Underscore – Details, episodes & analysis

Our guests are Kim Terzis (Executive Creative Director) and Alex Sommerville (Director of Brand Development) of Simple Truth, a Chicago-based design studio.

In this episode, Kim and Alex speak with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the importance of clarifying and understanding your simple truth and how that influences collaboration, culture, and design. They share with us how they work with clients and their teams to build an environment that fosters learning and belonging through five simple rules that include generosity, imagination, and more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Valerie Craig, a Chicago-based designer and community organizer.

In this episode, Valerie speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the power of community building and its importance in creating spaces that welcome sharing experiences and insight. Valerie walks us through her introduction to graphic design and the milestones and journey along the way. She also offers advice to designers looking to differentiate themselves and gives words of encouragement to seek joy in our design practices and the work that we are doing. Additionally, she speaks about her love for Chicago, the inspiration she draws from the city and people, and so much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is ⁠Vida Sačić Chicago-based, artist, typographer, and design educator. 

In this episode, Vida speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about using letterpress materials to explore language, process, and meaning-making. Vida shares her perspective on teaching and the importance of being passionate about the work you teach. Together, they also discuss hope and optimism and their roles within creativity and much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is Chuck Anderson of ⁠⁠Chicago-based creative practice No Pattern Studio

In this episode, Chuck speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and co-host Carson Koppin about his introduction to the internet and creative cultures beyond the Midwest, the importance of routine, physical health, social media, and the influential early internet culture blog The Brilliance.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is Christian Solorzano, Underscore host, designer, and founder of the Chicago Graphic Design Club.

In this episode, Solorzano speaks with guest-host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carlos Segura about his upbringing, background, motivation behind founding the Chicago Graphic Design Club, and the inspiration that drives much of his community-centered work. Solorzano shares his vision for Chicago's design community and the reasons why he believes craft and passion are at the core of the city, and so much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is Alyssa Low, Chicago-based designer and muralist.

In this episode, Low speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about designing and painting murals and the meditative approach to working with your hands. Low also shares her perspective and principles on determining what creative projects are worth focusing on, and we also learn about how her dedication to soccer fosters a collaborative spirit across the work she engages in. It's an insightful conversation in which we cover analog work, Chicago, community, and much more.

Alyssa is also featured in our publication, Faculty. You can purchase a copy here.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guests are James Langford and Larry Tchogninou of ⁠⁠the Chicago-based studio ⁠Points of Sail.

In this episode, James and Larry speak with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and this episode's co-host Carson Koppin about designing everything from concrete boats to storefronts, Dafont, Larry's 3 Practices theory, graphic design not having to obey the laws of gravity, play as a means of creative inspiration, and much more.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is Rick Valicenti, founder of Thirst (1988–2019).

In this episode, Valicenti speaks with host ⁠Christian Solorzano⁠ and reflects on the journey and highlights of his career, which has spanned decades. Valicenti shares insights from his collaborations, friendships, and encounters with designers such as Paul Rand, Art Paul, Saul Bass, and Tibor Kalman.

Valicenti walks us through his creative process and the methods through which he stays inspired to continue to create and use graphic design as a means of expression and communication.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is Chicago-based designer and Object Company founder, Benjamin Edgar.

In this episode, Benjamin speaks with host Christian Solorzano and co-host Carson Koppin about industrial design, his creative process, Jeff Koons, solving emotional problems, Powell Peralta's "The Ripper," and much more.

Benjamin talks through the lifecycle of a product and how, through purposeful collaboration and particular attention to the mundane, he can take an idea from the notes app to a prototype in a matter of weeks. He shares valuable lessons on a meditative presence and explains why he uses Internet Blue, Helvetica Neue 57 condensed bold, and value as a method of communicating an idea.    

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Our guest is ⁠⁠Chicago-based designer and innovation executive at Salesforce, Sharlene King — she is skillful, wise, and unapologetic.

In this episode, Sharlene speaks with host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Solorzano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about the art of listening, education, art/design school, generosity, taxidermy, her love for her 1989 Honda Civic, and much more.

She walks us through her introduction to design by way of working security at a museum and the path toward her career as a designer championing accessibility and authenticity within the creative process. Sharlene shares valuable lessons from her adolescence and explains her enthusiasm for new technologies that will evolve creativity, the commonalities between design and taxidermy, and life as neurodivergent.

Music by the band ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eighties Slang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.