The Kirk + Kurtts Design Podcast

Kirk Visola & Andy Kurtts
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Design
  • Updated Weekly

Kirk Visola and Andy Kurtts take a fun look and analysis at branding and design. The fun nuances, textures, colors, and disruption that branding and all that goes with it may take on. Their insight is fun and honest with the hopes of educating those who tune in. And, being small business owners, they face many of the trials and obstacles that others face and speak towards that as well. No matter what, it's always a good time when these two get together and you might learn a little something new about that pretty little design or branding that you just saw. 

  1. **Bonus: Madison Raisch**

    3d ago ·  Bonus

    **Bonus: Madison Raisch**

    Send us Fan Mail Many times when we have folks on the show there is an immediate and fun conversation that happens before we even do the introductions.  Well, this was one time where we caught our guest in all their marvelous candor, and join in. Well, Kirk joined in with the "back in my day" conversation about moving up the ranks in regards to stewardship of design roles.  Kirk and Madison sit in their rocking chairs sipping tea and complaining while Andy cautiously interjects and adds a much fresher and inspired insight.  This clip ends with the introduction of Madison's podcast, and if you haven't heard it, you can listen to the full podcast here.  Support the show About Kirk and Andy. Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com. Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com. Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee: Support the show

    10 min
  2. Madison Raisch, NWSL Creative Director

    3d ago

    Madison Raisch, NWSL Creative Director

    Send us Fan Mail Madison Raisch has seen all things in the sports design hemisphere. Over the past two decades, she spent time designing for the NFL and MLB. Madison was able to reach new heights in her career and grow her talent immensely through her talent, relationships, and mad Beatles impersonations.  You know how hard it is to sound like a Scouser? We talk projects, process, and what the future holds for her role at the NWSL. It was such a privilege to have her on the show, and it's definitely worth the listen.  LinkedIn Support the show About Kirk and Andy. Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com. Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com. Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee: Support the show

    54 min
  3. Christopher Cashdollar, Independent Design Partner & Trusted Consultant

    May 3

    Christopher Cashdollar, Independent Design Partner & Trusted Consultant

    Send us Fan Mail Starting off the new season with a Bang. Christopher Cashdollar is a certified awesome guy and great designer, and yes, that it his real name!  Pennsylvania native, and Drexel University's best ever cartoonist, bought his first Power Mac while at Drexel and decided to delve into web design. This gave him the design bug and allowed him get different design jobs and grow as a designer.  Fast forward to this podcast recording and Chris is an accomplished designer and speaker, but his most proud accomplishment and job title is "Dad." Find out more about Christopher here: Linked In Website Support the show About Kirk and Andy. Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com. Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com. Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee: Support the show

    57 min
  4. Tamer Kattan, Professional Standup Comedian & Brand Strategist

    Jan 8

    Tamer Kattan, Professional Standup Comedian & Brand Strategist

    Send us Fan Mail We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our 100th episode than by sitting down with Tamer Kattan.  Tamer details his professional experience from intern to  stand up comic, the trouble with having a name that rhymes with "hammer", and a life that is filled with taking risk, and following your passion.  This is one of our most fun and eclectic podcast to date, and we can't thank you all enough for joining us on this journey thus far. Thanks again to Tamer for joining us, and be sure to follow him on social. LinkedIn Instagram You Tube Support the show About Kirk and Andy. Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com. Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com. Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee: Support the show

    45 min
  5. Haylee Jordan & Anthony Bradley, Co-Founders at FABRIC

    10/22/2025

    Haylee Jordan & Anthony Bradley, Co-Founders at FABRIC

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kirk and Andy sit down with Haylee Jordan and Anthony Bradley, the creative co-founders behind Fabric, a new microdose THC beverage brand that’s part mellow, part mission-driven. Haylee and Anthony walk us through how Fabric went from concept to cans, the chaos of startup pivots, and why good design can’t be an afterthought — even when the product’s not done yet. From the gold-topped packaging to their public benefit corporation status, Fabric is trying to do things differently, on purpose. We get into: The brand’s unexpected founding storyWhat it takes to launch a cannabis beverage in a fast-moving, weirdly regulated spaceTheir approach to naming, product design, and mental health advocacyWhy being “cool” actually matters in CPG brandingMicrodosing vs full-dose THC (and who’s drinking the 10mg cans)Lessons from collaborating as design-first co-foundersWhether you’re into brand building, THC beverages, or just want to hear how creatives launch real products, this one’s worth your time. Website: drinkfabric.com Instagram: @drinkfabric Support the show About Kirk and Andy. Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com. Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com. Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee: Support the show

