Dean. Director. Podcast host!
…
continue reading
Pop culture inspires some serious fun. Join hosts Todd Coats and Elliot Strunk, two creatively curious pals living between the bookends of grand museums and dive bars, the sweet spot where highbrow and lowbrow become drinking buddies. They talk influential work and uncover stories of how the familiar became iconic. Think Behind the Music for the stuff we love. ----- Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/ for images, links, episode extras and more. ----- Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ...
…
continue reading
Entrepreneurship on the RISE, hosted by RISE Collaborative, tells the story of change-makers to advance the knowledge for rural ecosystem building. In each episode of this limited series, co-hosts Lauren Mathena and Jacob Dolence speak with industry leaders in Southern Virginia and across the country to hear how they are building up their local communities. Learn more at https://sovarise.com/
…
continue reading
1
Episode 93: Rural Electrification, Hope for Obama and Posters for Good (Classic)
44:18
44:18
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
44:18
We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. With Election Day happening in the United States, we wanted to mark the occasion with two amazing poster designs. We examine bringing electricity to rural parts of the United States 80 years later and inspiring a nation to rally behind an unknown presidential candidate named Barack Obama, along with how…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 92: Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman, Tarantula and the Amazing Art of Reynold Brown (Classic)
57:53
57:53
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
57:53
We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. For our special Halloween episode, and because of our love of B movies, we wanted to pay homage to one of the best horror poster artists of all time, Reynold Brown. We talk about the movie (and poster for) Tarantula, plus what is arguably one of the most recognizable staples of pop culture: the poster f…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 91: Iconic Music Videos - Part 1
43:08
43:08
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
43:08
We're bringing some video tapes with us into the bar -- or at least some trusty YouTube links. Why? We're talking music videos! And we have so much to share, we've broken this subject into two episodes. For today, we've dug into the backs of our closets and dusted off a couple of favorites from yesterday that are still killing it today: a-ha's illu…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 90: Roller Coaster Logo Battle
54:10
54:10
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
54:10
Our latest episode is for the thrill seekers. We're pitting roller coaster logos against each other. And not just any roller coasters...We're each representing our home states. So, buckle up by pulling the restraint harness tightly against you, and grab a couple of quick high octane shots. We've got our hands up and our drink lids on tight... We're…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 89: Looking Back on Four Years
44:30
44:30
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
44:30
In honor of International Podcast Day, we’re taking a look back at our own origin story. How the podcast began, why we continue to do it and what could be coming next. It’s the story of two friends, one shared profession and the pop culture love that kickstarted it all. Mix-up a couple of White Russians. We’re taking it slow and philosophical as we…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 88: Talking Music Posters with Paul Hennessey
32:17
32:17
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
32:17
Both eye-catching and informative, posters are one of the most highly collectible forms of design. They are used to promote products, places, events, art, political movements and almost anything else you can think of. Today we're joined by a special guest from across the Pond, Paul Hennessey, who owns two poster shops in the UK. We talk cats, food …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 87: Gen X and the Golden Age of Magazines
58:09
58:09
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
58:09
The late '80s and the '90s were a golden age for magazines. With the World Wide Web a few years away, advertising dollars were being pumped into print and art directors and publishers did not disappoint with their offerings. In this episode we talk about Raygun, Wired, Rolling Stone and Vibe and the approaches of David Carson, Plunkett + Kuhr, Fred…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 86: Gen X Music Appears from Underground
59:03
59:03
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
59:03
