tour de MoonMost impactful feedback: Fiona Raby telling her that she needed to overcome her anxiety about public speaking because it was going to become a big part of her work Dream design: A rocket, a sex toy, or toys for McDonald’s Happy MealsThe 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 Andu Masebo joins The Crit to discuss designing objects that tell stories about their own creation, his love of harsh feedback and his dream of redesigning the creative education system.Andu's picks for his crit were:Best design: Making RoomWorst design: Union ChairMost successful design: Candleholder No.12Most impactful feedback: His wife saying a design was disgustingDream design: Creative education 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.