Forming Function

Dec 20 2024 21 ep. 43 mins 5
Forming Function Podcast artwork

A design podcast for everyone. Join Brian Moore and Sam Malott Brown as they explore the stories of how design impacts our everyday lives.

  Arts
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


17. Threading the Needle

Dec 20 2024 36 mins  
It’s football season and guest reporter Kelsey Reynolds joins us to talk about how broadcasting, fashion, and the Olympics influence the design of sports jerseys. Then she throws the ball over to Sam to talk about footballs themselves. Go sports! Produced and hosted by Brian Moore and Sam Malott Brown. Story reported by Kelsey Reynolds and Sam Malott Brown. Story Editing by Jef

Bonus BS: A Conversation with Gruen Associates

Nov 29 2024 30 mins  
In our latest Bonus BS (Brian and Sam), we are joined by Michael Enomoto and Nicole Lawson from Gruen Associates to follow up on our episode about Victor Gruen and shopping mall design. We discuss the impact of Victor’s legacy on the firm today, the future of shopping malls, urban design initiatives, and the many famous architects that passed through Gruen’s office. Produced a

16. Beyond the Storefront

Nov 15 2024 41 mins  
The shopping mall is as American as apple pie and the magnetic draw of the one-stop shop is difficult to escape. Yet for all the influence malls have had, they started out practically as the vision of one man. From New York’s Fifth Avenue, to big box stores, to the mall, we explore how Victor Gruen’s design of retail changed the way we shop, socialize, and experience public lif

15. Season of the Witch

Oct 25 2024 37 mins  
For our Halloween special, Sam answers a guest question about the design behind witch costumes from classic fashion motifs to modern interpretations. Niki Tischler joins us to learn more about the historical significance and folklore behind witches hats, shoes, and more. Produced and hosted by Brian Moore and Sam Malott Brown. Guest starring Niki Tischler. Story Editing, Audio eng

14. Any Card

Oct 11 2024 49 mins  
Sam gives us the deal on playing cards for part two in our pair of stories about decorated pieces of paper. From the artwork on the face, to the composition of the numbers and pips, playing cards come in many forms and act as an open source to imagine games. Sam comes flush with history and gives it to us straight for this full house of an episode. If you haven’t yet, go check ou

13. Pick a Card...

Sep 27 2024 37 mins  
Tarot has been used as a tool for divination for hundreds of years, but one illustrator in particular changed the face of the game - literally. We explore Pamela Colman Smith’s contributions to the famous Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck and the cult origins of the commission. Produced and hosted by Brian Moore and Sam Malott Brown. Story Editing, Audio engineering, and mixing by Ju

12. Potty Language

Sep 13 2024 48 mins  
Our first-ever guest reporter, Lindsay Hansmann, takes us on a journey through the design evolution of toilets and how sanitation helped the human race survive. Produced and hosted by Brian Moore and Sam Malott Brown. Story reported by Lindsay Hansmann. Story Editing, Audio engineering, and mixing by Julia Sikora. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @FormingFunctionPodcast and sen

11. Purple Reign

Aug 30 2024 69 mins  
We kick off season 2 with an exploration of the color purple through design history. And then we uncover the meaning of Prince’s “Love Symbol” with art director Mitch Monson. Also: the interpretations behind color theory and Olympics TV branding. Produced and hosted by Brian Moore and Sam Malott Brown. Story Editing by Jeffery Brown, Audio engineering and mixing by Julia Si

Bonus BS: Design Fail!

May 03 2024 40 mins  
Our theme song creator, Paul Corsi, joins us on the show to talk about the art of creating music and a countdown of design fails. From architectural solar death rays, to useless social media devices, we discuss a number of projects where the designs didn’t fully work out. Produced and Hosted by Brian Moore and Sam Malott Brown. Story Editing by Jeffery Brown, Audio engineering a

10. Form Follows Fun

Dec 29 2023 55 mins  
Turtles, porpoises, and horses! Our season one finale is a profile of two artists and the inspirations for their work. The first is Jim Miller Melberg, whose concrete animal playground structures ushered modern designs into the lives of children around the globe. And then to end the season we have a discussion with Craig Friend, a Michigan illustrator who created a work of art that