The late '80s and the '90s were a golden age for Gen X music, even well beyond the long shadow of Nirvana's Nevermind. We flipped through the crates to prep for this episode. With sore fingers and tired eyes we walk through iconic albums by Bjork, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Pixies. Grab your favorite concert t-shirt and a cool PBR. It's time…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 85: Selling to Gen X Without Selling Out
54:17
54:17
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
54:17
Gen X was coming of age during cynicism and ironic detachment. A DIY attitude rooted in authenticity coupled with increasing access to personal tech and an explosion of choices in alternative media. And most importantly, lack of trust in corporations. Companies (and their marketing departments) had to think of ways to sell to those who didn’t want …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 84: Denver, Los Angeles and Stories of Designing for the Olympic Games (Classic)
57:00
57:00
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
57:00
We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. Bum-bum-ba-bum-bummm…Nothing brings the world together every couple of years like the Olympic Games. With such a large stage and a chance to influence audiences around the globe, designers jump at the chance to create something great. In this episode we discuss what did (or didn’t) happen in Denver in 1…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 83: When Gen X Came of Age
41:19
41:19
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
41:19
Let’s plop down on the couch in your favorite record store or skate shop for a few minutes. It’s time to relive the end of the 1980s and begin a new decade of cultural change. In this episode we discuss what was in the news, the invention of the "slacker" character, the mood of skepticism, irony and emotional detachment that grew out of the glossy …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 82: Riffs on Riffs Crossover
1:11:58
1:11:58
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
1:11:58
Record albums. You know 'em. You love 'em. But do your favorites fall short when art overshadows music (or vice versa)? We invited a couple of buddies to the bar — Joe Watson and Toby Brazwell from the Riffs on Riffs podcast — for a conversation about a handful of desert island-level albums: how they sound, what they look like and if, ultimately, t…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 81: Fun Food Containers
51:39
51:39
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
51:39
History repeats itself... There are no new ideas… Everything old is new again… Sure, we get excited when we have custom meal kits delivered to our homes or when we see amazing food in farmer’s markets and grocery stores near our homes. But food marketing has been around for a really long time. Today we discuss a couple of popular approaches from ye…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 80: Vernacular Architecture
51:55
51:55
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
51:55
Did you ever look at a building with a business inside and think, “Yeah…that totally used to be something else” and wonder how you knew that? You know, the jewelry store that used to be a pizza parlor or the drive-up coffee shop that was once a spot to drop off film are peppered in towns all across the country. Today we’re talking about a couple of…
…
continue reading
There are visual icons that have symbolized professions for so long their origin stories are unknown to the very customers served by them. These independent businesses are owned by all kinds of people serving millions on a daily basis throughout the world, all using these same basic signs outside their establishments. We're discussing barber poles …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 78: The Reflex Blue Conversation
43:30
43:30
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
43:30
We were lucky enough to have Donovan Beery of the long-running design podcast The Reflex Blue Show pull up a stool next to us. We talk about some of our shared pop culture influences, listening to vinyl (and the creative opportunities record albums afford) and where we go to find inspiration (hint: Wikipedia addictions). We also found out Reflex Bl…
…
continue reading
There are some products so iconic that you know what they are as soon as you lay your eyes on them. The color, the shape or some other distinctive brand feature says, “Accept no substitute. There is no equal.” Pour yourself a drink on the rocks, kick back against the bar and listen as we uncork the stories of the bottles from Coca-Cola and Absolut …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 76: The ‘80s: New Wave Gets Fashionable
34:53
34:53
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
34:53
Video may have killed the radio star, but it poured gasoline on the spark of New Wave. As MTV exploded, youth culture moved to center stage and companies making wearables were more than happy to cater to changing tastes. In this episode we focus on Vans and Swatch, a couple of iconic fashion accessories found on the wrists and feet of Gen X. As we …
…
continue reading
1
Design Crimes: Comic Sans: Who’s Laughing Now?
