Mixed Signal Podcast

The MXD crew is joined by Casey Rehm, Coordinator of the Masters of Science in Architectural Intelligence program at SciArc (Southern California Institute of Architecture). He is an expert in computation and a specialist in Artificial Intelligence and specifically a leader in speculation on its impact on Architecture. He is the perfect person to help us catch up on the state of AI and its impact on our culture. We start by looking at first fun then slightly disturbing examples of the proliferation of movie studio level AI production tools. We get Casey's take on some of the emerging concerns around security in AI - including propaganda, false information, and the frightening capacities of some emerging models like Claude 'Mythos'. We talk about Casey's program at Sci Arc, what brings students to his program, and what do some of their projects look like. We also unpack some of Casey's own work and discuss the emergent and evolving aesthetic of his practice being driven by system-thinking design. Make sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - @MXD_signalTiktok - @MXD_signalYouTube - @MXDSignal

Joined by Architect and educator Andy Bako, the MXD crew unpack the controversy surrounding the accessibility failures of the Hunter’s Point Library by Steven Holl—and the shocking lawsuit that it has resulted in. Is this a failure of ADA compliance, or a deeper failure of spatial design and architectural thinking? And how does something like this happen at the highest level of practice?We also touch on "Architecture Against Architecture", the new manifesto / book by Reinier de Graaf, exploring its critique of the profession—from labor and authorship to the role of manifestos today. Is architecture losing relevance, or just caught in its own contradictions?The second half shifts into Andy Bako's body of work, starting with his exhibition of his studio's work at University of Texas Austin's School of Architecture. The exhibition, entitled "Waste Coats" focuses on the design thinking and culture of high fashion while displaying the studio's deep engagement with material re-use experimentation and the complex techtonics it produces.Other themes in the episode:-Architecture’s overlap with fashion, wearables, and the body-The legacy (and backlash) of parametric design-What a “soft digital” approach looks like today-How recycled materials and waste can drive new aesthetic languages-Why architecture might need to embrace the messy, ugly, and unfinished

The MXD crew dives deep into the World-making, Architecture, and game design of the viral Bungie video game Marathon with special guest Joseph Cross, art director behind the game’s bold and polarizing visual identity.We explore how Marathon’s aesthetic—what Cross calls “graphic realism”—blends architecture, product design, branding, and visual culture into a unified world. From construction-site graphics and industrial materials to high-fashion references like Virgil Abloh, the conversation unpacks how seemingly banal elements (drywall, tape, logos, thresholds) become powerful design language. The episode also connects these ideas to contemporary architecture, including parallels to Rem Koolhaas and OMA, where unfinished details and graphic systems reshape how we read buildings.We also get into:How video game worlds are designed like coherent architectural systemsWhy fan culture, cosplay, and screenshots are reshaping authorshipThe role of graphic design studios in world-buildingThe tension between aesthetic clarity vs. gameplay confusionWhy great design might need to be polarizing to matterThis is a conversation about architecture beyond buildings—where games, media, and design culture collide to shape how we see and understand space today.

Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu of Oyler Wu Collaborative join Mixed Signals to unpack a design approach that refuses to sit in one camp. From line-based experiments to volumetric assemblies, their work navigates between digital and physical, drawing and making, theory and play. Rather than choosing a singular architectural identity, they argue for operating across multiple “camps”—a position that reframes how contemporary practice can evolve.The conversation expands through teaching, media, and practice: "Cold Crits" of student work reveal shifting attitudes toward legibility, tectonics, and one-to-one fabrication; reflections on sketching challenge the dominance of digital tools; and discussions on social media, books, and “side hustles” expose how architects communicate ideas across fast and slow platforms. At its core, the episode asks: how do you build a practice—and a point of view—amid information overload, shifting audiences, and an increasingly hybrid design culture?Make sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signal#architecture #design #education

OMA’s new museum expansion becomes the focal point of this episode of Mixed Signals—not just as a project, but as a case study in how architecture is judged today. The crew unpacks the building’s spatial ambitions, formal logic, and urban presence before confronting a viral critique claiming that “OMA can’t detail.” What follows is a layered discussion on authorship, construction quality, and the growing gap between architectural intention and built reality. Orbiting that central debate, the episode expands outward into the cultural conditions shaping contemporary architecture: the rise of social media critique, Gen Z design habits, and the idea of architecture school as a content engine. Conversations on Revit, AI, and “taste vs. skill” reinforce a larger question—if architecture is increasingly mediated through images, platforms, and automation, what actually defines architectural value today?

