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Published by Jason Tselentis
Every episode, host Jason Tselentis speaks with a phenomenal guest, usually a designer, about their favorite movie. It might be worth watching over and over, and over again. Maybe it left them with more questions than answers, or a lingering feeling. Learn about art direction and set design, cinematography and performance, casting and screenwriting, acting and costume design, makeup and music, as well as advertising, marketing, media, technology, unforgettable quotes, and so much more. Whether or not you are a designer, you will enjoy every revealing conversation that explores creativity and strategy, perseverance and leadership, craft and style.
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David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986) stars Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle, a brilliant scientist who creates a teleportation process. Geena Davis, who was Goldblum's real-life partner during the filming, plays the ambitious journalist Veronica who falls in love with Brundle. Cronenberg's remake of the 1958 movie (which was based on a 1957 short story) packs a lot in, getting right to the mad scientist's lab then plenty of body horror. Brundle, who teleports himself during a drunken pity party, did so with a fly on board. Since the computer doesn't know what to do with these two separate entities, it fuses them, resulting in Brundlefly, and utter tragedy. Daisy Koenig, a graduate of Winthrop University's design program, talks about what makes Cronenberg's The Fly so memorable and why unhappy endings are the best kind. When she's not rewatching The Fly or any of Cronenberg's other movies, Daisy works as a graphic designer for The Ben Silver Corporation in Charleston. Having debuted in 1986, The Fly turned 40 this year and it's the perfect way to kick off scary movie season. This episode originally appeared on an earlier season of the podcast. - Daisy Koenig, a graduate of Winthrop University's design program, is a designer for The Ben Silver Corporation in Charleston, SC. She's also an accomplished muralist and illustrator for a variety of clients. https://daisykoenig.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisykoe/ https://www.instagram.com/daisykoenigart/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ben-silver-corporation/ - The Fly (1986) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091064/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000343/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051622/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0486228/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Langelaan - Other movies and shows discussed: Alien (1979) Beetlejuice (1988) The Brood (1979) Call Me by Your Name (2017) Cosmopolis (2012) Dead Ringers (1988) eXistenZ (1999) Frankenstein (2025) The Fly (1958) The Fury (1978) Hereditary (2018) Hostel (2005) The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Saw (2004) Scanners (1981) Spider (2002) Videodrome (1983) Wicked (2024)
Raiders of the Lost Ark captivated audiences on the big screen 45 years ago, today the movie feels just as fresh, exciting, and mesmerizing. Teacher, treasure hunter, preserver of rare antiquities Indiana Jones goes on a quest for the Ark of the Covenant, battling Nazis and his nemesis Belloq. But Indy can't do it alone, and has support from Karen Allen as Marion and John Ryhs-Davies as Sallah and George Harris as Katanga. For fashion designer Dan Stroupe, the movie has special meaning. Indy Influences are present in his brand and collections, notably the elements of travel since every collection of Dan's is based on a place he has been. With each collection he designs, and each garment and accessory created, Dan strives to inspire wonder and adventure through fashion. - Dan Stroupe is the founder of Oak & Audubon, an accessories and made-to-order clothing brand and labor of love. As its chief designer, he brings decades of experience in luxury retail, custom clothing, and creative direction to his fashion label. Born in Charlotte, NC on Old Oak Lane, Stroupe has lived in New York City on Audubon Avenue for over a decade. While the brand's namesake is based on places he has called home, Oak & Audubon evokes the pleasures and joys of travel, something Stroupe has been fortunate to experience all his life, having travelled all over the world. Stroupe has a degree in Illustration, has worked for many years as a graphic designer and art director, all while working in the luxury clothing industry. He cut his teeth at Bloomingdales on 59th Street, eventually moving to world renowned shirtmakers Turnbull & Asser where he spent over a decade serving business tycoons, actors, politicians, and royalty. While at Turnbull & Asser he managed their bespoke services in the New York Townhouse and the By Appointment trunk shows for North America, as well as internationally. Currently, along with Oak & Audubon, Stroupe is now back in ready to wear full time, managing the Men's Loro Piana business at Bergdorf Goodman. And he's designing a new menswear collection for a new completely American Made label debuting next spring. https://oakandaudubon.com https://instagram.com/oakandaudubon - Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) https://imdb.com/title/tt0082971/ https://esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/a25848350/indiana-jones-style-fashion-outfits/ - Other movies discussed: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
