Forming Function Podcast

05/05/2024

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.

Listen on Spotify, Google, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or via the link in our bio.

Photo by Brian Moore, via Midjourney.

Go listen to Go Tiger Go to hear more of Paul Corsi's music!

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, the Michigan Architectural Foundation.

10/01/2024

A kid's dream come true!

A new block building system can be built by unskilled laborers using a glue gun and a mallet.

29/12/2023

Turtles, porpoises, and horses! Our season one finale is a profile of two artists and the inspirations behind 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 our listeners should already be familiar with…

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and iHeartPodcast Network.

Photos of Jim Miller-Melberg play structures by Brian Moore.

Jim's art collection is available for sale at Embrace Creatives gallery.

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation!

23/12/2023

Why DOES green mean go? Sam takes a break from being distracted by blinking lights to discover the design history of traffic lights - including some design innovations that didn’t stand the test of time. Brian takes it behind the wheel and chases the scent of an iconic car accessory.

Listen on , , , , , , or via the link in our bio.

Photo from Little Trees, Edited by Brian Moore.

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, .

20/12/2023

Listen to our latest episode to hear about this traffic light and others!

On December 20, 1920, the first automatic traffic light was installed on Woodward Avenue. It had three colors - red, yellow and green - and was designed by a Detroit police officer named William Potts. The original light is now housed at The Henry Ford.

07/12/2023

Why DOES green mean go? Sam takes a break from being distracted by blinking lights to discover the design history of traffic lights - including some design innovations that didn’t stand the test of time. Brian takes it behind the wheel and chases the scent of an iconic car accessory.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, iHeartRadio, or via the link in our bio.

Photo from Midjourney.

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation

14/11/2023

Statistically speaking, 16 of you seeing this do not follow us on Instagram. Follow us there for the most up to date info and previews of upcoming episodes!

https://instagram.com/formingfunctionpodcast?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

20/10/2023

A little plastic toy brick built a worldwide brand... but how did the simple concept of LEGO become so iconic? Sam breaks down how the empire was built and why it continues to thrive. Meanwhile, Brian maps out the brand's homestead heritage and how Bjarke Ingles Group brought the ideas to real life.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or Stitcher.

https://bit.ly/3MbfWNJ

Photo credit: 3d-kot via Freepik

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation.





LEGO

29/09/2023

How did the French aristocracy affect the furniture of the modern home, and most of the furniture we sit on today? Korey Morris joins us in the studio for our first listener-submitted question to ask about contemporary couches. And Brian springboards into a journey to the very beginnings of comfort in design. And Sam elaborates on the elaborate history of the Rococo movement.

Listen on , , , , , or via the link in our bio.

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, .

15/09/2023

In a fashion-forward episode, Sam unravels the mystery of what makes blue jeans a timeless staple of comfort. And Brian pieces together how paisley became an iconic pattern, weaving its way across so many subcultures. Also, where do weird city names come from? And how did the textile industry lead to modern computing?

Listen on , , , , , or via the link in our bio.

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, .

01/09/2023

In a fashion-forward episode, Sam unravels the mystery of what makes blue jeans a timeless staple of comfort. And Brian pieces together how paisley became an iconic pattern, weaving its way across so many subcultures. Also, where do weird city names come from? And how did the textile industry lead to modern computing?

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or Stitcher.

Photo credit: Racool_studio via Freepik.

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation.



Levi Strauss & Co Lee Jeans Wrangler Jeans Office Ladies: The Podcast

Honorable mention: Tommy Hilfiger (Sam’s sorry for napping in your jeans...)

11/08/2023

In our latest Bonus BS episode, AM vs EV, we challenged you to find the shortest path between King George III and Pretzels using the Wikipedia Game method. Comment your solutions below!

If you havent played before, start at the Wiki page for King George III and click only blue links, following the pages until you are able to get to Pretzel. Comment the pages you follow below (example: Greta Gerwig > Manhattan > Wall Street Crash of 1929)

Good luck!

04/08/2023

In this free-wheeling and sciency bonus episode, Brian and Sam imagine the Great Chicago Potato Massacre, revisit some fifth-grade physics lessons about radio waves, debate some recent controversy regarding electric vehicles, and offer some new features for automotive designers to consider.

