Understandable Design and Perfect Imperfections with William Kroll of Tender Co.

This event has passed.

Elizabeth Holloway Schar Hall, 5th Floor | Nancy Nicholas Hall
@ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

William Kroll is a multi-disciplinary designer whose brand Tender has been produced in Britain and retailed worldwide since 2010. Through Tender he investigates historical making techniques and problem solving design for a contemporary fashion audience. William previously apprenticed as a Savile Row custom tailor and worked as a designer at Japanese jeans brand Evisu. He taught for over a decade at Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London. He relocated to Eastern Pennsylvania in 2024. His new collaborative brand Working, developed internationally between Phoenixville PA and Glasgow Scotland, launches in Spring 2025.

In this talk William will explore his design philosophies of understandable design vs magic, and the benefits of not getting things quite right. Showing a range of Tender products and vintage garments from his own collection there will be a focus on denim design and construction as it relates to a design language.

Unable to join in-person? This lecture will be livestreamed via zoom.

This event is part of the Phyllis Huffman Fresh Ideas Lecture Series and co-hosted by the Department of Design Studies.

Graphic with two photos of a man with dark hair wearing a dark shirt and glasses with a white frame around the photos