In this episode of Mixed Signals, we dive into architectural education, student work, and the future of the discipline with special guest Ryan Scavnicky. From a cold critique of recent University of Pennsylvania studio projects to debates about Peter Eisenman, post-digital aesthetics, and neo-brutalism, we ask: what is architecture prioritizing right now?The conversation expands into virtual architecture, video games, Unreal Engine, and the attention economy—exploring how Minecraft, The Sims, Assassin’s Creed, and immersive media are shaping the next generation of architects. Is architecture just about buildings anymore? Or is world-making the real discipline? Plus: OMA’s “Death Star,” fluted facades, and one of the wildest Japanese real estate commercials we’ve ever seen.We also look at some new buildings and some trending topics! Make sure to follow us on our socials!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mxd_signalTiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mxd_signal

What happens when the “dream office” looks a lot more like the rest of the industry? In this Mix Signals segment, we get into the uncomfortable reality behind architecture’s prestige economy—where star firms are idolized, but pay, job security, and working conditions can still be fragile. We talk through the reported proposed redundancies at BIG’s London office and why architects protesting publicly feels like a shift in the culture.

From there, the conversation opens up into the bigger problem: why architecture struggles to pay a living wage, why “free work” quietly resets the market against everyone, and why students and young designers are forced into impossible tradeoffs (portfolio vs. stability, prestige vs. sustainability). We also connect this to recent unionization efforts and labor disputes in the discipline—what worked, what didn’t, and why the profession keeps normalizing conditions that would be unacceptable in almost any other field.

If you’ve been through this (or found a better way), we want to hear it in the comments.

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The MXD crew discusses Digital and Post-Digital Architecture. What's the difference and does it matter? We also discuss student work from the Bartlett and the role of the animation in explaining the projects. Also, is the corporate glossy render done? We talk about the trend of the 'anti-render'.

The MXD crew discusses Architecture and its agency in the political sphere, a feeling of powerlessness as Architecture is less critically impactful in the wider culture. We also review a new batch of student projects, this time from University of Texas at Austin as well as one more OSU project. We also look at architectural anomalies, "Smol vs Somol", and a round of Architecture DND?!

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In this episode of Mixed Signals, we dive into a heated conversation on architecture, politics, authorship, and education—using The ATTN Podcast by the Architecture Exchange (Season 8) as a jumping-off point. We unpack what it means to talk about democracy, plurality, and politics in architecture without turning the discipline into a catch-all moral project. From post-critical theory and the legacy of Eric Owen Moss to the “Midwest Mafia,” Possible Mediums, and contemporary academic aesthetics, we debate whether this generation of architects actually lacks a project—or simply refuses to name it. We question the irony of accessibility rhetoric delivered through highly gatekept discourse, and ask whether architecture is a political duty, a cultural instrument, or ultimately a luxury.The episode also critiques viral architectural imagery, asking why certain projects circulate online while others disappear, and what gets lost when buildings are reduced to images. Finally, we turn the lens toward architectural education, examining thesis work, authorship, and the tension between student voice and the influence of critics.This is an unfiltered, opinionated conversation about where architecture is right now—and what it can realistically be responsible for.Keywords: architecture podcast, architectural theory, Attention Podcast, postcritical architecture, architectural education, thesis critique, contemporary architecture, architectural discourse, design culture, academia vs practice

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Season 2 kicks off with a debate: do architecture books still matter—or has the discourse moved to Instagram, TikTok, and the feed? We unpack “rough-around-the-edges” aesthetics, anti-tech vibes, and why “Architecture (Big A)” feels fragmented into niches—then shift to student work, skyscrapers, and the new digital-art/collage frontier.

The MXD crew is joined by Matt Lopez, Claire Moriarty, and Riley Studebaker to celebrate the Season 1 Finale. #architecturedesign #podcast #art #architecture #design

Ep 14 - our part 2 of our holiday special where we have many guest to discuss the legacy of Frank Gehry, new leadership at Cooper Union architecture program, more AI realted conversations.