Go Coastal Podcast

That Good Design Feeling with Clark Sopper - GoCo Podcast Ep. #50

Episode Summary

On this episode, Lane is joined by Clark Sopper of RoundCat Racing, a good friend and industrial designer living in Japan. We talk about "That Good Design Feeling" in everything from products to hospitality. Thanks for listening, and if you like what you hear, please rate and review the show on iTunes or wherever you listen to the show.

Episode Notes

-Introducing Clark Soper and his move to Japan

-Clark’s work: production, live experiences, brand activations, and designed objects

-Japanese design culture and why it pulls people in

-The “good design feeling” and how certain objects just feel right

-Game Boy, Playmobil, LEGO Technic, and other formative design objects

Sock Check:

Casio A159W

Casio factory in Yamagata

Round Cat Rally

Nodus Obscura 2 watch

Sunny 16 rule

-Cost-performance as part of design appreciation

-Materials, finish, and why plastic is only a problem when it’s bad plastic

-Design choices that feel thoughtful versus fake or ornamental for no reason

-Faux patina, aging gracefully, and the appeal of real wear

-Why some design work is about utility, and some is about atmosphere and occasion

-Silicon Valley design as friction reduction versus design that creates magic

-Industrial objects, precision, and when engineering becomes design

What Products are you excited about?

-Brio Wooden Trains

-Old Cameras(Canon F1, Pentax 6x7)

Whatcha listening to/watching?

-Aquired Podcast