Insights

Design is an ever-evolving discipline, and as such, it's role, value, and practice boundaries are constantly the subject of professional discussion. In this column, I will be pointing at real-world examples of design and simply saying "that's design."

Column

That's Design

Design is an ever-evolving discipline and, by necessity, an amorphous one. As a medium-agnostic designer, my opinion is that capital-D Design is the art of context and manipulation. In this series of articles, I outline real-world examples of good design in effort to answer the question, "how do people (who may or may not identify themselves as Designers) understand and adapt to the context set before them through manipulation of materials, ideas, and forces?"

That's Design: Erin Brockovich (2000)

Julia Roberts' portrayal of the titular firebrand shows us the value of cutting through red tape, saying it like it is, and organizing people around common, mutually beneficial goals. It's also a beautiful example of design in action.

That's Design: Sarah Ahmed (Hoarders 2023, S13:E10)

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That's Design: Jennifer Egan (Canvassing for Kamala, 2024)

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Gallery

Photo Essays

I love New York City because there are so many people—silly people, smart people, cruel people, beautiful people. Sometimes, I step out of my house and photograph as many people as I can.

That's Design: Erin Brockovich (2000)

Julia Roberts' portrayal of the titular firebrand shows us the value of cutting through red tape, saying it like it is, and organizing people around common, mutually beneficial goals. It's also a beautiful example of design in action.

That's Design: Sarah Ahmed (Hoarders 2023, S13:E10)

Blurb

That's Design: Jennifer Egan (Canvassing for Kamala, 2024)

Blurb