You want more? YOU GOT IT! Plenty of tangents, arts and crafts talk, and more swear words than usual make this bonus episode go to eleven (apologies to Nigel Tufnel). In addition to more One Crazy Summer thoughts, hear Jason's pugs barking, learn about synthesizers & MIDI & PageMaker, how to organize your movies, packing and moving, murals, paint and emotion, beer can designs, sketchbooks versus laptops, NYC's Strand Book Store, and Bill Murray's brother Joel. This re-released episode originally appeared on Season 1 of the show. - A Southern, Jewish-American originally from New York, Mike Wirth is artist-in-residence with the Stan Greenspon Center for Holocaust and Social Justice Education, and full Professor of Graphic Design at Queens University of Charlotte. As an educator and community builder, Wirth's work focuses on social justice and identity, fusing complex and personal issues and influences into his art. He's led projects with Jewish federations across the US, has had How Our Laws are Made featured on The Daily Show blog, is the author of Hiddur Olam, a Torah art book, and is the host of The Jewish futurism Lab podcast where Jewish tradition meets design, technology, and speculative imagination, with each episode blending story, studio practice, and future-thinking. mikewirthart.com/ instagram.com/mikewirth/ mikewirthart.com/podcasts/the-jewish-futurism-lab/ - One Crazy Summer (1986) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091680/ - LETTERBOXD Season 3 https://boxd.it/UxwBk - contact us https://www.designersonfilm.com/hollaback
Although our guest Mike Wirth didn't work on 1986's One Crazy Summer, he loves the movie for all the right reasons. Guilty pleasure? Not quite, according to Wirth who wonders, "Why couldn't John Cusack's Hoops McCann have been Hoops Leibowitz?" In addition to One Crazy Summer, we discuss whammy animations, world-in-world experiences, Better Off Dead, Grosse Pointe Blank, Singles, Chainsaw Date and Hemorrhoids from Hell, Bobcat Goldthwait, comic book icons Archie and Betty and Veronica, and The Goonies, plus silly sequel and prequel ideas for One Crazy Summer. This re-released episode originally appeared on Season 1 of the show. - As an educator and community builder, Wirth's work focuses on social justice and identity, fusing complex and personal issues and influences into his art. He's led projects with Jewish federations across the US, has had How Our Laws are Made featured on The Daily Show blog, is the author of Hiddur Olam, a Torah art book, and is the host of The Jewish futurism Lab podcast where Jewish tradition meets design, technology, and speculative imagination, with each episode blending story, studio practice, and future-thinking. Wirth is artist-in-residence with the Stan Greenspon Center for Holocaust and Social Justice Education, and full Professor of Graphic Design at Queens University of Charlotte. mikewirthart.com/ instagram.com/mikewirth/ mikewirthart.com/podcasts/the-jewish-futurism-lab/ - One Crazy Summer (1986) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091680/ - Other movies and shows discussed: Better Off Dead (1985) The Goonies (1985) Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) Singles (1992) - about the podcast https://www.designersonfilm.com/frequently-asked-questions - LETTERBOXD Season 3 https://boxd.it/UxwBk - LETTERBOXD Season 2 https://boxd.it/Kkuik - LETTERBOXD Season 1 https://boxd.it/xfW8K - contact us https://www.designersonfilm.com/hollaback
Noah Smith is a multidisciplinary visual storyteller specializing in UX design. With a background in film, Noah's also a big, big fan of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the 1986 comedy that's also full of action, drama, and sprawling musical numbers. Ferris, an extremely popular teenager, skips school and with his best friend Cameron and his girlfriend Sloane, they embark on a series of adventures. What about the possibility of Ferris being a figment of Cameron's imagination, the so-called Fight Club theory? And how does Ferris connect to Spider-Man? Plus, the movie's small but memorable baseball moments make it perfect for the month of March and Major League Baseball's season openers. - Noah Smith's true love for all things 80s includes some pretty rad engagement photos that made their way into People and Huffpost. An accomplished woodworker, he's designed tables, bowls, cutting boards, spoons, and everything in-between, a hobby he began in 2020. For a few years in college he produced music (under the name, Hard Mix) and eventually signed to a record label. https://www.noahdanielsmith.com/ https://www.instagram.com/noahdanielsmith/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/omg-these-80s-themed-engagement-pics_n_5978cffce4b0e201d57a8f96 https://people.com/human-interest/couple-80s-throwback-engagement-pics/ - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091042/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098795/ https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/06/why-ferris-bueller-never-existed/327276/ https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ferris-bueller-fight-club-theory-and-other-fan-conspiracies-sending-people-on-reddit-into-a-tailspin-2015-6 https://www.slashfilm.com/503532/the-ferris-bueller-fight-club-theory/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiMuj85ngEo https://theweek.com/speedreads/540187/john-hughes-wrote-ferris-buellers-day-6-days-79-other-facts-about-80s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Rose_House - Pop culture discussed https://www.bustle.com/p/the-ferris-bueller-reference-in-spider-man-homecoming-you-mightve-missed-68654 https://typographica.org/on-typography/corbis-buys-veer-whither-the-fonts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooney_(band) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcazL5yNukw - Other movies and shows discussed: Alfie (1966) Deadpool (2016) Fight Club (1999) Hello Dolly! (1969) The Matrix (1999) Napoleon Dynamite (2004) Point Break (1991) Pretty in Pink (1986) Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Toy Story 5 (2026) WALL-E (2008) WarGames (1983) Weird Science (1985)