2:35
2:35
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
2:35
Todd Coats and Elliot Strunk, the creators behind the hit design and pop culture show Two Designers Walk Into a Bar, announced last week at the PodFest Expo Upfronts the release of their newest investigative true-crime series, Design Crimes: Comic Sans, Who’s Laughing Now?, set to drop on April 15, 2024. The five-part show, hosted by Strunk and Coa…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 75: The ‘80s: New Wave and the Boob Tube
46:37
46:37
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
46:37
If New Wave was a style and attitude, television was how it was delivered to the masses. In this episode, we talk about two important touchstones during one of pop culture’s signature eras: the launch of MTV and the debut of Miami Vice. It's all pastel wonder and neon glow in our latest episode as New Wave meets the boob tube. Turn on, tune in and …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 74: The ‘80s: Punk Meets Tech, New Wave is Born
38:58
38:58
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
38:58
Bold colors. Funky haircuts. The Cold War and the Cola Wars. Video games and MTV. Japanese electronics and European fashion. Iconic music and movies... If New Wave was a style and attitude, then music was the delivery device. In this episode we discuss the political climate, creative activity and DIY attitudes that led to the formation and rise of …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 73: Pepsi, Tropicana and the Challenge of Good Design
7:40
7:40
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
7:40
February 28: This week marks a quirky moment in pop culture (and soft drink) history. Michael Jackson's hair caught fire back in 1984 while shooting an ad for Pepsi, which was, to put it mildly, a production challenge. In this mini-episode we talk about the origins of the original Pepsi Challenge and a foolproof way to make small children cry. Drin…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 72: Six Marines, One Photographer. The Story of Iwo Jima
8:51
8:51
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
8:51
February 21: This week marks the anniversary of an event that was made famous by one of the world’s most iconic photos: the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima. We talk about how the photo came to be and why it's still instantly recognizable today. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 71: The Goodyear Blimp: More Than a Bunch of Hot Air
9:58
9:58
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
9:58
February 14: This week marks the anniversary of an accident. Not a normal accident. A blimp accident. The USS Macon, one of the two largest helium-filled airships ever created, crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California and sank. This reminds us of one of our favorite company icons floating over a stadium near you: The Goodyear Blim…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 70: Black Cats, Fireworks and Celebrating a Logo We Love
6:59
6:59
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
6:59
February 7: Logos and graphics are an important part of sports. This week marks the moment back in 1988 when Michael Jordan made his signature slam dunk from the free throw line, inspiring the Air Jordan brand and, more specifically, the Jumpman logo. But there are logos we love that don’t have the same iconic status. Here's the explosive story beh…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 69: KISS and their Flaming Wheel of Death
8:49
8:49
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
8:49
January 31: Way back in 1973, KISS played their first show at the Popcorn Club in Queens. Now, it's no secret that Todd is a member of the KISS Army, so we felt highlighting their coming out party was appropriate for this week's mini-episode where we talk about the artwork for their landmark album “Rock ‘n Roll Over." - - - - - Visit our full episo…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 68: When the Beats Moved a Generation
11:04
11:04
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
11:04
January 24: This week marks an important pop culture moment when Bob Dylan arrived in New York in 1961 after dropping out of college, playing a show at Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village. His performance reminds us of the Beats, one of our favorite eras. We take a few minutes to jump into our origin story about that movement and its impact on post-WWII…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 67: All Mascots Are Wieners in Our Eyes
9:34
9:34
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
9:34
January 17: It's only appropriate that we talk sports this week. Why? This was when the first Super Bowl was played in L.A. back in 1967, with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35–10. Speaking of Wisconsin athletics, the first thing that comes to mind four us is the Famous Racing Sausages from Milwaukee! If you haven't listened…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 66: The Failure of Google Glass
9:10
9:10
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
9:10
January 10: Remember when the iPhone was first announced? Well, it happened this week back in 2007. Now, the iPhone is one of the world’s most successful products. Most tech never hits that milestone. Some comes before its time, and sometimes it goes sideways and gets creepy. Here’s an excerpt from one of our episodes about a tech product with loft…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 65: 1979, Disco and the Opening of Studio 54
