Lawrence Azerrad, Grammy Award-winning author of Supersonic, and Debbie Millman, National Design Award-winning host of Design Mattershave a conversation on the ingenuity and enduring creative legacy of Concorde, the world’s first—and so far only—luxury supersonic airliner.

Supersonic explores the history, design, technology, and lifestyle of Concorde, the 1960s aircraft that could cross the Atlantic in under three hours. Yet, more than the time-bending capabilities of the aircraft itself, Supersonic celebrates the creative optimism and determination that made Concorde’s vision possible. Concorde commissioned notable designers including Sir Terence Conran, Roger Excoffon, Raymond Loewy, and Andrée Putman to create objects and spaces that enhanced the in-flight experience at every touchpoint.

 


Lawrence Azerrad, Founder, LADdesign

Lawrence Azerrad is a Grammy Award winning designer, creative director and founder of LADdesign, a graphic design studio focusing on creating visual experiences that spark emotion for musicians, educational and cultural institutions, and organizations working to visualize the future.

Since 2001 LADdesign has created graphic design for clients such as Esperanza Spalding, Wilco, Sting, USC, Berklee College of Music, and UCLA.

Azerrad is the author of Supersonic: The Design and Lifestyle of Concorde. The book chronicles the lifestyle and experience of the world’s only luxury supersonic airliner as expressed through design, and was selected by Amazon as a Best of the Year title in Arts & Photography.

 

Debbie Millman, Author, Educator, Founder, Design Matters

Named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company, and “one of the most influential designers working today” by Graphic Design USA, Debbie Millman is also an author, educator, curator and host of the podcast Design Matters.

As the founder and host of Design Matters, one of the world’s first and longest running podcasts, Millman has interviewed over 400 artists, designers and cultural commentators, including Marina Abramovic, Steven Pinker, Milton Glaser, Malcolm Gladwell, Shepard Fairey, Barbara Kruger, Amanda Palmer, Alain de Botton and many more. In the 13 years since its inception, the show has garnered over a five-million-downloads per year, a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award and iTunes has designated it one of the best overall podcasts.

Debbie is the author of six books, including two collections of interviews that have extended the ethos and editorial vision of Design Matters to the printed page: How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer and Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits. Both books have been published in over 10 languages.

Debbie is also President Emeritus of AIGA, one of five women to hold the position in the organization’s 100-year history.  She is a frequent speaker on design and branding and has moderated Design Yatra in India, presented keynote lectures at Rotman School of Management.

 


Find out about Cooper Hewitt’s accessibility services.