minor details

About minor details

Minor details is an industrial design podcast hosted by Nicholas Baker and James Connors. They share their opinions and stories about living and working as industrial designers in New York City.

Publisher

Nicholas Baker & James Connors

Category

arts · business · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Mar 2018

Latest episode

6 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

2 of 115 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   6 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   116 - Are Bicycles Actually Beautiful?

   James and Nick catch up on recent projects, from a Lego-inspired barricade moment to the surprisingly complex reality of building a two-ton “rock chair.” They then dig into a bigger design question: what makes an object truly beautiful versus merely cool, playful, or hyper-functional—using bicycles, keyboards, and iconic industrial design examples as the spark for a spirited debate. Music by KYOSHY (THE KID) Send questions to minordetailspodcast@gmail.com.

2. 

   16 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   115 - The Return of Tangible Tech

   James and Nick discuss the trend of incense holders, the "brutalism" of modern coffee machines, and the five-year development of Nick’s modular Strap Box. They also debate Dieter Rams’ design philosophy and the cultural shift toward "tangible" retro technology like iPods and digital cameras. Music by KYOSHY (THE KID) Send questions to minordetailspodcast@gmail.com.

3. 

   1 Dec 2025

   114 - Reunion

   James and Nick catch up. James talks about a road barrier he designed. Nick talks about the Haybale and Jex. They discuss Ikea, Bambulab’s latest printer, and recent AI thoughts.

Inside a recent episode

116 - Are Bicycles Actually Beautiful?

Published 6 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And every detail on those objects... Realized, refined, resolved... Are resolved based on their function. And you're looking at this Giovannoni's Dustbuster, and it's this beautiful, kind of organic, smooth shape. And I almost feel like we have this tendency to think that these smooth forms are beautiful. Like, is there a form that is... maybe not smooth, that is also beautiful? I think, like, that keyboard, that icebreaker keyboard, that, like, was that what it was called? I don't know. The one that was, like, a wedge shape. Oh, yes. I know what you're talking about. um it's a brutalist keyboard i think it's called icebreaker i think like that that's a that is what i would consider a beautiful by serene industries uh but angular form okay i think there's there's like an uh an essential nature to to a beautiful object And this is why I think the softer forms lend to that, right? […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

122 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

80 ratings

Contact minor details

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.