The Thinking through Design podcast releases Episode 13. In this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast, host Adam Fromme sits down with Oscar Fernández to discuss the impact of Peter Megert and the influence of Swiss graphic design.

This episode is a celebration of the designer and educator, Peter Megert. A Swiss designer, Peter taught in the Department of Design at Ohio State and, more broadly, helped reshape American design curricula by emphasizing intellectual rigor and problem-solving over mere aesthetics. Peter’s influence, work and mannerisms, highlights how Swiss design—characterized by minimalism and clarity—emerged as a crucial visual language in post-war America, appealing to corporations eager to communicate efficiently in a rapidly expanding marketplace. This philosophy, rooted in the belief that good design prioritizes user needs and content hierarchy, has permeated contemporary design practice and education. Peter serves as one of many examples that Swiss design remains essential, guiding a new generation of designers to value simplicity and functionality in their work.

This episode coincides with the Peter Megert (1937–2022) Retrospective Exhibition which runs from October 7–December 13, 2024 at the Hopkins Hall Gallery on Ohio State University’s campus in Columbus, Ohio. For more information about events related to this exhibition, click here.

Oscar Fernández is a designer and educator with an MFA from Yale Design (1976). His design career spans leadership in various organizations, such as FITCH, VIA Group, Eyethink, and the Wexner Center for the Arts. He has also held academic positions at institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, Maine College of Art and Ohio State University. Most recently, he served as the chair of the School of Design in the College of DAAP, University of Cincinnati. His areas of expertise and research include visual communications, interaction design, typography, information design, environmental communications/wayfinding, and usability.

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts or by visiting the Podcast webpage.

About the podcast

It’s obvious that design is all around us, but how designers think through their work is often a mystery. Yet, understanding that process can fuel our own curiosity and creativity. Adam Fromme hosts Thinking through Design as a series of in-depth discussions to reveal the designer’s mindset and realize its value. 

Thinking through Design is brought to you by the Department of Design at The Ohio State University. For general inquires, contact Adam Fromme, fromme.3@osu.edu