Alexandra Lange + Jane Thompson

Alexandra Lange is an architecture and design critic, journalist and historian. Her work has appeared in The Architect’s Newspaper, Design Observer, Metropolis, New York Magazine and The New York Times. She teaches architecture criticism at New York University and the School of Visual Arts.

Jane Thompson is an editor, designer and urban planner. One of the founding editor of I.D. magazine she also pioneered many revitalization projects such as Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, New York’s Grand Central District and the Chicago Navy Pier. Jane and her husband Benjamin Thompson, FAIA, collaborated for two decades on Design Research, the Cambridge store that introduced products from abroad and brought modern living to the United States.

In this audio interview with Debbie Millman, Alexandra Lange and Jane Thompson discuss their new book, Design Research: The Store That Brought Modern Living to American Homes, how DR was as much a community center as a design mecca, creating the power of imagination, the acessibility of DR, Marimekko, Sir Lady Jane and, of course, Benjamin Thompson.