Season 3 will have more great guests and more great discussions about movies, including Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, and Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, among others. See this episode's notes for links to our LETTERBOXD with each season's films collected season by season. Plus, you can contact us to recommend a movie, suggest a guest, or nominate yourself as a guest. Remember! Subscribe AND provide a review of the show wherever you listen to podcasts! - about the podcast: https://www.designersonfilm.com/frequently-asked-questions - LETTERBOXD Season 3 https://boxd.it/UxwBk - LETTERBOXD Season 2 https://boxd.it/Kkuik - LETTERBOXD Season 1 https://boxd.it/xfW8K - contact us, online form: https://www.designersonfilm.com/hollaback - contact us, hotline, text or voicemail: 704-681-6880
We've done it again, made it through another season of DESIGNERS ON FILM. Having just finished Season 2, here are highlights and episodes of note. - Sam Beddoes, who developed a video game based on The Rocky Horror Show, talked about the movie, aka The Rocky Horror Picture Show. https://www.designersonfilm.com/podcast/the-rocky-horror-picture-show-1975-w-sam Leading up to Halloween in 2025, we continued our Spooky Cinema theme with plenty of new additions, Season 1 and 2 are collected at… https://www.designersonfilm.com/scares/ Erik Wiese discussed the work that went into Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, and how design played a role in this fun, heartwarming movie that honors Charles Schulz and Schulz's development as an artist. https://www.designersonfilm.com/podcast/snoopy-presents-a-summer-musical-2025-with-erik-wiese Guests Scott Amyx and Cameron Tau analyzed David Fincher's The Social Network and critiqued the ways Facebook has caused disruptions impacting people at a very human level. But, the Uplifty app Scott and his team developed aims to do something very different, helping people build relationships. https://www.designersonfilm.com/podcast/the-social-network-2010-with-scott-amyx-and-cameron-tau University of Washington's Professor Karen Cheng recalled seeing Working Girl for the first time, and explained what makes it such a fun, rewatchable movie. https://www.designersonfilm.com/podcast/working-girl-1988-with-karen-cheng Christie Wu, who introduced me to the movie Clockwatchers, analyzed its well-composed cinematography. https://www.designersonfilm.com/podcast/clockwatchers-1997-with-christie-wu Designer and filmmaker Sofia Cababa Wood, who has always loved Marie Antoinette, shared her own personal connections to Sofia Coppola's movie. https://www.designersonfilm.com/podcast/marie-antoinette-2006-with-sofia-cababa-wood DESIGNERS ON FILM is available on Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts. Do you have a question about the show? A guest to recommend? A movie or movies you'd like to learn more about? See this episode's notes and the link to our contact form. We'll be off for a few weeks. I hope you watch plenty of movies this summer!! I sure will! - CONTACT US https://www.designersonfilm.com/hollaback - We're on LETTERBOXD Season 3 https://boxd.it/UxwBk - Season 2 https://boxd.it/Kkuik - Season 1 https://boxd.it/xfW8K
In this bonus episode, you'll hear more from Sofia Cababa Wood who discusses Marie Antoinette, its themes, and movies that would pair well with it. Antoinette was ruled by her circumstances, but the 2006 movie shows us a more personal side, all while avoiding graphic imagery of her ultimate demise. We also talk about the funny, entertaining MTV Cribs parody that Jason Schwartzman did which appears on the DVD's special features. - Sofia Cababa Wood is a Seattle-based product designer at eBay. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication Design from the University of Washington in 2020. She cut her teeth at various design studios, with a specialty in data visualization. Her experiences living in the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea have shaped her as a designer and helped her view her work through a systems-centered lens. These days, she also makes and sells pottery! https://www.sofiacababawood.com/ https://scwstoneware.com/ - Marie Antoinette (2006) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422720/ https://www.instagram.com/reels/DNY8hQuSOyU/ - Other movies and shows discussed: Barry Lyndon (1975) The Bear (2022-) The Beguiled (2017) The Bling Ring (2013) Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) Bottoms (2023) Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Bridgerton (2020-) The Great (2020-2023) Her (2013) Lost in Translation (2003) Pride and Prejudice (2005) Priscilla (2023) The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) Shiva Baby (2020) Somewhere (2010) The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Based on Lady Antonia Fraser's 2001 biography and directed by Sofia Coppola, the 2006 Oscar-winning movie Marie Antoinette portrays the queen in a way you might not expect, making her a relatable person, a teenager who becomes a leader, coping with life's ups and downs all while trying to have some fun too. The stylistic flair and visual embellishments (watch for a pair of Converse sneakers) make plenty of scenes feel like a dessert tray thanks to the friendly, sweet color choices and Milena Canonero's work which won a 2007 Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design. Designer Sofia Cababa Wood has always loved the movie and as a teenager reenacted moments while visiting France, it's a movie the Seattle-based product designer at eBay definitely watches once a year. - Sofia Cababa Wood is a Seattle-based product designer at eBay. