{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Compelling with Katy Wellesley Wesley","title":"Rafael de Cárdenas: Taste, Craft, and the Accidents That Built a Studio","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3802,"description":"What happens to taste when algorithms stop us discovering anything unexpected? \nIn this episode of Compelling, host Katy Wellesley-Wesley sits down with New York-based designer and creative director Rafael de Cárdenas for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces shaping culture, luxury, and design right now. Rafael traces a non-linear path from Calvin Klein to architecture school and, ultimately, a multidisciplinary studio practice spanning interiors, architecture, art advisory, and brand work. Along the way, they discuss everything from pop culture to the development of personal identity.\n\nThey also chat about The Hoffman Process and what it changed in Rafael’s leadership, alongside a frank look at politics, Americanness, and how the ‘no rules’ philosophy of America can give rise to both Warhol and Trump. \n\nRafael de Cárdenas: Rafael de Cárdenas is a New York-based designer and creative director, and the founder of Rafael de Cárdenas, Ltd., an interdisciplinary studio working across architectural and interior design and creative direction. Since 2006, Rafael’s practice has spanned residential and commercial projects as well as brand-led work, with recent coverage including a 2025 Architectural Digest feature on a six-storey Manhattan townhouse renovation.\nVisit Rafael de Cárdenas, Ltd\nKaty Wellesley Wesley: With over 18 years of leadership across galleries, foundations, and startups, Katy has built a career shaped by curiosity and a drive to explore new ideas. She spent a decade at leading commercial galleries—first at Gagosian, then at Pace, where she was Director of Exhibitions in London. She went on to lead the Villa Lena Foundation in Italy as Director, before joining the founding team of ROKBOX, a pioneering environmentally focused art logistics startup, as Sales Director. After relocating to Paris six years ago, Katy developed a strong interest in the intersection of art and luxury. To deepen this focus, she recently completed an Executive Master’s in...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/2JTE_96t8Hbe5R3xzuClzLrfaoeuMMr-F1NVjEB9yC8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wMjI5/ZGE0Y2Y0MDc4MDRm/MzRlNDVkMzVlZGJh/ZTRlYi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}