In this episode of Mixed Signals, the crew is joined by Cathal Crumley for a wide-ranging conversation about the life of the "Online Architect", the rise of meme-based criticism, digital culture, and how architectural ideas are being communicated through new platforms. The episode moves from the “seven wonders of cyberspace” and virtual memory in games like Animal Crossing and Call of Duty: Warzone, to the Pokémon x Natural History Museum crossover, the relevance of the Pritzker Prize, and whether architecture still needs legacy institutions to validate what matters.The second half of the conversation dives into portfolio culture, Crit Bay, student work, architectural representation, and architecture school power dynamics. Cathal explains how portfolio reviews work in practice, why narrative matters more than students realize, and how digital critique can become a platform for learning and visibility. The episode also tackles a viral critique of architecture education, debating grading, subjectivity, transparency, labor, and the blurry line between rigor and abuse in design school.Cold Crit Portfolio Credits: Samuel Mcchesney, David Mulder, Ebbie Boehm, Shane BugniFeatured Artist (Cover art sample credits): Richard NadlerMake sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signal

In this episode of Mixed Signals, we debate architecture school culture, spring break studio work, and the strange world of contemporary design competitions. From exceptional student models at UDK Berlin and UPenn Weitzman to the rise of “Eco-blob” and the "Urban Pile" climate architecture, we ask what today’s projects are really proposing—and whether any of them could become a true world wonder.We also get into 'buildering' and urban climbing, from Alex Honnold climbing Taipei 101 to the idea of buildings as spectacle, interface, and misused public space. Along the way: anti-render takes, MVRDV, Thomas Heatherwick, Barry Wark, model craft, and why some futuristic eco-projects feel more like marketing than climate action.Chapters:00:00 Should architecture students work over break?04:02 Cold Crits: incredible student models from Berlin/Penn06:46 Why nobody reads project descriptions15:58 Why architects keep reviving old styles23:22 Buildering: why people climb buildings27:17 Alex Honnold and the Taipei 101 climb35:38 AI + Revit + La Sagrada Familia39:00 The bizarre “world wonder” architecture competition43:13 Climate architecture or greenwashing?45:03 What anti-render does to these proposals52:25 Our pick for the best competition entry1:00:24 Why old architecture competitions were better1:02:00 The BBC’s insane workstation setup1:04:05 The fake utility-box scooterCold Crits Project Credits:Project 1: "Housing Otherwise"School: UDK BerlinCritic: Ana FilipovicStudents: Lina Nikolic, Hannah Cerbe, and Quirin GrubertProject 2: School: University of PennsylvaniaCritic: Barry WarkStudents: Yimin Gan and Haoyang ZhangMake sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signal#Architecture #UrbanDesign #Buildering #AlexHonnold #ArchitectureCompetition #MVRDV #HeatherwickStudio #StudentWork #DesignPodcast #MixedSignals

This week we unpack the NOMA/NOMAS Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition to debates about realism, anti-renders, architectural photography, and why certain images of cities feel more truthful than polished architectural visuals. The MXD crew unpacks student competition work, community-centered design, architectural representation, and the tension between formal design discourse and real-world stakeholders. The second half of the episode dives into the rise of the “anti-render”, architectural realism, landscape, labor conditions in architecture, and photography that documents decay, melancholy, and urban change. Along the way, the group debates staged versus documentary images, “despair core,” ruin aesthetics, and why raw, imperfect imagery may feel more honest than idealized architectural visualization.Cold Crit Project Credits:2025 Barbara G. Laurie NOMAS Competition Submissions:UCLA NOMAS ChapterUC Santa Barbara NOMAS ChapterChapters:0:00 Intro – Reality, Fantasy, and Architectural Images0:39 Welcome Back + Friday Recording Chaos1:21 NOMA / NOMAS Barbara G. Laurie Competition4:26 UCLA’s Winning Project and Group Design Process9:04 Reading the Competition Projects Formally15:55 Community, Culture, and What Competitions Reward19:24 Architecture, Program, and Real Stakeholders23:55 Anti-Render Poll – Why People Prefer Realism27:42 Client Expectations, Landscape, and Representation32:39 Photography, Decay, and Documenting the Real35:54 Realism vs Staging in Urban Photography42:00 Ruin Porn, Despair Core, and Aestheticizing Harm49:08 Why Raw Images Feel More Honest50:34 Fun Topic – Internet Objects, Volume Sliders, and Excel Modeling53:01 Closing ThoughtsMake sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signal#architecture #design #education

Some architecture projects have nothing to do with buildings. What happens when architecture moves into film, video games, and speculative world-building?In this episode of Mixed Signals, the MXD crew are joined by Liam Young (Director of the Fiction and Entertainment program at SCI-Arc) and Nate Hume (recently appointed Graduate and Post-Graduate chair at SCI-Arc) to discuss how architecture is evolving beyond traditional practice. From cinematic storytelling and planetary futures to architectural pedagogy and the role of speculation, the conversation explores how architects can operate across industries like film, gaming, media, and cultural production.The discussion covers Liam Young’s exhibition Planetary Imaginaries, the rise of architectural storytelling through film and animation, the changing role of the architectural critique, and how architecture schools can better prepare students for creative careers beyond the traditional office. Along the way, the group also explores cyberpunk aesthetics, speculative design, architectural education, and how architects might shape the future through narrative and world-building.Cold Crits Project Credits:"Malmo Open Creative Workshop"Lund UniversityStudent: Rikard Ostrand"Giants Anatomy"Architectural Association Student: Hantao LiSubscribe for more conversations on architecture, design culture, theory, and media. Make sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signal

