Industrial designer Cory Grosser grew up quintessentially all-American, lettering in football and winning trophies for his Halloween costumes. He studied architecture, but realized most buildings are built by “old” men, decided he was too impatient and shifted to product design. After years of pushing himself too hard, he is learning to find balance. Now he runs a holistic design studio, focuses on being a good dad, and teaches his students to unlock their creative potential, not strive for perfection.

Follow Cory Grosser + Associates at corygrosser.com and follow his projects on Instagram and Twitter.

What is your earliest memory?

Carrying skis across a snowy mountain at age 4.

How do you feel about democratic design?

For me, design is a discipline not a thing. The discipline of design can be applied to objects and experiences that are accessible to everyone as well as exclusive for a limited few. If done well and with intention both can be great.

What’s the best advice that you’ve ever gotten?

“The life of a designer is a life of fight against the ugliness” - Massimo Vignelli

How do you record your ideas?

Often in my head…..to the dismay of my team.

What’s your current favorite tool or material to work with?

As a designer, my best asset is my eyes. I like to see the world and use my eyes to create things that are well composed, balanced and fluid. I like all tools equally. My favorite materials are color, light and space.

What book is on your nightstand?

The NASA Graphic Standards Manual. We ordered it recently for the studio, it’s amazing.

Why is authenticity in design important?

Because designing new things requires research and development. If we stop supporting original design, we won’t be able to support the development of new technologies, new materials and the advancement of visual culture.

Favorite restaurant in your city?

Redbird, DTLA

What might we find on your desk right now?

It’s clean for the first time…….ever.

Who do you look up to and why?

My grandfather, because he taught me to see the world and use my hands to help shape it.

What’s your favorite project that you’ve done and why?

Probably the Supplyframe Headquarters. We had an incredible client who trusted our vision, and a truly holistic project that allowed us to leverage every design discipline we practice in the studio-- architecture, interior design, furniture design, graphics and strategy. We we selected everything from the plants on the patio to the glassware.

What are the last five songs you listened to?

Tilted by Christine and the Queens
Breezeblocks by Alt J
God’s Plan by Drake
Day I Die by The National
The Great Beyond by REM

Clever is produced by 2VDE Media. Thanks to Jennie Josephson for editing this episode.
Music in this episode courtesy of El Ten Eleven—hear more on Bandcamp.
Shoutout to Jenny Rask for designing the Clever logo.

Keep Listening

Featured

Ep. 218: The Exquisite Love, Magic and Maximalism of Londubh Studio

Custom surface artists Lisa Donohoe and Brynn Gelbard met and fell in love in the queer underbelly scene of San Francisco in 2002, a time before bi-national same-sex marriage was legal. Self-proclaimed party animals, their diverse community was built on love, curiosity and celebrating each other's differences. In an evolution that was equal parts organic maturity and cosmic intervention, Brynn and Lisa moved to Los Angeles and founded Londubh Studio, specializing in elaborate and maximalist hand-applied surface designs. Now the duo, oft considered the design world’s secret weapon, are translating their wildness, love, magic, and the sacred, through exquisite artistry and pristine craft, into visual celebrations that vibrate with love and emanate joy. Turns out these former revelers are still going full-blast on life.

Ep. 217: Design Researcher Amanda Schneider on the Art of Contextualizing the Data

Founder and President of ThinkLab, Amanda Schneider, grew up outside of Chicago, inspired by a blend of engineering and design. Now a self-described “designer by degree, journalist by accident, and researcher by choice” at the helm of ThinkLab, she examines the ecosystem of the design world, unearthing and synthesizing the social and cultural shifts and drivers that impact the interiors industry. Together with her team, she offers insights and context that can empower better decision-making while also bridging the communication gap between creatives and the business sector. A keynote speaker (catch her recent TEDx talk) and the host of the podcast Design Nerds Anonymous, Amanda shares her wisdom on topics like communication strategies, storytelling, and the future of work.

Ep. 216: Clever Extra - Interior Designer Kerrie Kelly on Uniting Beauty and Function

Interior designer and lifestyle expert Kerrie Kelly is known for her distinctive California-inspired design philosophy. She got her start at Ralph Lauren Home and then moved to Del Webb Corporation where she was a boots-on-the-ground high-volume designer of homes, before founding her multi-faceted design studio, Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, in 1995. A graduate of both design and business school, she blends both of these skill sets in her work as an interior designer, trendspotter, and brand partner. She’s driven by a commitment to bringing thoughtful design into everyday life, which for Kerrie means blending beauty with functionality and translating that through a palette of luxurious and organic materiality.

Ep. 215: Kinfolk’s Idris Brewster Uses AR to Empower Collective Memory Building

Artist, creative technologist, and educator, Idris Brewster grew up in Brooklyn, being filmed for a documentary about his education as a black student at a prestigious, primarily white, school. His coming-of-age, only partially caught on camera, included a lot of basketball and hands-on artistic development. A grant awarded in college gave him early access to VR technology which opened a path to combining all of his talents and interests and expressing them through new media. Now, as co-founder and Executive Director of Kinfolk Foundation, he’s harnessing augmented reality, location-based technology, and community to engage in placing digital monuments in public spaces, memory building, and foregrounding the Black, Brown and Queer histories that have been intentionally silenced.

Ep. 214: Architect & Designer Marc Thorpe on Relationships, Responsibility, and Uncertainty

Architect & designer Marc Thorpe spent his youth, just outside of Washington DC, drawing and learning to navigate a destabilizing home environment. The son of two academics, he learned discipline, rigor, and resilience from his mom, while his dad, a critical thinker, taught him to challenge and interrogate everything. Always knowing he’d be an artist, he studied Industrial Design and Architecture. Now, he’s the Founder & Principal of Marc Thorpe Design, a multi-disciplinary studio, and co-founder (along with Claire Pijoulat) of Edifice Upstate, a design & build architecture agency. As someone with a unique ability to seize every opportunity, as well as create them from scratch, he’s worked with world-renowned designers, lead groundbreaking projects, and is leading the charge toward more responsible architecture. And while Marc has always been certain that he’d be a creative, it is uncertainty that is his greatest inspiration.

Ep. 72: Cory Grosser

Keep Listening

Hear every episode with one click.

Resources

Listen

Ep. 72: Cory Grosser

Keep Listening

Ep. 73: Clever Extra - Flip the Switch on Your Home Lighting

Ep. 71: Clever Extra - Originality in the Age of Social Media

Hear every episode with one click.

Resources

Listen