84 episodes

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 is part of the Evergreen Podcasts network.

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar Evergreen Podcasts

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 25 Ratings

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 is part of the Evergreen Podcasts network.

    Hey, Nice Package!

    Hey, Nice Package!

    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 Vodka.
    - - - - -
    Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!
    https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-77-nice-package
    - - - - -
    Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.
    - - - - -
    Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/merch to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 44 min
    The ‘80s: New Wave Gets Fashionable

    The ‘80s: New Wave Gets Fashionable

    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 accessories found on the wrists and feet of Gen X.
    As we wrap-up our season on New Wave, let us know if you feel there's something we missed. We just might circle back down the road.
    - - - - -
    Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!
    https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-76-new-wave-gets-fashionable
    - - - - -
    Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.
    - - - - -
    Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/merch to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 34 min
    Design Crimes: Comic Sans: Who’s Laughing Now?

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

    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 Coats, will explore the history of Comic Sans and Vincent Connare, the infamous typeface creator employed by Microsoft who single-handedly destroyed the aesthetic of hundreds of thousands of printed documents and early web pages, and how he became consumed by the world’s hatred of his most famous creation.

    Listen now!

    - - - - -

    Visit our full press release page for the full story. Happy April Fool’s!
    https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/blog/design-crimes

    - - - - -

    Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

    - - - - -

    Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/merch to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 2 min
    The ‘80s: New Wave and the Boob Tube

    The ‘80s: New Wave and the Boob Tube

    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 enjoy.
    - - - - -
    Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!
    https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-75-new-wave-and-the-boob-tube
    - - - - -
    Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.
    - - - - -
    Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/merch to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 46 min
    The ‘80s: Punk Meets Tech, New Wave is Born

    The ‘80s: Punk Meets Tech, New Wave is Born

    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 one of pop culture’s signature eras.
    - - - - -
    Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!
    https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-74-punk-meets-tech
    - - - - -
    Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.
    - - - - -
    Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/merch to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 38 min
    Pepsi, Tropicana and the Challenge of Good Design

    Pepsi, Tropicana and the Challenge of Good Design

    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. Drink. It. Up.
    - - - - -
    Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!
    https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-50-pepsi-logo-story
    - - - - -
    Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess.
    - - - - -
    Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/merch to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 7 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
25 Ratings

25 Ratings

hellothisistim ,

Music 👍🏽

Glad to hear y’all recognize the link between music and design. I have yet to be in a studio where the playlist wasn’t as curated as the book.

JimToole ,

My favorite podcast!

Love these guys! Where else can you have serious conversation about Mad Magazine, and MacGuffins?

goochua ,

Who knew … well, these guys knew.

Love listening! Each episode is great from the banter between the hosts, to the ambiance, and of course the topics. Their topics of discussion so often are on content that I have familiarity with but would have never guessed have such a rich history. I’m not gonna say I “need” all the knowledge they share but I am sure entertained as I gain it.

Top Podcasts In Arts

Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Lemonada Media
Fresh Air
NPR
The Moth
The Moth
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Snap Judgment Presents: Spooked
Snap Judgment
Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver
iHeartPodcasts

You Might Also Like

Pop Culture Happy Hour
NPR
Fresh Air
NPR
The Daily
The New York Times
This American Life
This American Life
Up First
NPR
The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast
The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast