Talking D&T
Talking D&T is a podcast about design and technology education. Join me, Dr Alison Hardy, as I share news, views, ideas and opinions about D&T. I also talk about D&T with teachers, researchers and academics from the D&T community.
The views on this podcast are my own and of those I am interviewing and are not connected to my institution. Much of the content is work in progress. As well as talking about D&T, I use it to explore new ideas and thoughts related to D&T education and my research, which are still embryonic and may change. Consult my publications for a reliable record of my considered thoughts on the topic featured in this podcast.
This podcast is independently produced and funded by Dr Alison Hardy. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of Nottingham Trent University. All views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of the University.
Podcast music composed by Chris Corcoran (http://www.svengali.org.uk)
Talking D&T
Teaching Taste Without the Cultural Arrogance
This episode is only available to subscribers.
Talking D&T +
Exclusive access to premium content!“Good taste” can sound like a compliment, but it can also be a warning label, a class signal, or a quiet way of telling someone they do not belong. I follow on from my earlier work on taste and pull apart what we really mean when we use the word in design education, especially when a single voice in the room has the power to define what counts as “good”.
I’m responding to a brilliant prompt from Tristram Shepherd, who shared a PDF of a ChatGPT conversation that pushed my thinking forward. From there, I map out three practical lenses for understanding taste: discernment (learning to notice craft, skill, originality and fit), status taste (how culture and consumption signal sophistication or wealth), and fashion taste (how what feels elegant can quickly become dated). Along the way, I use a concrete example of luxury branding and pricing to show how easily “taste” turns into a message about status.
The heart of the episode is teaching. Design movements and styles, from Victorian architecture to Bauhaus and Memphis, come from cultural context, politics, and provocation, not from timeless rules. That context is what we should be teaching, because it helps pupils make informed judgements without copying a canon.
I also name the risk of cultural arrogance and cultural policing, especially in schools where the dominant view of taste is often middle class and institutionally approved. The goal is not to “improve” pupils into our preferences, but to widen experience so their judgements become more informed, flexible, and reflective. If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more teachers can find it.
If you like the podcast, you can always buy me a coffee to say 'thanks!'
Please offer your feedback about the show or ideas for future episodes and topics by connecting with me on Threads @hardy_alison or by emailing me.
If you listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to rate and/or review the show.
If you want to support me by becoming a Patron click here.
If you are not able to support me financially, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing a link to my work on social media. Thank you!
