The Crit #6: Bisila Noha
Have you ever wondered what designers really think about their own work, beyond the glossy press releases and polished gallery wall texts? Well, thanks to The Crit, a new podcast from Disegno, now you know!
Each fortnight, Disegno’s editor-in-chief Oli Stratford invites a leading designer to discuss their career and analyse their past projects. Each episode, our guest will tell us what worked best; what failed; what pushed their career to new heights; what feedback most shaped their practice; and what they feel needs to be redesigned.
At the end of each episode, to complete their crit, they’ll be asked to give themselves a grade for their career to date: fail, pass, commendation or distinction.
It’s a design-school crit, delivered every fortnight! Subscribe to the show here, or sign up wherever you get your podcasts from.
Our sixth guest on The Crit is Bisila Noha, accompanied by show host Oli Stratford.
Episode #6: Bisila Noha
For our sixth episode of The Crit, we welcomed ceramic artist, researcher and writer Bisila Noha into the studio to explore her interest in challenging Western ideas about art and craft, and honouring the contributions of women of colour to these disciplines.
Noha’s ceramics have appeared in exhibitions in from London to Lagos, and while her pieces vary dramatically in form, they are always grounded in powerful storytelling and careful research, which often involves visiting and learning from pottery communities around the world.
As the leader of the London LGBTQ+ community centre, co-director of the arts and activism organisation Lon-art creative, and a member of the steering committee at Design Can, a group working towards a more inclusive and representative design industry, Noha’s commitment to community is the cornerstone of her creative practice.
Listen to the episode to hear Noha review her career to date, from trying out ceramics on a whim at Hackney City Farm, to smuggling clay from Equatorial Guinea through airports and traveling to the Ivory Coast to track down the potter who inspired one of her designs.
Show Notes: Bisila Noha
Best design: Baney Clay
Worst design: Two-Legged Vessel
Most successful design: Her writing practice
Most impactful feedback: Receiving trust, respect and encouragement from curator Jareh Das
Dream design: Toilets
This episode of The Crit was recorded at Uncommon Holborn.
The Crit’s graphics were created by Leonhard Rothmoser.
The Crit’s music was created by Yuri Suzuki and Team Suzuki.