42. Material-led design with Ben Bradley

42. Material-led design with Ben Bradley

Author: Bryan Dowley April 1, 2025 Duration: 17:55

In episode 42 of Pirated Radio I speak to senior teaching fellow of the school of design at the The University of Leeds, Ben Bradley, about his current PhD practise.


Bryan Dowley's Pirated Radio operates on a frequency all its own, drifting through the eclectic intersections of art and design. This isn't a lecture series or a formal interview circuit; it feels more like tuning into a late-night broadcast from a studio where creative ideas have no borders. Each episode is a curated transmission, built around the raw and often unseen processes that fuel visual culture, from the initial sketch in a designer's notebook to the final piece in a gallery. You'll hear conversations that meander through the practical struggles and unexpected inspirations behind creative work, offering a sense of eavesdropping on a candid dialogue between maker and curator. The atmosphere of this podcast is intentionally unpolished, prioritizing the genuine exchange of ideas over slick production. It’s for anyone who finds fascination in the how and why of artistic expression, not just the finished product. Dowley guides these explorations with a presenter's ease, making complex or niche topics feel accessible and immediately engaging. If your interests lean toward the crafted, the visual, and the thoughtfully unconventional, this signal is worth searching for.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 42

Pirated Radio
Podcast Episodes
40. Making things beautiful with Stefan Sagmeister [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:19
In episode 40 of Pirated Radio I speak to the incredible Stefan Sagmeister about social media, his current sabbatical in Madrid, facing backlash from his work and his movie, The Happy Movie. Enjoy!
38. CBBC vs CITV with Andrew Khatouli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:57
In episode 38 of Pirated Radio I speak to design director Andrew Khatouli. We discuss Andrew's early influences, university, getting into the industry, kids tv and most importantly wrestling.
37. How KSI and Logan Paul got Prime wrong with Richard Taylor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:33
In episode 37 of Pirated Radio I speak to Richard Brandon Taylor, founder and CEO of Brand Consultants. We discuss Richards early influences, his time in education, design agency culture and social influencer marketing.
36. The story of 3 bakers with Tom Shaughnessy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:43
In episode 36 of Pirated Radio I speak to the co-founder and creative director of Manchester based design agency, Glorious Creative, Tom Shaughnessy. As ever, we touch on Tom's early influences including his interest in…
35. Thinking made visual with Abbas Mushtaq [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:22
In episode 35 of Pirated Radio I speak to co-founder and creative director of Manchester based studio Alphabet, Abbas Mushtaq. We deep dive into what makes Alphabet and touch on Abbas' early influences, tumblr and making…
34. Working for the Chase with Gary Whitworth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:37
In episode 34 of Pirated Radio, I speak to Gary Whitworth, one of the design team leaders at the Manchester based agency, The Chase. We discuss Gary's time in education studying at the University of Central Lancashire, h…
33. Designing for Factory Records with Trevor Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:30
In episode 33 of Pirated Radio I speak to legendary Manchester designer Trevor Johnson about his early influences, his work for Factory Records, and his day to day practise now as a Design Director for global leading hea…
32. Taking inspiration from the mundane with Steven Waring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:36
In episode 32 of Pirated Radio I speak to the co-founder and creative director of the Manchester based agency Ensemble, Steven Waring. We discuss Steven's early influences, his early work, starting his own creative pract…