In this episode of Mixed Signals, we dive into architectural education, student work, and the future of the discipline with special guest Ryan Scavnicky. From a segment of 'cold crits' looking at recent University of Pennsylvania studio projects to debates about Peter Eisenman, post-digital aesthetics, and neo-brutalism, we ask: what is architecture prioritizing right now?The conversation expands into virtual architecture, video games, Unreal Engine, and the attention economy—exploring how Minecraft, The Sims, Assassin’s Creed, and immersive media are shaping the next generation of architects. Is architecture just about buildings anymore? Or is world-making the real discipline? Plus: OMA’s “Death Star,” fluted facades, and one of the wildest real estate commercials we’ve ever seen a la Japanese Anime.

What happens when the “dream office” looks a lot more like the rest of the industry? In this Mix Signals segment, we get into the uncomfortable reality behind architecture’s prestige economy—where star firms are idolized, but pay, job security, and working conditions can still be fragile. We talk through the reported proposed redundancies at BIG’s London office and why architects protesting publicly feels like a shift in the culture.From there, the conversation opens up into the bigger problem: why architecture struggles to pay a living wage, why “free work” quietly resets the market against everyone, and why students and young designers are forced into impossible tradeoffs (portfolio vs. stability, prestige vs. sustainability). We also connect this to recent unionization efforts and labor disputes in the discipline—what worked, what didn’t, and why the profession keeps normalizing conditions that would be unacceptable in almost any other field.If you’ve been through this (or found a better way), we want to hear it in the comments.Make sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signal

The MXD crew discusses Digital and Post-Digital Architecture. What's the difference and does it matter? We also discuss student work from the Bartlett and the role of the animation in explaining the projects. Also, is the corporate glossy render done? We talk about the trend of the 'anti-render'.

The MXD crew discusses Architecture and its agency in the political sphere, a feeling of powerlessness as Architecture is less critically impactful in the wider culture. We also review a new batch of student projects, this time from University of Texas at Austin as well as one more OSU project. We also look at architectural anomalies, "Smol vs Somol", and a round of Architecture DND?!Make sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signalYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MXDSignal

In this episode of Mixed Signals, we dive into a heated conversation on architecture, politics, authorship, and education—using The ATTN Podcast by the Architecture Exchange (Season 8) as a jumping-off point. We unpack what it means to talk about democracy, plurality, and politics in architecture without turning the discipline into a catch-all moral project. From post-critical theory and the legacy of Eric Owen Moss to the “Midwest Mafia,” Possible Mediums, and contemporary academic aesthetics, we debate whether this generation of architects actually lacks a project—or simply refuses to name it. We question the irony of accessibility rhetoric delivered through highly gatekept discourse, and ask whether architecture is a political duty, a cultural instrument, or ultimately a luxury.The episode also critiques viral architectural imagery, asking why certain projects circulate online while others disappear, and what gets lost when buildings are reduced to images. Finally, we turn the lens toward architectural education, examining thesis work, authorship, and the tension between student voice and the influence of critics.This is an unfiltered, opinionated conversation about where architecture is right now—and what it can realistically be responsible for.Keywords: architecture podcast, architectural theory, Attention Podcast, postcritical architecture, architectural education, thesis critique, contemporary architecture, architectural discourse, design culture, academia vs practiceMake sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signal

Season 2 kicks off with a debate: do architecture books still matter—or has the discourse moved to Instagram, TikTok, and the feed? We unpack “rough-around-the-edges” aesthetics, anti-tech vibes, and why “Architecture (Big A)” feels fragmented into niches—then shift to student work, skyscrapers, and the new digital-art/collage frontier.

The MXD crew is joined by Matt Lopez, Claire Moriarty, and Riley Studebaker to celebrate the Season 1 Finale. #architecturedesign #podcast #art #architecture #design

Ep 14 - our part 2 of our holiday special where we have many guest to discuss the legacy of Frank Gehry, new leadership at Cooper Union architecture program, more AI realted conversations.

Ep 13 - our part 1 of our holiday special where we have many guest to speak changes in the architectural field from ai and rappers emerging into the architecture profession and we discuss contentious architectural education changes needed from retiring the design jury in design reviews; to closing down the studio space after hours.

Matt Lopez joins the crew to discuss the sometimes ugly world of sports architecture.

