Best Todd Coats And Elliot Strunk Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 78: The Reflex Blue Conversation 43:30

3h ago43:30

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…

1
Todd Coats & Elliot Strunk: The Reflex Blue Show #258

8d ago

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Todd Coats & Elliot Strunk, the hosts of Two Designers Walk Into a Bar (a podcast about iconic design and popular culture), well, walk into The Reflex Blue Show. We talk about their influences in the design field, pop culture, listening to vinyl, and more. It’s funny, I started podcasting back in 2005 because Nate, Tom and I would end up hanging ou…

1
Episode 77: Hey, Nice Package! 44:50

12d ago44:50

44:50

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 …

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Katrina Torrijos: The Reflex Blue Show #257

21d ago

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Katrina Torrijos, an Adobe Express Evangelist, was in Omaha a couple of weeks ago for Adobe Create Now. We recorded this episode in a green room / nuclear bunker / hidden lounge below The Durham Museum just hours before Katrina took the stage to show off the capabilities of Adobe Express and how Adobe Firefly (Adobe’s generative AI tool) incorporat…

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Episode 76: The ‘80s: New Wave Gets Fashionable 34:53

26d ago34:53

34:53

Episode 76: The ‘80s: New Wave Gets Fashionable 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 accessori…

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Design Crimes: Comic Sans: Who’s Laughing Now? 2:35

1M ago2:35

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…

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Episode 75: The ‘80s: New Wave and the Boob Tube 46:37

2M ago46:37

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 …

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Tad Carpenter: The Reflex Blue Show #256

2M ago

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I met up with Tad Carpenter in the green room at The Funny Bone Omaha of all places. That’s right, AAF Nebraska’s annual Meet the Pros upped their game on the location and went full-on comedy club! Tad was just hours away from being the main keynote speaker at the area’s best design / advertising / marketing student event, and we crammed into the c…

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Episode 74: The ‘80s: Punk Meets Tech, New Wave is Born 38:58

2M ago38:58

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 …

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Kit Hinrichs: The Reflex Blue Show #255

2M ago

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Kit Hinrichs! Any time I see design I consider good, and then see Kit’s work…well he’s just at a different level than everyone else. And in case you think he’s not, check out his new book, NARRATIVE DESIGN: A Fifty Year Perspective, showcasing some of the things he’s designed over the past 50 years. On this episode, we welcome back Kit Hinrichs to …

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Episode 73: Pepsi, Tropicana and the Challenge of Good Design 7:40

2M ago7:40

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…

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Episode 72: Six Marines, One Photographer. The Story of Iwo Jima 8:51

3M ago8:51

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, …

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Clement Mok: The Reflex Blue Show #254

3M ago

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Clement Mok, who was just awarded a Cooper Hewitt 2023 National Design Award for Digital Design, stops by The Reflex Blue Show to talk about his path into the design field, and finding his way to Apple to work on the original Macintosh team. We also talk about his restaurants, including sugarFISH, and what’s next in technology. Enjoy. The post Clem…

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Episode 71: The Goodyear Blimp: More Than a Bunch of Hot Air 9:58

3M ago9:58

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…

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Episode 70: Black Cats, Fireworks and Celebrating a Logo We Love 6:59

3M ago6:59

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…

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Mike Schnaidt: The Reflex Blue Show #253

3M ago

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Mike Schnaidt stops by The Reflex Blue Show to talk about his new book – Creative Endurance: 56 Rules for Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Your Goals. A practical sort of self-help guide for graphic designers. We also talk about his role in being the Creative Director of the Fast Company empire, and working in the magazine world for over two deca…

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Episode 69: KISS and their Flaming Wheel of Death 8:49

3M ago8:49

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…

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Episode 68: When the Beats Moved a Generation 11:04

4M ago11:04

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…

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Episode 67: All Mascots Are Wieners in Our Eyes 9:34

4M ago9:34

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…

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Episode 66: The Failure of Google Glass 9:10

4M ago9:10

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…

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Episode 65: 1979, Disco and the Opening of Studio 54 8:03

4M ago8:03

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…

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Episode 64: Rubber Chickens vs. Whoopee Cushions 41:30

5M ago41:30

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…

1
Episode 63: Charles Atlas vs. Art Instruction Schools 47:48

5M ago47:48

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…

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Episode 62: Ant Farms vs. Sea Monkeys 47:26

6M ago47:26

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…

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Episode 61: Andy Warhol: When The Factory Meets Studio 54 46:23

6M ago46:23

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…

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Episode 60: Andy Warhol: Movies Emerge from the Underground - Part 2 38:40

7M ago38:40

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. - - - -…

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Episode 59: Andy Warhol: Movies Emerge from the Underground - Part 1 36:21

7M ago36:21

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…

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Katie Risch McAdams: The Reflex Blue Show #252

7M ago

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Katie Risch McAdams, the Chief Marketing Officer at Basis Technologies, was the lunchtime keynote speaker at this year’s OnBrand Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Recorded from the event on July 13, just after the taco bar had been put away and all of the churros had been consumed. Her talk, ‘Advertising Through Uncertainty’, is one that is especially…

1
Ross Asdourian: The Reflex Blue Show #251

7M ago

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Ross Asdourian was the closing keynote speaker at this year’s OnBrand Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Recorded from the event on July 13, right next to where the taco bar was now being taken down, Ross and I discuss the importance of craft services, and what amazing churros they had at the event. We talk a bit about his Udemy courses, figuring out w…

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Episode 58: Andy Warhol: Album Covers Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Part 2 35:26

8M ago35:26

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…

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Whitney Warne: The Reflex Blue Show #250