8:03
8:03
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
8:03
January 3: This week, way back in 1979, the double-album soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever reached sales of 25 million worldwide, making it the then best-selling LP in history. To honor this milestone, it’s only appropriate we highlight one of our episodes that celebrated a temple of the disco scene: Studio 54. Beautiful people, bumping t…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 64: Rubber Chickens vs. Whoopee Cushions
41:30
41:30
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
41:30
In this episode, rubber is the name of the game as we discuss two products that held the promise of endless hours of entertainment and were found in the pages of comic books for, literally, decades. It’s the visual humor of the rubber chicken versus the sonic disturbance of the whoopee cushion. Dig some quarters out of your piggy bank. We’re all ab…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 63: Charles Atlas vs. Art Instruction Schools
47:48
47:48
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
47:48
In this episode, we discuss two products that held the promise of self improvement and were found in the pages of comic books for, literally, decades. It’s Charles Atlas and his Dynamic Tension versus the Art Instruction Schools. Sneak one of your dad’s beers from the garage. We’re all about to learn a thing or two… - - - - - Visit our full episode…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 62: Ant Farms vs. Sea Monkeys
47:26
47:26
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
47:26
In this episode, we discuss two educational products that were found in the pages of comic books for, literally, decades. It’s Sea Monkeys versus the Ant Farm. Buckle up. We’re all about to learn a thing or two… - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignersw…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 61: Andy Warhol: When The Factory Meets Studio 54
46:23
46:23
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
46:23
Andy Warhol once said, “The key of the success of Studio 54 is that it's a dictatorship at the door and a democracy on the dance floor.” We begin this episode with Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager on the evening of April 26, 1977 as they open the doors to Studio 54, smack-dab in the middle of the glitter and grime in and around Midtown Manhattan. We d…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 60: Andy Warhol: Movies Emerge from the Underground - Part 2
38:40
38:40
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
38:40
In this episode we continue with the second half of our conversation about Warhol’s anti-films. We talk about lonesome cowboys, sexploitation, screen tests, and how the Factory scene was ripped off for a much more mainstream Oscar-winning movie — which didn’t make Andy very happy. We then wrap-up discussing films influenced by his approach. - - - -…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 59: Andy Warhol: Movies Emerge from the Underground - Part 1
36:21
36:21
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
36:21
The Factory scene produced all sorts of art, including films. We start with Warhol’s anti-film Sleep and dive into underground movies from the period and The Factory’s influence on them. We then shift gears to discuss how that approach popped-up in later “low-fi” movies like John Waters’ Pink Flamingos. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for sho…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 58: Andy Warhol: Album Covers Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Part 2
35:26
35:26
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
35:26
Peel-away bananas. Working zippers. Andy Warhol elevated music album art to a new level. Building on our last episode, we talk about Andy’s influence on other "special" treatments of albums that—especially in our era of digital downloads—make having the real thing from bands like Bob Marley and The Pet Shop Boys worth the effort. - - - - - Visit ou…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 57: Andy Warhol: Album Covers Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Part 1
40:29
40:29
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
40:29
Beginning with the backstory of one of the most iconic albums of all time, 1967’s “The Velvet Underground and Nico,” we return to The Factory scene as it was becoming commercially successful—but no less of a sideshow—as musicians come calling for new ideas or simply hipster art cred. We also discuss the design work Warhol created for bands like the…
…
continue reading
1
Bonus Episode: Nostalgia and Marketing: A Conversation with Kate Christensen
53:39
53:39
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
53:39
Today we have a special guest we’ve welcomed into the bar. We reached out to Kate Christensen after reading an article she wrote for the website Marketing Brew about marketing and nostalgia. We thought “Marketing and nostalgia? Hey, that’s us!” Kate is currently on the faculty at Indiana University. She’s produced movies for Disney, TV shows for So…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 56: Andy Warhol: The Silver Wears Off The Factory - Part 2
30:30
30:30
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
30:30
