a podcast about design history

about the show

History is, by nature, never “complete” and almost always a little messy. New information pops up every day that changes or challenges our understanding and interpretations of it. We want to expand our knowledge of graphic design history and really dig into the stories. We believe that differences are strengths, so we want to be inclusive, not only of people but of ideas and technologies that make the history of graphic design so rich. Our mission with the Incomplete Design History podcast is to explore the overlooked, underrepresented, or ignored areas of graphic design history, tell those stories, and make graphic design history a little less Incomplete.

your host

Mandy became interested in graphic design history while studying graphic design at Oklahoma State University. After graduation she took a year off to work at a dude ranch in Colorado and contemplate life. She decided she wasn’t done with school just yet and immersed herself in graphic design history. MFA in hand, she is now a professor of graphic design at the University of Central Oklahoma where she teaches design theory, criticism, and history of graphic design and is the director of the design history minor.

The idea for the Incomplete Design History podcast came from Mandy’s interest in researching the stories and histories outside of the ‘official’ design canon for class, and her desire to share these stories beyond the classroom.

Mandy is a feminist who lives in Oklahoma with a deaf dog named Solo, who is a (retired) certified therapy dog, two cats Rocky and Gypsy, who are certified for nothing, and wishes she lived closer to her two horses Rambo and Bogie. In her free time she likes to ride horses, go to the dog park, work in the garden and read all the books. For stress relief she likes to practice hand lettering and calligraphy techniques and has an obsession with buying pens.

guest host (season 4)

Sam Washburn is a certifiable obsessive when it comes to illustration history. An image maker by training and an educator by passion, Sam works out of a studio in Oklahoma making illustrations for a variety of clients including newspapers, magazines, advertising, and publishing. His work has been recognized by The Society of Illustrators New York, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Communication Arts, American Illustration, and CMYK. When he's not drawing pictures or pouring over obscure design documents he teaches full time at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he is an Associate Professor of Design.

At the invitation and encouragement of Professor Mandy Horton, Sam took over The Incomplet Design History Podcast for Season 4, dubbing the venture “The Illustration Files”.

Sam has no free time but does enjoy the occasional horror movie, graphic novel, or fighting video game session when the stars align.

our team