    53 min
  6. Alex Perry, CEO of Right Way Signs, LLC

    10/06/2025

    Alex Perry, CEO of Right Way Signs, LLC

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Kirk and Kurtts sit down with Alex Perry, CEO of Right Way, to talk about the evolution of signage from hand-painted murals to high-tech branding experiences. With deep roots in the sign painting world (his dad is still doing murals at 75), Alex shares the real story behind Right Way’s growth from a one-man shop to a trusted signage partner for brands like Nike, Starbucks, and Hilton. We dive into: Growing up around lettering and storefronts in EvanstonWhy Right Way lost a big client — and what they learnedHow digital tech and design-forward thinking rebuilt the businessWhat it’s like to balance creative craft with production at scaleThe problem with clients who think signs are just another invoice lineWhether you’re a designer, business owner, or someone who just loves seeing good design in the wild, this one’s for you. Thanks again to Alex for joining us. Check out Right Way at rightwaysigns.com. Follow us and leave a review if you’re enjoying the show. Support the show About Kirk and Andy. Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com. Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com. Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee: Support the show

    54 min
  7. James Barnard, Logo Designer, Design Educator

    06/03/2025

    James Barnard, Logo Designer, Design Educator

    Send us Fan Mail James Barnard didn’t start out in design. He originally wanted to work in the music industry. But after a detour through web development and publishing design in London, he found his true calling: logo and identity design. In this episode, Kirk and Andy talk with James about his path from learning Photoshop at a data entry job to designing for major UK newspapers and building his own studio in Australia. They dive into how James refined his creative process, how he manages client expectations, and why sharing design tutorials on social media became his most powerful business driver. They also discuss: How to build a clean logo design process clients understandUsing “brand nouns” to align early and avoid wasted workThe importance of giving clients time to process designsHow one viral TikTok post unlocked a steady stream of client leadsJames also shares how he balances teaching with client work, why he prioritizes clarity over perfection, and how community sharing has improved both his practice and the industry at large. If you want to sharpen your logo design workflow or learn how to attract clients by teaching what you know, this one’s packed with ideas you can apply. Follow James at barnard.co and @barnardco on Instagram Connect with James on LinkedIn Follow Kirk at mindthefont.com. Follow Andy at buttermilkcreative.com. Enjoying the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a designer who’s figuring out their own creative process. Support the show About Kirk and Andy. Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com. Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com. Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee: Support the show

    41 min
  8. Anna Ison, CPG Packaging & Brand Designer, Founder at Auros Design Studio, Strategic FMCG Packaging & Branding Design Consultant

    05/12/2025

    Anna Ison, CPG Packaging & Brand Designer, Founder at Auros Design Studio, Strategic FMCG Packaging & Branding Design Consultant

    Send us Fan Mail Kirk and Andy sit down with Anna Sison — a Brooklyn-born creative force helping CPG brands grow through sharp, strategic packaging and brand design. With over 20 years in the industry, Anna brings big-agency experience with a nimble studio mindset, combining her deep cultural perspective with a sharp eye for design that works on shelf and connects with consumers. In this episode, Anna shares her creative origin story, the challenges of being a double minority in the design world, and how she’s rewriting the rules of branding with cultural integrity and bold simplicity. She talks candidly about breaking out of agency life, founding her own studio, and why she’s manifesting collaborations with legacy Asian brands looking to expand into the U.S. market. Expect real talk about: Growing up as a first-gen creative and finding identity through designNavigating agency life as a woman of colorThe difference between good design and good deliveryWhy “ugly” packaging can still sell — and what makes it workHer favorite recent project helping modernize traditional Chinese medicineThis one’s packed with insight, honesty, and a whole lot of laughter. Don’t miss it. Connect with Anna here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaisonconsultant/ Support the show About Kirk and Andy. Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com. Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com. Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee: Support the show

    44 min
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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Kirk Visola and Andy Kurtts take a fun look and analysis at branding and design. The fun nuances, textures, colors, and disruption that branding and all that goes with it may take on. Their insight is fun and honest with the hopes of educating those who tune in. And, being small business owners, they face many of the trials and obstacles that others face and speak towards that as well. No matter what, it's always a good time when these two get together and you might learn a little something new about that pretty little design or branding that you just saw. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kirk Visola & Andy Kurtts
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Kirk + Kurtts Design Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Kirk + Kurtts Design Podcast