Listen on Spotify Apple Podcasts Pandora Stitcher or via the link in our bio.

Photo credits: Brian Moore via Midjourney

Thanks to our season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation

03/08/2023

14/07/2023

In Part 02 of this double episode, Brian tells of the many architectural innovations that arose from the GM Tech Center where Saarinen’s architectural team solved problems by working with General Motor’s automotive engineers.

Listen on or via the link in our bio.

Photo credits: Balthazar Koran Collection, via Library of Congress

Thanks to our season 1 sponsor,

02/07/2023

What do you think? Should the Facebook Campus Headquarters by Frank Gehry be considered a corporate campus?

Listen to Episode 04 and let us know in the comments!

27/06/2023

In Part 01 of this double episode, Brian digs into the origins of the corporate campus and how it impacts the architecture of business today.

Listen on Spotify, Google, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, or via the link in our bio.

Photo credit: Gottscho-Schleisner Collection, Public domain

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation

07/06/2023

If you don't know, check out Ep 02 😉🎧

30/05/2023

For real tho y'all... Where can a gal get her hands on a print of these sexy pink horses???

Sam shares her obsession with this mural (and her unsuccessful efforts to acquire a copy or any information about it) in Ep. 03.

Photo credit: courtesy of , Michigan Blue Magazine, 2019.

29/05/2023

As promised, some selections of the public art Brian discussed in Ep. 03 from Warsaw, Poland:

Image 1: mural at the by artist

Image 2: Scratch the Surface. Mural by

Image 3: Mural by

27/05/2023

Sam goes solo to explore the surprising origins and advancements of the raincoat.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or Stitcher.

https://bit.ly/3oAsJAN

Photo credit: Probably my grandma...

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation.



Burberry Goodyear DuPont Pink Pony

19/05/2023

Listen in as Sam details the artistry and elegance of Jell-O molds, and Brian unravels the history and significance of the plastic lawn chair.

Available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or Stitcher.

https://spoti.fi/41sDNxs

Image credit: FreeVintageillustrations.com

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation.

12/05/2023

Listen in as Sam details the artistry and elegance of Jell-O molds, and Brian unravels the history and significance of the plastic lawn chair.

Available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or Stitcher.

https://spoti.fi/41sDNxs

Image credit: FreeVintageillustrations.com

Thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation.




JELL-O Le Roy Historical Society

05/05/2023

Our first episode is posted on all your favorite podcast platforms!
Find out What’s White and Red All Over as Brian explores the gruesome origin story of barber poles, along with the intertangling history of barber surgeons. And Sam dives into the history of a similarly striped sweet: candy canes.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or Stitcher.

https://spoti.fi/3LfwpPS

Photo credit: Wirestock (via Freepik)

And thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation.

27/04/2023

Season 1 Premiered Today!
Celebrate with us by listening to Ep 01. What’s White and Red All Over?

In our first episode, Brian explores the gruesome origin story of barber poles, along with the intertangling history of barber surgeons. And Sam dives into the history of a similarly striped sweet: candy canes.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or Stitcher! https://spoti.fi/3LfwpPS

Photo credit: Lindsay Hansmann

Thanks to Jeff Brown for the excellent audio editing and making us sound good, Paul Corsi for our original theme music, and Aaron Moore for helping with our theme music recording and mixing.

And thanks to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation!

27/04/2023

Happy World Design Day!
In our first episode, Brian explores the gruesome origin story of barber poles, along with the intertangling history of barber surgeons. And Sam dives into the history of a similarly striped sweet: candy canes. Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or Stitcher!

https://spoti.fi/3LfwpPS

Photo credit: Brian Moore

Thank you to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation!

22/04/2023

Premiering this Thursday - !
Tune in on , , or !



Thank you to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation!

Listen to Forming Function on Spotify. A design podcast for everyone. Join Brian and Sam as they explore how design impacts our every day lives.

30/03/2023

It’s happening...!!!
Forming Function, the design podcast for everyone, premieres - April 27, 2023. Stay tuned for details to come!
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Have you ever wondered where barber poles came from?
Why nuclear power plants look that way?
Why was reinforced concrete invented by a gardener?
is a new that explores the little-known stories behind everyday places and objects to share why the world is designed the way it is.

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Thank you to our Season 1 sponsor, Michigan Architectural Foundation!