The Observatory

Latest Episodes:

Episode 64: The Eye and the Storm Aug 31, 2017

Show notes

Hurricane Harvey, weather data visualization, electric cars, Taylor Swift, Scarfolk Council, the internet as an Uncanny Valley

Episode 63: August Recess Aug 17, 2017

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The Doomsday Clock, the color blue, selfie sticks, graphic designers on screen

Episode 62: Keepin’ It Nasty Aug 03, 2017

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Cursing, Anthony Scaramucci, the alt-right’s shit aesthetic, Tony Fadell and Silicon Valley regrets, John G. Morris, Donald Trump draws the Manhattan skyline

Episode 61: Font of Corruption? Jul 20, 2017

Show notes

Pakistan, Donald Trump Jr., default fonts; Calibri, Courier, Hobo, Cooper Black; Silicon Valley corporate headquarters; subway signage mystery; The Turnaround; Steven Colbert’s Figure-It-Out-a-Tron

Episode 60: Everyman and Ariane Jul 06, 2017

Show notes

The new Ken dolls, Tonl and diversity in stock photography, Zillow threatens McMansion Hell, InspiroBot

Episode 59: Signatures and Circles Jun 22, 2017

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Egregious email signatures, circular Twitter avatars, Wonder Woman, Demetri Martin’s Dean

Episode 58: The Family Circus Jun 08, 2017

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Green lights for the Paris Climate Accord, NY Times Magazine comics issue, Lynda Barry in Family Circus, knitting as spycraft, Jim Russek’s poster for Our Town

Episode 57: Communion and Commerce May 25, 2017

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A record-breaking Basquiat; design, life coaching, and therapy; Thomas de Monchaux reviews Wendy Lesser’s biography of Louis Kahn; a neural network names paint colors

Episode 56: All the Presidents’ Libraries May 11, 2017

Show notes

Presidential libraries, Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles for Good Design 2017 Tech Industry Edition, Ai Weiwei, I.M. Pei

Episode 55: Sea and Sky Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

Earth Day, the March for Science, EPA Graphic Standards Manual, Design and Exclusion, Big Little Lies, Five Came Back