86 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.
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Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/ for images, links, episode extras and more.
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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.

    Signs of the Times

    Signs of the Times

    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 and pawnbroker balls, two icons that, unless you’re truly in the middle of nowhere, you can find within minutes of where you live, work or both.
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    Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!
    https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-79-signs-of-the-times
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    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.
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    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 Reflex Blue Conversation

    The Reflex Blue Conversation

    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 Blue was inspired by bar conversations as well!
    Bottoms up!
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    Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more!
    https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-78-reflex-blue
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    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.
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    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

    • 43 min
    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.
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    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
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    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

    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.
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    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!

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

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    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.
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    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

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.

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