pieces
Enabling Disabilities
Jessica Zarin Kessin’s toy company in San Francisco caters to a unique market: disabled children. By designing for the extremes, Jessica believes she can make toys more fun for everyone.
Production Notes: Aired on NPR affiliate KUOW as part of KUOW Presents on 5/27/10. Originally aired on KZSU on 5/14/09. (15:50)
These Buildings Have Feelings | Angel Grant Award
An in-depth look at the waterfront development project in Bellingham, WA, and the implications of developing the last major historical waterfront on the west coast. Produced with funding by an Angel Grant from Stanford University. Special thanks to Katie Franks.
Production Notes: Originally aired on KZSU on 5/25/10. Music by Nataly Dawn and Selwyn-Lloyd. (27:46)
Born Into a World of Things
Michael Shanks, an archaeologist at Stanford, was hired by a major car company to help them find out how people interact with car interiors. A discussion of the history of design, form and function, and playfulness as an attitude towards the world.
Production Notes: Originally aired on KZSU as part of the Stanford Storytelling Project episode, “No Work and All Play” on 5/14/09 (9:32)
A Portrait of War
Emily Prince is a San Francisco artist who has taken up the task of drawing individual portraits of every single American solder killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. So far, she’s drawn over 4,000–and counting. You can find her website here.
Production Notes: Originally aired on KZSU as part of the Stanford Storytelling Project episode, “Telling Other People’s Stories” on 5/12/08. (20:52)
shows
One Man’s Trash
A show exploring our mysterious relationship with things we discard. Features stories about small-scale composting, art programs in city dumps, estate sales, and fabric redistribution.
Production Notes: Originally aired on KZSU on 12/8/09. (1:02:40)
No Work and All Play
What is it to be a toy or a tool? What is the difference between work and play, or is there a difference at all? Features “Enabling” and “Born Into a World of Things,” as well as an audio essay about circuit bending music.
Production Notes: Originally aired on KZSU on 5/14/09. (56:44)
Epiphony
An hour-long show about the life-changing, transformative power of sound. Features pieces about brain activity during sound and silence, an audio essay about the healing powers of Cambodian chants, and the story of a powwow teacher’s emotional impact on his students.
Production Notes: Originally aired on KZSU on 5/26/08. (1:08:25)