Best Todd Coats And Elliot Strunk Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 96: Elliot and MTV's The Real World 15:27

8d ago15:27

15:27

Today we’re bringing you an example of the bonus content you can find on our Patreon page. In the summer of 1994, the television show The Real World was filming in San Francisco. That same summer Elliot ended up in SF for an internship. One day those two worlds collided in a true Gen X moment. So sit back with a plate full of wings and one of your …

1
Episode 95: Return to the Mailbag 39:39

21d ago39:39

39:39

In this episode we take a step back from our typical subject matter to dig into our mailbag once again as we answer questions submitted by you, our listeners. Topics include record album art, April Fool’s pranks, Taylor Swift, listener reviews, Broadway shows and some recent speaking gigs. We also plug one of our favorite bar foods: onion rings. So…

1
Episode 94: Iconic Music Videos - Part 2 46:39

1M ago46:39

46:39

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 dusted off an older gem and coupled it with a more current one: a gritty and fun “Need You Tonight” from Australia’s INXS and Taylor S…

1
Episode 93: Rural Electrification, Hope for Obama and Posters for Good (Classic) 44:18

2M ago44:18

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…

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Episode 92: Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman, Tarantula and the Amazing Art of Reynold Brown (Classic) 57:53

2M ago57:53

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…

1
Episode 91: Iconic Music Videos - Part 1 43:08

2M ago43:08

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…

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Episode 90: Roller Coaster Logo Battle 54:10

2M ago54:10

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…

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Episode 89: Looking Back on Four Years 44:30

3M ago44:30

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…

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Episode 88: Talking Music Posters with Paul Hennessey 32:17

3M ago32:17

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 …

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Episode 87: Gen X and the Golden Age of Magazines 58:09

4M ago58:09

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…

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Episode 86: Gen X Music Appears from Underground 59:03

4M ago59:03

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…

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Episode 85: Selling to Gen X Without Selling Out 54:17

5M ago54:17

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 …

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Episode 84: Denver, Los Angeles and Stories of Designing for the Olympic Games (Classic) 57:00

5M ago57:00

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…

1
Episode 83: When Gen X Came of Age 41:19

5M ago41:19

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 …

1
Episode 82: Riffs on Riffs Crossover 1:11:58

6M ago1:11:58

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…

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Episode 81: Fun Food Containers 51:39

6M ago51:39

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…

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Episode 80: Vernacular Architecture 51:55

7M ago51:55

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…

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Episode 79: Signs of the Times 46:07

7M ago46:07

46:07

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 …

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Episode 78: The Reflex Blue Conversation 43:30

8M 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
Episode 77: Hey, Nice Package! 44:50

8M 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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Episode 76: The ‘80s: New Wave Gets Fashionable 34:53

9M ago34:53

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 …

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

9M 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

9M 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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Episode 74: The ‘80s: Punk Meets Tech, New Wave is Born 38:58

9M 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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Episode 73: Pepsi, Tropicana and the Challenge of Good Design 7:40

10M 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

10M 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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Episode 71: The Goodyear Blimp: More Than a Bunch of Hot Air 9:58

10M 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

11M 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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Episode 69: KISS and their Flaming Wheel of Death 8:49

11M 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

11M 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

11M 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

12M 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

12M 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

1y 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…

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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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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Episode 58: Andy Warhol: Album Covers Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Part 2 35:26

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

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

1+ y 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

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

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

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

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

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

1+ y 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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Episode 50: The Pepsi (Logo) Challenge 31:14

1+ y ago31:14

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…

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Episode 49: Listener Mail 23:39

1+ y ago23:39

23:39

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 …

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