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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 ...
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Focusing on design, and the hosts' love of pop culture, The Reflex Blue Show gives you a look into the topics of graphic design by two people working in the industry. The Reflex Blue Show with Donovan Beery is hosted by 36Point.com
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Episode 92: Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman, Tarantula and the Amazing Art of Reynold Brown (Classic)
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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…
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Rachel Mae Zeolla, Creative Director at NBCUniversal, meets up with The Reflex Blue Show while at the 2024 HOW Design Live conference in Denver, Colorado. We talk about her being eaten by a shark on The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time (I have been fortunate to have a LOT of great guests on the show over the years, but still get amazed by the things…
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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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Alex Center meets up with The Reflex Blue Show while at the 2024 HOW Design Live conference in Denver, Colorado (I should mention that his company Center did the branding for this year’s event as well). We talk about his decade of doing design for Coca-Cola, starting his design career as an intern for The New York Knicks, and even getting to meet 5…
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HOW Design Live 2024, Conference Recap 3 of 3 : Aaron Draplin, Bill Gardner, Stephen Gates, Rick Griffith
Aaron Draplin stops by, I mean, more like I crashed his merch booth in the lobby to talk to him about closing down the 2024 HOW Design Live in Denver. And wow, that merch table has grown over the years to truly be a sight to behold. After that, I speak with Stephen Gates about his talk, which was followed by an immediate, and basically unplanned, o…
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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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HOW Design Live 2024, Conference Recap 2 of 3 : Amy Conover, Darcy Hinrichs, Anne Hughes, Erin Pille, Keith Smith, Jason Wedekind
Amy Conover, HOW Design’s Brand and Content Director; show attendees, and fellow Omaha area designers Anne Hughes and Erin Pille; HOW Ambassadors Keith Smith and Darcy Hinrichs; and Jason Wedekind of Genghis Kern discuss the first two days of another incredible conference. Big thanks to the Letterpress Depot for letting me record from their booth i…
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Debbie Millman joined me backstage just as the 2024 HOW Design Live was starting up. We talk about The Shop at Matter, her upcoming book, “Love Letter to a Garden“, breaking the elevator at the San Francisco Sterling Brands office within minutes of when we first met, podcasting for almost 20 years, and more. Recorded on September 23, 2024 in the El…
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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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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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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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Liz Hunt, CEO of DayCloud Studios, sits down with me in the DayCloud penthouse suite located in The Blackstone District of Omaha, Nebraska to talk about the advice she gives to those starting up their own creative business. We also talk about how to lead a client through the creative process, how to get that first big client, and the importance of …
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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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Tessa Porter, a candy scientist and founder of Sprinkk, was the closing keynote speaker at the 2024 OnBrand Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Recorded from the event on July 25, we spoke just before her closing the event and handing out treats from the Norma’s line of handcrafted fruity snacks. We speak about how candy brings joy, why I buy the donuts…
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Kathleen Riessen, the business manager at Applied Art & Technology in Des Moines, was the opening keynote speaker at the 2024 OnBrand Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Recorded from the event on July 25, we spoke just after her opening the event with her talk – “Grow Your Creativity: It’s Not Just for Designers.” We also speak about her afternoon brea…
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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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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…
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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 …
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Episode 82: Riffs on Riffs Crossover
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در پخش در آینده
در پخش در آینده
لیست ها
پسندیدن
دوست داشته شد
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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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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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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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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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…
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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…
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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, 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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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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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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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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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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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! 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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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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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, 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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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…
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