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication Design from the University of Washington in 2020. She cut her teeth at various design studios, with a specialty in data visualization. Her experiences living in the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea have shaped her as a designer and helped her view her work through a systems-centered lens. These days, she also makes and sells pottery! https://www.sofiacababawood.com/ https://scwstoneware.com/ - Marie Antoinette (2006) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422720/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DO8szHyCH91/ https://www.history.com/articles/marie-antoinette https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/marie-antoinette-4-1200515977/ https://letterboxd.com/journal/marie-antoinette-retrospective-deep-impact/ https://www.vulture.com/2013/06/defense-of-sofia-coppolas-marie-antoinette.html - Other movies and shows discussed: Barry Lyndon (1975) The Bear (2022-) The Beguiled (2017) The Bling Ring (2013) Bridgerton (2020-) The Favourite (2018) The Great (2020-2023) Lost in Translation (2003) Priscilla (2023) Somewhere (2010) The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Designer Christie Wu shares more thoughts about Clockwatchers (1997), talking about iconic, memorable, and funny scenes. Starring Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Lisa Kudrow, and Alanna Ubach, Clockwatchers tells the story of four female temp workers struggling to get through each day of their 9 to 5 job. - Christie Wu is a concept-driven designer working at the intersection of culture, design, and technology. Specializing in digital and interactive design, she crafts playful interactions and inventive visual stories that reverse expectations and bring joy to everyday experiences. At DEPT, she has designed for Twitch, eBay, Nordstrom, E*Trade, and Ariana Grande Fragrances. Her work has been recognized by PrintMag, Loadmo.re , and WeDirectory. Her personal project, Wandering Wombs, rebrands menstrual health visually, conceptually, and culturally. Launched in November 2024, it weaves together education, innovative design, and community engagement to empower individuals and spark meaningful conversations about the menstrual cycle. https://christiewu.design/ https://christiewu.fun/index.html - Clockwatchers (1997) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118866 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHACMZl4ud0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Taf5HhMAmOI
Starring Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Lisa Kudrow, and Alanna Ubach, Clockwatchers tells the story of four female temp workers struggling through the challenges of their 9 to 5 job. But when a new, full-time permanent hire comes on board suspicion and competition set in, made worse by a patronizing boss and thievery that brings about a witch hunt. Designer Christie Wu talks about how Clockwatchers impacted her, and explains why its well-composed cinematography is so rewarding to watch. - Christie Wu is a concept-driven designer working at the intersection of culture, design, and technology. Specializing in digital and interactive design, she crafts playful interactions and inventive visual stories that reverse expectations and bring joy to everyday experiences. At DEPT, she has designed for Twitch, eBay, Nordstrom, E*Trade, and Ariana Grande Fragrances. Her work has been recognized by PrintMag, Loadmo.re , and WeDirectory. Her personal project, Wandering Wombs, rebrands menstrual health visually, conceptually, and culturally. Launched in November 2024, it weaves together education, innovative design, and community engagement to empower individuals and spark meaningful conversations about the menstrual cycle. https://christiewu.design/ https://christiewu.fun/index.html https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-wu-13031a181/ https://www.printmag.com/web-interactive-design/wandering-wombs-a-lifeline-for-reproductive-rights/ - Clockwatchers (1997) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118866 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHACMZl4ud0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Taf5HhMAmOI - Other movies and shows discussed: Big Love (2006-2011) The Office (2001-2003, UK) The Office (2005-2013, US) Office Space (1999) Playtime (1967)