8M ago

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Whitney Warne was the opening keynote of this year’s OnBrand Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Recorded from the event on July 13, right next to where the taco bar was being set-up, Whitney and I discuss her coaching and consulting business, Evoke EQ, and the nine enneagram types. What is an enneagram? I was also curious as well, and Whitney gives an …

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Episode 57: Andy Warhol: Album Covers Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Part 1 40:29

8M ago40:29

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…

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Justin Dauer: The Reflex Blue Show #249

8M ago

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Justin Dauer, who is no stranger to The Reflex Blue Show, and author of Cultivating a Creative Culture and it’s second edition, Creative Culture: Human-Centered Interaction, Design, & Inspiration, joins me to discuss his new book, in fulfillment:the designer’s journey. We talk about what it means to be fulfilled at work, and what you can do to reac…

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Bonus Episode: Nostalgia and Marketing: A Conversation with Kate Christensen 53:39

8M ago53:39

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…

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Episode 56: Andy Warhol: The Silver Wears Off The Factory - Part 2 30:30

9M ago30:30

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…

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Jada Britto: The Reflex Blue Show #248

9M ago

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As the last of this year’s HOW Design Live podcast interviews, Jada Britto joins me to discuss her talk on, ‘Reigniting Hope: Breaking Out of the Checkbox Mentality.’ I had met Jada the day before at the conference, and immediately knew I would love to have a longer chat, and thankfully, we found a time to record the next day with just hours of the…

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Emily Mills: The Reflex Blue Show #247

9M ago

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Emily Mills was at the HOW Design Live conference in Nashville to talk about transition as a creative professional. And as the founder of Sketch Academy, she was also spending quite a bit of time sketch noting the event itself from the exhibit hall – for those who want more about the live sketch note mural she did with Gary Kopervas, I spoke with E…

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Episode 55: Andy Warhol: The Silver Wears Off The Factory - Part 1 24:26

9M ago24:26

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…

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Carl Gerhards: The Reflex Blue Show #246

9M ago

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Carl Gerhards was at the HOW Design Live conference in Nashville to talk about the rebrand, I mean, ‘the next generation of the Pepsi logo‘. It’s rare to have such a large company make a shift in their identity in today’s age and get a lot of positive feedback from the design community, which this one deserves. To my surprise, this was mostly handl…

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Shayna Kulik: The Reflex Blue Show #245

9M ago

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Shayna Kulik was at the HOW Design Live conference in Nashville this year to talk about how art and culture affect pattern and color. Just a look around any room immediately makes me realize how many patterns I see during a day, and how many I have probably not even noticed, so it was great to be able to talk to a pattern visionary like Shayna to h…

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Episode 54: Andy Warhol: New York and Rise of The Silver Factory - Part 2 27:48

9M ago27:48

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…

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Ben Greengrass & Jessie McGuire: The Reflex Blue Show #244

10M ago

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Ben Greengrass and Jessie McGuire of ThoughtMatter seemed to be everywhere at this year’s HOW Design Live conference in Nashville. They gave a talk titled, “Creative Bravery: The Importance of Friendship, Humanity and Embracing Vulnerability to Break Creative Boundaries”; ran a booth at the exhibit hall; and ThoughtMatter even sponsored the lunch f…

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Episode 53: Andy Warhol: New York and Rise of The Silver Factory - Part 1 32:02

10M ago32:02

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…

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Alice Waterman & Rebecca Williams: The Reflex Blue Show #243

10M ago

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One of the Highlights of last years’ (2022) HOW Design Live event in Boston, for me anyway, was the chance to sit in the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, and to speak with one of the Hotdoggers. But, as part of what makes a Wienermobile sighting so exciting is the rarity, it was not meant to happen again in 2023 (I do speak in this episode about also seei…

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Bill Gardner: The Reflex Blue Show #242

10M ago

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Bill Gardner once again gave his Logo Trend Report live at HOW Design Live in Nashville (his 21st! logo trend report). The energy he brings on stage is unmatched. Because of my recording schedule this year, I walked into his talk with a full ten seconds left, but even still, the room was packed – once you get Bill talking about logos, his love and …

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Episode 52: Andy Warhol: Andy Becomes the Center of Pop Life 42:28

10M ago42:28

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…

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Jenn Lederer: The Reflex Blue Show #241

10M ago

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Jenn Lederer (Comedian/Keynote Speaker), was at HOW Design Live in Nashville giving a talk/workshop titled “Perfect Pitch – HOW To Talk About What You Do”. We talk about her path into comedy, being a keynote speaker, how to talk about yourself while sounding human, and more. Enjoy. The post Jenn Lederer: The Reflex Blue Show #241 appeared first on …

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Episode 51: Andy Warhol: The 1960s Scene and the Emergence of Pop 38:21

11M ago38:21

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…

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HOW Design Live 2023, Conference Recap 3 of 3 : Steve Gibbs, Shayna Kulik, Karen Larson, Jamie Saunders, Keith Smith

11M ago

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Steve Gibbs, Shayna Kulik, Karen Larson, Jamie Saunders, and Keith Smith discuss the final day of 2023’s HOW Design Live in Nashville, Tennessee. There is always that weird time about a week out from HOW Design Live where you feel that it was just yesterday with all of the motivation, learning, and adventure you are still processing, and yet I also…

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HOW Design Live 2023, Conference Recap 2 of 3 : Bill Gardner, Stephen Gates, Emily Mills, Jessica Neblett, Jenny Reed, Stefan Sagmeister

11M ago

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Bill Gardner, Stephen Gates, Emily Mills, Jessica Neblett, Jenny Reed, and Stefan Sagmeister discuss the second day of 2023’s HOW Design Live in Nashville, Tennessee. I last spoke to Stefan Sagmeister in Boston about Environment Design, so I had to ask how the carpet at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center was seen. As always, he is insi…

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Todd Coats And Elliot Strunk Podcasts

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