This episode wraps-up the chronicle of The Factory’s downward slide. Drella has made the scene at The Factory and there has been some fallout. A script entitled “Up Your Ass” led to Andy Warhol barely cheating death at the hands of its author, Valarie Solanas. She called the Factory dwellers the “Stupidstars” and Warhol “a vulture and a thief.” The…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 55: Andy Warhol: The Silver Wears Off The Factory - Part 1
24:26
24:26
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
24:26
This episode begins the chronicle of The Factory’s downward slide. If you work with and entertain people living on society’s fringes, things happen…some good, some not so good. Add a constant flow of amphetamines and acid and the not so good can take a deadly turn. During this time, Andy Warhol was easily the most famous artist in America and enjoy…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 54: Andy Warhol: New York and Rise of The Silver Factory - Part 2
27:48
27:48
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
27:48
We wrap-up the second of our two episodes by talking about just how high (pun intended) the Silver Factory could get. Powered by the social unrest brewing in the mid-1960s, this collection of junkies, drag queens and hangers-on led by the Oddball Oracle made some great work and also caused a lot of irritation in the art world. Andy couldn’t be stop…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 53: Andy Warhol: New York and Rise of The Silver Factory - Part 1
32:02
32:02
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
32:02
Episode 53: Andy Warhol: New York and Rise of The Silver Factory - Part 1 We begin with the first of two episodes talking about the rapid and unprecedented success of Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory. It was part studio, part party palace and part crash pad for tripping pop stars, street gurus and suicidal Superstars. It didn’t take long for Andy’s han…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 52: Andy Warhol: Andy Becomes the Center of Pop Life
42:28
42:28
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
42:28
Easily New York’s most successful commercial illustrator, Ambitious Andy wanted to be accepted in the hoity-toity fine art world. Unfortunately, he found that would take a little time and the right moment. The explosion of consumerism set him up to be a household name. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we dis…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 51: Andy Warhol: The 1960s Scene and the Emergence of Pop
38:21
38:21
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
38:21
We begin our fourth season with an introduction to the cultural chaos of the mid-1960s. As The Beats began to fade and the Hippies take center stage, changes were happening in both the U.S. and overseas that would set the stage for new forms of art and expression. Warhol found himself in the right place at the right time. - - - - - Visit our full e…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 50: The Pepsi (Logo) Challenge
31:14
31:14
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
31:14
Pepsi announced it’s moving forward by moving backwards (sort of), returning to more of a traditional look for their logo and cans. (Think black. It's a slimming color.) But as they kick their last logo to the curb, we go back in time to discuss how they became saddled with this burdensome brand look in the first place. We talk ovals, smiles, globe…
…
continue reading
In this episode we take a step back from our typical subject matter to answer questions submitted by you, our listeners. We discuss meeting sports mascots, paying homage to a creative icon, using big words, MAD Magazine, how we come up with our episode topics and whether or not we’re secretly teachers masquerading as podcast hosts. - - - - - Visit …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 48 1/2: The Beat Era: Frank Sinatra and His Golden…Arm?
45:28
45:28
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
45:28
Turns out we’re not quite ready to let The Beats go! Sticking with our topic of separating myth from reality, we wrap-up our dive into mainstream interpretations with a quick conversation about the movie “The Man with the Golden Arm” which centers on a jazz drummer played by none other than Frank Sinatra. The film’s soundtrack from Elmer Bernstein …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 48: The Beat Era: Beats, Beatniks and Myth vs. Reality
1:00:23
1:00:23
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
1:00:23
For our final episode about The Beats, we touch on the TV debut of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and the introduction of character Maynard G. Krebs. We jump into berets, bongos, sunglasses, sandals and the slang. Where did this popular notion – The Beatnik – come from? While some of it was rooted in reality, this caricature came from a combination…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 47: The Beat Era: Illustration and Artwork Styles with Jim Flora
27:56
27:56
Main Kemudian
Main Kemudian
Senarai
Suka
Disukai
27:56
For our final illustration episode, we wrap-up our jazz album conversation by sharing the story and work of Jim Flora. His cartoonish style “betrayed a diabolic humor and uninhibited sense of outrageousness” that evolved over the years to go from borderline obscene to children’s books. We also name names of a couple contemporary artists directly in…
…
continue reading