Podcast Prep

Our podcast group were given the chance to discuss a topic relevant to design in the 2010-2020 period. Our focus is on community-based design and how designers give back to the communities they represent. This is becoming a popular trend in design during this period and one man we decided to use as an example of this is Virgil Abloh. Born and raised in Chicago, Virgil continues to show his connection to his home community through his work.

2010 to 2020 saw the street-wear game take off ,skyrocketing from high street fashion to its own economy almost with some of the most expensive clothing retail in the world. The street wear scene is completely community inspired, where the ideas and designs are driven by public demand and being somewhat different. This community is not confined to a nation or a continent, as it is worldwide and a familiarity of almost every country. One man that has had a massive impact on this is Virgil Abloh, who has design bases in North America , Central Europe and Asia. He travels constantly between his workplaces which spreads his style from these focal points.

Through his brand “OFF-WHITE” Abloh has become one of most popular community-based designers. He has set the bar for community-based designers and this has paved a path for other aspiring designers, for example, Samuel Ross owner of A-COLD-WALL. Our podcast reveals plenty of information about Sam and A-COLD-WALL so make sure to tune in!

I do admire the work that Virgil and other community-based designers do but there is a high contradiction with the price tag that comes with the Hype too. If I want to buy, let’s say an “OFF-WHITE” t-shirt, for example it will cost me €260. A quite expensive t-shirt, you might question would it be worth buying and is it very affordable to the middle class he represents? Maybe the price has come with the hype around his name?

You can’t look past that the man means so well in the work he does. He counteracts this “Price-Tag” by outing work back into his hometown in Chicago. He puts in work in children’s facilities such as basketball arenas and other workshops and voluntary movements .

To find out more about Virgil Abloh and what he represents as a designer and how he is a role model for other community-based designers, please tune in and listen to our podcast.