Designer Things

I used to think lowriders were just about hydraulics and chrome. Turns out, the cultural impact of lowrider culture on automotive visual customization

I used to think geometric patterns were just—you know, decorative filler. Then I spent an afternoon in the Alhambra, staring at a wall panel that seemed to breathe.

I used to think Art Deco was just about geometric shapes and shiny chrome. Turns out, the whole movement—which exploded across Europe and America in the

I used to think color in art was just—color. Then I stood in front of a Neo Fauvist painting at a small gallery in Berlin, sometime around 2019, and the

I used to think luxury fashion campaigns were just about making rich people look richer. Turns out, the visual language these brands deploy is way more

I used to think the golden ratio was one of those things designers just threw around to sound smart. Turns out, there’s something genuinely strange

I used to think my brain was pretty good at seeing what’s actually there. Turns out, that’s not really how it works—at least not when it comes

I used to think fugitive slave notices were just crude wanted posters, hastily scrawled by angry slaveholders. Turns out, these documents evolved into

I used to think hazardous waste labels were just ugly stickers slapped on drums by people who’d lost a bet with OSHA. Turns out, they’

I used to think ancient stone carving was just about making religious symbols look intimidating. Then I spent three weeks in Peru, staring at the Chavín