In this bonus episode, Professor Karen Cheng shares more thoughts about Working Girl (1988), a movie she loves. We discuss the cinematography, Harrison Ford's character, and other movies that would pair well with Working Girl for a potential double feature. - Cheng is the author of Designing Type, a comprehensive, systematic guide to the design of letters, published by Yale University Press. Since its initial publication in 2006, Designing Type has been translated into German, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, and it has been ranked #14 on a list of "Top 50 Typography Books of the Last 50 Years" in the journal Visible Language. As a researcher, Cheng has investigated how scientists can collaborate with designers to aid public and interdisciplinary communication. She is co-author of the widely referenced "A Brief Guide to Designing Effective Figures for the Scientific Paper" and has published on the positive impact of visual design on scientific communication and the role of visual design critiques in research practice, in the Information Design Journal. Cheng holds a Master's Degree in Design from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning and an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Washington in 1997, she worked in Brand Management at Procter & Gamble. https://art.washington.edu/people/karen-cheng https://vimeo.com/52861172 Designing Type https://amzn.to/4dZeNYv - Working Girl (1988) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096463/ - Other movies and shows discussed: All the President's Men (1976) Betty Blue (1986) Delicatessen (1991) The Little Mermaid (1989) Miss Sloane (2016) 9 to 5 (1980) Powers of Ten (1977) Trading Places (1983) Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) - As an Amazon Associate, DESIGNERS ON FILM earns commissions by sharing product links.
Working Girl, directed by Mike Nichols, stars Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver, with Alec Baldwin and Joan Cusack. Tess, played by Melanie Griffith, ascends the corporate ladder using her book smarts and street smarts, and by pretending to be somebody she's not. Tess strives to do big things, and has plenty of good ideas to get her foot in the door until she's caught, accused of being an imposter. With Sigourney Weaver as her boss Katharine, and Harrison Ford as Jack Trainer the love interest, the movie has plenty of laughs, and lessons too. Professor Karen Cheng joins the show to talk about what makes Working Girls such a fun, rewatchable movie. - Professor Karen Cheng is the author of Designing Type, a comprehensive, systematic guide to the design of letters, published by Yale University Press. Since its initial publication in 2006, Designing Type has been translated into German, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, and it has been ranked #14 on a list of "Top 50 Typography Books of the Last 50 Years" in the journal Visible Language. As a researcher, Cheng has investigated how scientists can collaborate with designers to aid public and interdisciplinary communication. She is co-author of the widely referenced "A Brief Guide to Designing Effective Figures for the Scientific Paper" and has published on the positive impact of visual design on scientific communication and the role of visual design critiques in research practice, in the Information Design Journal. Cheng holds a Master's Degree in Design from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning and an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Washington in 1997, she worked in Brand Management at Procter & Gamble. https://art.washington.edu/people/karen-cheng https://vimeo.com/52861172 Designing Type https://amzn.to/4dZeNYv Type Directors Club book discussion https://youtu.be/uEMtKyn1aGA "A Brief Guide to Designing Effective Figures for the Scientific Paper" https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.201102518 Positive Impact of Visual Design on Scientific Communication https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/idj.23.1.09che The Role of Visual Design Critiques in Research Practice https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/idj.22008.sem - Working Girl (1988) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096463/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DTlPpI8knqN https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/working-girl-remake-selena-gomez - Other movies and shows discussed: Anchroman 2 (2013) Freaky Friday (1976, 2003) The Intern (2015) Murderbot (2025) Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) Shrinking (2023-) Ted Lasso (2020-) Trading Places (1983)
Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires with a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher, The Social Network is a dramatization of Facebook's founding. The fictional story shows the grit, tenacity, and ruthlessness of its creators. Guests Scott Amyx and Cameron Tau talk about the movie, and how Facebook has caused disruptions impacting people at a very human level, resulting in isolationism and addiction, damaging mental health. But Uplifty aims to do something very different, helping people build relationships. - Scott Amyx is a global innovation expert, venture capitalist, and futurist focused on the intersection of humans and exponential technologies. He is the Founder and CEO of Uplifty, where he builds platforms to enhance human connection in an increasingly automated world, and Chair and Managing Partner at Astor Perkins, a deep-tech and sustainability venture firm. A Harvard Business Review Advisory Council Member, TEDx speaker, and author, Scott has advised governments, Fortune 500s, and startups on breakthrough innovation, smart cities, and the future of work. His work combines cutting-edge technology with human-centered strategies to help people and organizations thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. https://uplifty.ai/about-us/ https://astorperkins.com/ Strive: How Doing The Things Most Uncomfortable Leads to Success by Scott Amyx https://amzn.to/4sU2elb - Cameron Tau is a UX and product design professional with a background in