The MXD crew discusses the legacy of Robert Stern and postmodernism, exploring how facades, ornament, and massing shape some of New York City’s most luxurious buildings. We discuss how architects turn design decisions into capital, why ornament matters even today, and the role of digital craft vs brutalism in modern architecture.

In this episode we unpack how architecture is struggling in the digital age — and video games are showing us exactly why. In this episode, we explore why virtual museums, Zaha Hadid’s PUBG buildings, and other digital architecture often feel sterile, abstract, or completely disconnected from what digital spaces can be.Meanwhile, games like Fortnite, Elder Scrolls, PUBG, and Cyberpunk create immersive worlds that people actually want to inhabit. We discuss UNESCO’s new digital museum, why it misses the mark, and how digital architecture often treats virtual space like physical space — resulting in sterile, uninspiring environments.We dive into Balenciaga’s collaboration with PUBG, the challenges of competing with wild Fortnite skins, and how luxury brands sometimes understand digital audiences better than architects. We also review an article on the state of the architecture profession, exploring the growing disconnect between academia and practice and what that means for the future of design.On the art side, we talk about KAWS’s new floating installation in the UAE, the public criticism it has faced, and our take on why it sparks such mixed reactions.We compare architectural interpretations of pop culture too, looking at the Lucas Museum vs Disney World’s Star Wars experience, discussing why one resonates with fans more than the other and what architects can learn from immersive theme parks.

The MXD crew discusses the MVRDV competition winning spherical proposal in Albania, the history and cultural context of spherical buildings, as well as video game collaborations, and gen alpha slang terms.

Welcome to the mixed signal podcast .  Every week we unpack the visual qualities in trending topics of design and pop culture. This week’s episode explores the rise of AI robots, from city dwellers to delivery drivers, and delves into various aspects of AI and AI robots. We discuss the new Neo Robot servant, AI-driven designs and drawings, and even consider whether fiction has encroached too deeply into our social norms. Tune in to find out if this phenomenon is destined to fade away or if it’s here to stay.

Welcome to the mixed signal podcast . Every week we unpack the visual qualities in trending topics of design and pop culture. We kick it off with a tick-tock trend - by coming up with decontextualized baby names… architecture edition.And we showcase a digital artist , Mathew Boudot, that remixes a famous Justice Cross album art, with that of the Pompidou Center really really cool.We also react to the exuberant work of X + Living’s brand interiors as well as Diller and Scofidio + Renfro new Cartier building in Miami and tie them together with the conversation of how media or academia perceives these types of work. Additionally we look at how counterfeits and copies influence high design, specifically in fashion so we discuss how Vetements and Balenciaga currently use ideas of counterfeit aesthetics to influence design.Recorded October 29th, 2025

Welcome to the mixed signal podcast . Every week we unpack the visual qualities in trending topics of design and pop culture. Be sure to follow, like and share with a friend!This episode we are joined the talented and humor filled architect and designer and educator, Barry Wark . We talk about the wonderful world of voxels and its digital aesthetic from Minecraft to complex algorithmic volumes. Eventually we compare architecture academic systems between the US and the UK, what are the difference how has the education model evolved over time. And for our fun topics we examine an abandoned Disney castle styled subdivision community town in Turkey, and just for fun we reveal our go to karaoke song.

In this episode:Our Fun topic of the week compares architecture school to Hogwarts and the magical education system in Harry Potter.  And trending topics include: Does the Obama Presidential center look like a huge trash can? Additionally, we look at the proposed MAGA sizedArch de Trump. And we also broke down the Louver heist and how the thieves found their way into the museum.The Artist spotlight this episode revolves around the photographic work of Robert Benson who documents a strange but blinged-out, sub-culture of truck modding in Japan, known as “dekotora”. Follow us on Spotify, and share with a friend!

In this Episode MXD Signal questions the role AI have been playing in education and in the creative space. We are also joined by a guest: Designer, architect and educator, Benjamin Vanmuysen. We look through Vanmuysen's recent work and understand what drives the visual identity as well as the concepts of his projects. Other topics include Syracuse University sunsetting some of its humanities programs for a podcasting center and we question the term corporate architecture.

In this episode we dive deep in the world of MAGA, specifically the aesthetic and spatial constructs of the MAGA world. Additional topics include What to look out for as a new graduate when applying to design firms for employment; discussion of this years Chicago Architectural Biennial; The worlds tallest skateboard ramp designed by Red Bull and Prada and how Tony Hawk Pro-Skater the video game influenced experiential design.

This episode we unpack why brutalism is so disliked by most people, glass towers and the economy of efficiency. We also discuss how the boxing ring has become the new fashion runway for high design, and lastly the effects of the capital divide between boomers and everyone else.

This is our first episode where we cover our motives for recording a podcast, what Mixed Signal and how we see contemporary visual culture evolving.