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Evergreen Podcasts

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar

While we don't recommend drinking and driving, we do recommend talking pop culture and cars while sitting safe and sound on a couple of bar stools.

Buckle up as we travel back in time to discuss what are arguably the two most popular cars in pop culture: the original 1960s Batmobile and the DeLorean from Back to the Future. Sometimes they worked, oftentimes they didn't. If you smell some burning rubber, it's not from us thinking—at least not this week. Instead, it's a high-octane topic coupled with some Golden Cadillacs from our bartender. Enjoy.

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Mentioned in this episode:

 The Original Batmobile

 The DeLorean DMC-12

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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-117-iconic-pop-culture-cars

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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 our Merch page 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

Episode 117: The Batmobile and the DeLorean - Iconic Pop Culture Cars

We’re taking a short break. In the meantime, grab a drink and kick back with one of our classic episodes.

Cats. You may love ‘em, hate ‘em or feel indifferent, but there’s no escaping their power, especially if you spend any time online.

Cats have a long history in the world of advertising. In this classic episode we invited friend and poster expert Paul Hennessey back into the bar to discuss the appeal of cat posters aesthetically and financially, discuss a few of our favorites and decode why their traits and quirks make them perfect for so many different types of products.

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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-116-cat-posters-with-paul-hennessey-classic

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Mentioned in this episode:

 Paul Hennessey, Grafix Gallery

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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 our Merch page 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

Episode 116: Cat Posters with Paul Hennessey (Classic)

When we say "TV network," what do you think of? When we say "TV network brand," what pops into your head? Is it a logo or a sound? Is it an animation or an app? Is it a signature show?

Today we’re going to be talking about a couple of identities made for NBC and Netflix. We discuss the origin stories for both their visuals and their sounds.

So add us to your queue. We're gonna be sipping on a couple of Cobra Strikes as we get this show underway back here in the bar.

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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-115-network-branding

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Mentioned in this episode:

 NBC Chimes

 Netflix Tudum

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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 our Merch page 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

Episode 115: NBC, Netflix and Network Branding

We’ve been exploring the Polynesian Pop trend that swept suburbia. From the 1930s to the ‘70s, tiki culture was everywhere. And then, like the tide going out, it was gone. 

 

Today we talk about the factors that brought it back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s (hint: swing, thrifting and SpongeBob) and how tiki is influencing artists today.

 

Grab a Bahama Mama and join our conga line as we swing, sway and sashay back into the bar.

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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-114-tiki-culture-part-3

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Mentioned in this episode:

 Tiki Culture

 SpongeBob Squarepants

 The Lowbrow Movement

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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 our Merch page 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

Episode 114: The Fall and Rise (Again) of Tiki Culture

Today, we're continuing our series on tiki culture as we look at how professional designers embraced and evolved the island aesthetic. Was it low brow? High brow? A symbol of exotic adventure? A goofy gimmick? Regardless, the movement left a deep imprint on graphic, interior, fashion, product, and architectural design, in applications ranging from kitsch to high-concept.

We'll gonna figure out the price of some amazing tiki drinks, get some quarters sticky with pineapple juice and throw some exotica on the jukebox. Join us as we sway our hips and hula back into the bar.

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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-113-tiki-culture-part-2

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Mentioned in this episode:

 Tiki Culture

 House Industries

 Palm Springs

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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 our Merch page 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

Episode 113: Embracing and Evolving the Tiki Style

Today we’re dressing up the bar with coconut mugs, gardenia flowers, surf boards and pu-pu platters because we’re diving into the first of a three episode series on Tiki culture. We’ll talk about the origins and influences — it’s not as simple as you think — and learn why this very Americanized look took off throughout the country and set sail across the globe.

 

Grab your tiki mugs, some fresh-cut pineapple and a chilled pitcher of Classic Mai Tais. We’re spinning some good ol’ exotic sailor yarns back here in the bar.