psychology, marketing, and data analytics. She served as a UI/UX team lead at Uplifty, driving the app's wireframes and overall user experience while integrating user-centered design principles. Skilled in user research, prototyping, and data-driven decision making, Cameron has created high-fidelity designs that enhance usability and engagement across digital platforms. Her work combines design thinking with analytical insights to deliver seamless and impactful user experiences. https://uplifty.ai/about-us/ - Uplifty https://uplifty.ai/ https://www.instagram.com/upliftyai/ - The Social Network (2010) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/ https://youtu.be/lB95KLmpLR4?si=vKPKWSVjCNTHxulx - The Accidental Billionaires https://amzn.to/4tJ6a8T - Social media and recent fallout https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c747x7gz249o https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-68161632 https://lite.cnn.com/2026/03/25/media/meta-google-social-media-verdict-advocates
The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) was written and directed by Jacques Demy. Whether you call it off-beat, dreamy, or off-beat and dreamy, this whimsical musical is just the right movie to kick off spring thanks to its bright costumes, memorable set design, great dancing, and upbeat tunes. Plus, the situation with the sadistic killer will keep you guessing. Designer Radha Sachdev talks about what makes The Young Girls of Rochefort so memorable, and why it's worth watching not just once, but again and again. - Radha Sachdev is an independent designer working across timezones, helping brands create identities with unique design aesthetics, telling their story with a touch of humor and innovation that connects with audiences in an authentic way through beautiful and impactful results. Her favorite part of design is diving into the creative process with the clients, since the process is just as important as the end result. She created the custom logotype called Creative Roots for Datalily Studio's blog page, an incredible and fun collaborative experience with Amy and Jen Hood. Radha has a weakness and passion for film, as well as graphic design in film, specially the typography created for the set design in film or type you see in the street, such as Annie Atkin's work on The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Teddy Blanks, who created the title card for Wuthering Heights (2026), is also one of her favorites. Radha has invented prop design projects just for fun, such as the Adore brand identity from Materialists (2025) and Florist Lily Bloom from It Ends with Us (2024). https://radhadesignstudio.xyz/ https://radhadesignstudio.xyz/adore/ https://radhadesignstudio.xyz/creativeroots/ https://www.datalily.com/blog - The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062873/ https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/criterions-the-essential-jacques-demy https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/greta-gerwig-favorite-movies-film-recommendations/ - Other movies discussed: Chennai Express (2013) Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962) The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) La La Land (2016) Moulin Rouge! (2001) West Side Story (1961)
Fifty years ago, All the President's Men was released, starring Robert Redford as Bob Woodward and Dustin Hoffman as Carl Bernstein. The movie, written for the screen by William Goldman, dramatizes the research, legwork, and reporting done by The Washington Post's Woodward and Bernstein who exposed the Watergate scandal, shedding light on the corruption that stemmed from President Richard M. Nixon's Committee to Re-Elect the President, known as CREEP. In the movie, released in April 1976, Woodward and Bernstein come across as dedicated, scrappy, and fearless, at times they're even chummy. Designer, author, and teacher Michael Bierut praises William Goldman's screenwriting craft, not only in All the President's Men but also in another Goldman buddy movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid which starred Robert Redford alongside Paul Newman. We also discuss Zodiac, The Post, The Social Network, and movies by Charles and Ray Eames. This episode appeared on Season 1 of the show in 2024. - Michael Bierut graduated from the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning in 1980 with highest honors. He worked at the office of Lella and Massimo Vignelli for a decade. In 1990, Bierut became a partner in the New York office of Pentagram designing for Mastercard, Slack, Verizon, Benetton, Disney, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, among a long list of other clients. He designed the “H” logo during Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign and presidential run, and also the typographic inscription for the Obama Presidential Center. Beginning in 2024, he shifted into an alternate role at Pentagram, an advisory role, titled Consulting Partner on his LinkedIn. Bierut has earned numerous accolades, was elected to the Alliance Graphique Internationale in 1989, received the AIGA Medal, and won the Design Mind category of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards. In addition to being a designer, he has been lecturer at the Yale School of Management and senior critic at the Yale School of Art. An accomplished author, Bierut is co-editor of the five-volume design series of books, Looking Closer: Critical Writings on Graphic Design and he co-founded the site Design Observer. Find more of his writing in these books: 79 Short Essays on