EP 93: Designing for Humanity | Platon

How does one of the world’s most renowned photographers humanize
data? Can ordinary people do extraordinary things? What is true
power? Platon is one of the world's most renowned portrait
photographers, having photographed more world leaders than anyone
else in history, including six American presidents. He has
photographed over 30 covers for TIME Magazine, including their 2008
Vladimir Putin Person of The Year cover, which was awarded 1st
prize at the World Press Photo Contest. In 2008, Platon signed on
as staff photographer to the New Yorker, winning a Peabody Award
and two National Magazine Awards for his photo essays. He has
published four books with subjects ranging from the power of world
leaders to the dignity of those who serve in the US Military. In
2013, Platon founded The People’s Portfolio, a non-profit
foundation dedicated to celebrating emerging leaders of human
rights and civil rights around the world. The People’s Portfolio
creates a visual language that breaks barriers, uplifts dignity,
fights discrimination, and enlists the public to support human
rights around the world. Platon is currently on the board for Arts
and Culture at the World Economic Forum. Platon’s life’s work is
the subject of a Netflix documentary, Abstract: The Art of Design.
His first film, My Body Is Not A Weapon, features survivors of
wartime sexual violence and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr.
Denis Mukwege. In 2020, Platon’s archive of prominent African
American civil rights leaders and cultural leaders was acquired by
the Smithsonian. Episode Website/Newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/designlabpod/platon Follow Platon: Twitter |
Facebook | Insta Episode Links and Mentions:
http://www.platonphoto.com https://www.thepeoplesportfolio.org
https://www.mukwegefoundation.org Original portrait of Platon by
Michele Murray More episode sources & links Sign-up for Design
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Production by Robert Pugliese Edit by Fernando Queiroz Cover Design
by Eden Lew Theme song by Emmanuel Houston Indexed in the Library
of Congress: ISSN 2833-2032