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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-112-tiki-culture-part-1

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Mentioned in this episode:

 Tiki Culture

 Don the Beachcomber

 Trader Vic's

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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 our Merch page 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

Episode 112: Tiki Culture: The Story of Post-War Polynesian Pop

Today we’re returning to the bar with Matt Stevens, a designer and illustrator who has been successful working with clients ranging from a tequila brand to clients like Apple TV+ and Netflix.

But what we have in common is not only a love for design, but also pop culture. So we’re talking with him about a personal project that grew into an actual project, his new book Good Movies as Old Books. We dig into subjects as varied as a scorpion penis, The Karate Kid, living and working in North Carolina, The Thirsty Beaver and a character named Flapjack.

It’s time to grab a box of candy and take your bathroom break. We’re welcoming Matt Stevens – our drinking buddy – back to the bar.

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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-111-movies-books-and-matt-stevens

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Mentioned in this episode:

 Matt Stevens

 Good Movies as Old Books

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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 our merch page 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

Episode 111: Good Movies and Old Books - A Conversation with Matt Stevens (Part 2)

Today we’re sitting down with a new friend, a designer and illustrator who has been successful working with clients ranging from a local hot dog shop to clients like Airbnb and Facebook.

But what we have in common with Matt Stevens is not only a love for design, but also pop culture. So we’re talking with him about a personal project that grew into an actual project, his new book Good Movies as Old Books.

It’s time to grab a bag of popcorn and add some rum to your overpriced Coke. We’re welcoming Matt Stevens – our first time drinking buddy – to the bar.

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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-110-movies-books-and-matt-stevens

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Mentioned in this episode:

 The Design Office of Matt Stevens

 Good Movies as Old Books

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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 our Merch page 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

Episode 110: Good Movies and Old Books - A Conversation with Matt Stevens (Part 1)

If you’ve ever caught a late-night flick full of high-speed chases, stylish wardrobes, and unforgettable soundtracks, you might’ve stumbled into the bold, brash world of blaxploitation. This genre wasn’t just about action—it brought civil rights, empowerment, and attitude to the screen, with a mix of crime, martial arts, westerns, horror, comedy, prison breaks, and even musicals.

Today, we’re diving into two of the era’s most iconic films: Foxy Brown and Super Fly. We’re also shining a light on the artists who brought these stories to life outside the theater with posters as explosive and eye-catching as the movies themselves.

So grab a couple of high-octane shots and get ready—this episode is about to be a funky, action-packed ride, right here in the bar.

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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-109-blaxploitation-film-posters

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Mentioned in this episode:

 Foxy Brown

 Super Fly

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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 our Merch page 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

Episode 109: Foxes, Flies and the Design of Blaxploitation Posters

If you wander into any school, bar or thrift store, you're bound to see a collection of trophies. Have you ever wondered why they often look like cups, plates and other objects you wouldn't think about grabbing after a robust game of tennis or an intense hockey match? We did, and we’ve got a couple of amazing examples we’re talking about today: Wimbledon's Venus Rosewater Dish for women's tennis and The Stanley Cup for men's hockey.

We’re digging into the curious history of why some of the biggest wins come with even stranger hardware. It’s time to grab a couple flutes of champagne to help us toast our latest episode, right here in the bar.

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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-108-trophy-design

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Mentioned in this episode:

 Wimbledon's Venus Rosewater Dish

 The Stanley Cup

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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 our merch page 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

Episode 108: Cups, Plates and Trophy Design

Photos or it didn’t happen! In this episode we explain the circumstances that led up to two images most people could sketch from memory: Bigfoot walking across a dry creek bed in the woods of California and a group of American soldiers raising a flag halfway around the world from the United States on the island of Iwo Jima. Are they real? Are they fake? We dig in to find out why they have such staying power.
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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-22-iconic-images
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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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 22: Bigfoot, Iwo Jima and the Backstories of Two Iconic Images

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