Design (2007), How to use graphic design to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh, make people cry and (every once in a while) change the world (2015 and 2021), and Now You See It and Other Essays on Design (2017). Be sure to check out Bierut in Gary Hustwit's 2007 documentary Helvetica. https://www.pentagram.com/about/michael-bierut https://www.instagram.com/p/DLIJ4FzAR3U/ https://www.fastcompany.com/91265497/the-incomparable-michael-bierut-steps-down https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/655-exit-interview-with-michael-bierut/ - All the President's Men (1976) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074119 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074119/releaseinfo/ - Nixon, Watergate https://visit.archives.gov/whats-on/explore-exhibits/president-resigns-50-years-later https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/nixon.html https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/exhibits/watergate-files - Other movies and shows discussed: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) The Conversation (1974) The French Connection (1971) The Godfather (1972) Keepers of the Magic (2016) Marathon Man (1976) The Post (2017) The Princess Bride (1987) The Social Network (2010) When Harry Met Sally (1989) The X-Files (1993-2018) Zodiac (2007)
Tom Muller talks about Highlander, its poster design and home video release, and shares tips for organizing old school cassette libraries. This episode appeared on Season 1 of the show in 2024. - Tom Muller is an award-winning designer and creative director at helloMuller, and has made an impact on the cultural landscape with narrative-driven design and brand storytelling, creating compelling identities and experiences. Tom's radical and visionary re-design for Marvel's X-Men identity, a new visual language that included wordmarks and typography, helped launch 2019's groundbreaking HOUSE OF X and POWERS OF X. He's also designed for entertainment giants DC and Disney, tech pioneers like Google and Gearbox Software, as well as Wired magazine, Skydance New Media, and Wizards of the Coast. https://www.hellomuller.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hellomuller/ https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/tom-muller-designing-evolution-x-logo/ https://www.printmag.com/comics-animation-design/behind-design-the-weatherman/ - Highlander (1986) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091203/ https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/08/movies/screen-highlander-with-sean-connery.html - Other movies discussed: Conan the Barbarian (1982) Highlander II (1991) Ladyhawke (1985) The Old Guard (2020) Time Bandits (1981) Wolfen (1981)
Chris Rubino talks about his work on film and television titles and graphics, and analyzes Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, based on Arthur Schnitzler's Traumnovelle. Are Dr. William (Cruise) and his wife Alice (Kidman) in the middle of a nightmare or dream, or dealt a terrible hand of horrors in real life? We also talk about the supporting cast, from Marion to Mandy, and touch on the essay, "A Front Row Seat as an Actress in Eyes Wide Shut Reinforces How Much It Anticipated the Epstein Scandal" written by Julienne Davis who portrays Mandy in Eyes Wide Shut. - Chris Rubino is a New York based director who runs an independent creative studio specializing in visual and conceptual solutions for film and television titling, as well as graphics, plus branding and direction for hospitality and spirits video. https://www.chrisrubino.com https://www.chrisrubino.com/4am https://www.chrisrubino.com/work/reel https://www.instagram.com/p/DPRJhQDDqPQ/ - Eyes Wide Shut (1999) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120663/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120663/fullcredits/ Traumnovelle (1926) by Arthur Schnitzler, basis for Kubrick's movie https://amzn.to/4seF4pP - Julienne Davis, Mandy in Eyes Wide Shut, on Kubrick's movie and the Epstein scandal https://www.nysun.com/article/a-front-row-seat-as-an-actress-in-eyes-wide-shut-reinforced-how-much-it-anticipated-the-epstein-scandal https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0204924/ - Nicole Kidman on divorce, high heels https://youtu.be/tashAHo7s3U?si=wjQtzcpnNtMiOB9I&t=13 - Other movies and shows discussed: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Barry Lyndon (1975) Blue Valentine (2010) The Handmade's Tale (2017-2025) Michael Clayton (2007) The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) Roofman (2025) The Shining (1980) The Testaments (2026-)
In this bonus episode, designer, author, educator, curator, artist, and pioneering podcast host Debbie Millman talks about Arrival (2016). And then, special guest Zipeng Zhu joins the show to talk about creativity, and why trust is an important part of learning, growing, and improving. Plus, learn about the roles that communication and romance play in Arrival. - Debbie Millman is host of the pioneering podcast Design Matters. Fast Company called her "one of the most creative people in business" and Graphic Design USA called her "one of the most influential designers working today." She's a "woman of influence" as Success Magazine has said, building a career at the intersection of design, storytelling, and cultural commentary. As the founder and host of Design Matters, one of the first and longest-running podcasts in the world, she's interviewed more than 700 of the world's most creative thinkers and makers, having earned the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, multiple Webby awards and Ambie nominations, and numerous accolades from Apple Podcasts who named Design Matters one of their "All-Time Favorites" three times. Debbie worked on the concept and design of the vault plate that's aboard NASA's Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's moon. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Magazine, The Baffler, The New York Review of Books, and Fast Company. The author of two books of illustrated essays, plus author of eight books, she's also Editorial Director of PrintMag.com which she co-owns, Debbie and her business partners rescued the publication from bankruptcy in 2019, preserving its 80-year legacy. Debbie and her wife, best-selling author Roxane Gay, recently acquired The Rumpus. Debbie lives in New York City and Los Angeles with her beautiful wife, two lovable cats and a very charismatic dog. https://www.printmag.com/author/debbie-millman/ https://www.instagram.com/debbiemillman/ https://designmattersmedia.com/ https://apple.co/designmatters https://debbiemillman.com/ https://therumpus.net/ - Zipeng Zhu is a Chinese-born artist, designer, educator, and founder of the award-winning creative studio Dazzle in New York City. He wants to make every day a razzle-dazzle musical and has collaborated with iconic brands such as Apple, Adidas, Adobe, Coca-Cola, Instagram, MTV, Microsoft, Netflix, The New York Times, The New Yorker magazine, Samsung and Uber. His work has been exhibited at major museums and institutions in cities all over the world, including New York, Barcelona, Dubai, Shanghai, Beijing, and Mumbai. Zipeng dedicates his days running both the Dazzle Studio and merch shop Dazzle Supply, bringing his dazzling design to clients and fans around the globe. https://dazzle.studio/ - Arrival (2016) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543164/ - Other movies discussed: Gravity (2013) Interstellar (2014) The Tree of Life (2011)
Debbie Millman, designer, author, educator, curator, artist, and pioneering podcast host, joins Designers On Film to talk about Arrival (2016), a movie that has all the ingredients to keep you engaged and make you curious about life on this planet, or life beyond this planet. Amy Adams is Louise Banks, Jeremy Renner is Ian Donnelly, and together they're brought into a government operation to understand, analyze, and hopefully communicate with visitors from another planet. In addition to sharing everything about the movie that she loves, Debbie also talks about how science has been an integral part of her own life, why she believes in alien lifeforms, and ponders big questions about language, love, and time. - Debbie Millman is host of the pioneering podcast Design Matters. Fast Company called her "one of the most creative people in business" and Graphic Design USA called her "one of the most influential designers working today." She's a "woman of influence" as Success Magazine has said, building a career at the intersection of design, storytelling, and cultural commentary. As the founder and host of Design Matters, one of the first and longest-running podcasts in the world, she's interviewed more than 700 of the world's most creative thinkers and makers, having earned the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, multiple Webby awards and Ambie nominations, and numerous accolades from Apple Podcasts who named Design Matters one of their "All-Time Favorites" three times. Debbie worked on the concept and design of the vault plate that's aboard NASA's Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's moon. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Magazine, The Baffler, The New York Review of Books, and Fast Company. The author of two books of illustrated essays, plus author of eight books, she's also Editorial Director of PrintMag.com which she co-owns, Debbie and her business partners rescued the publication from bankruptcy in 2019, preserving its 80-year legacy. Debbie and her wife, best-selling author Roxane Gay, recently acquired The Rumpus. Debbie lives in New York City and Los Angeles with her beautiful wife, two lovable cats and a very charismatic dog. https://www.printmag.com/author/debbie-millman/ https://www.instagram.com/debbiemillman/ https://designmattersmedia.com/ https://apple.co/designmatters https://debbiemillman.com/ https://therumpus.net/ - Zipeng Zhu is a Chinese-born artist, designer, educator, and founder of the award-winning creative studio Dazzle in New York City. He wants to make every day a razzle-dazzle musical and has collaborated with iconic brands such as Apple, Adidas, Adobe, Coca-Cola, Instagram, MTV, Microsoft, Netflix, The New York Times, The New Yorker magazine, Samsung and Uber. His work has been exhibited at major museums and institutions in cities all over the world, including New York, Barcelona, Dubai, Shanghai, Beijing, and Mumbai. Zipeng dedicates his days running both the Dazzle Studio and merch shop Dazzle Supply, bringing his dazzling design to clients and fans around the globe. https://dazzle.studio/ - Arrival (2016) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543164/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5384213/ Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang https://amzn.to/4rfSiBk - Other movies, shows, and books discussed: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) Contact (1997) Interstellar (2014) The Twilight Zone, S3.E24: To Serve Man (1962)
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Observed September 20, 2026.
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