Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast DESIGNERS ON FILM
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Substance (2024) with Miriam Schulman | 29 Oct 2026 | 00:40:23 | |
Whether you call The Substance (2024) high-art horror, or a seemingly-real story of self-harm that turns into a horror show, one thing is certain: the tragedy that unfolds will leave a mark on you. Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth, an actor, fitness icon, and influencer who faces an abrupt end to her career, until she becomes Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. Has Elisabeth been liberated by this newer, younger version of herself? Because there are rules to living this double life, she soon learns about its limitations, and when rules are broken, a zany nightmare ensues. Guest Miriam Schulman talks about the movie's depiction of violence against oneself, women under a microscope, treatment of older women, and the Oscar that never went to Demi Moore. - Miriam Schulman is author of best-selling art business book, Artpreneur and host of The Inspiration Place podcast. She has provided structured guidance to artists who feel stuck, helping them push beyond a trickle of sales and the limitations of “being practical.” Miriam's own road to entrepreneurship wasn't always smooth or easy, but after over twenty years of making a sustainable living as a watercolor portrait artist, The Inspiration Place podcast was born, featuring world-class experts who discuss mindset, marketing, pricing, and more. Her Artist Incubator Coaching Program helps give artists the time and freedom to create art and do what they love. Miriam's art and story have been featured in major publications including The New York Times, Where Women Create, Creative Women, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Art of Man, and Art Journaling magazine by Stampington, as well as seen on NBC's Parenthood and the Amazon series Hunters with Al Pacino. Her art has been sold around the world and included in New York museum gift shops. When she's not painting, writing, coaching other artists, or planning art world domination, you can find her in a museum or spending time with her husband, two adult kids, and a tuxedo cat named Luna. https://www.theinspirationplace.net/ http://www.schulmanart.com/book/ https://www.schulmanart.com/podcast/ - The Substance (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/ https://www.vogue.com/article/coralie-fargeat-the-substance-interview https://www.polygon.com/movies/455942/substance-director-interview-branding-design/ - Other movies discussed: Anora (2024) Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) The Last Showgirl (2024) Moonstruck (1987) My Cousin Vinny (1992) Night Shift (1982) Pretty Woman (1990) | |||
| Frankenstein (2025) with Jessica Barness | 21 Oct 2026 | 00:44:27 | |
In Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein, Oscar Isaac stars as Dr. Frankenstein who toils away in his lab to create life from inanimate objects, resulting in his creation, his creature portrayed by Jacob Elordi who becomes a victim hell-bent on revenge. Jessica Barness may not have worked on the movie, but she's a big fan and joins the show to talk about characters and production design, as well as magic, fantasy, mythology, and genre. Is Frankenstein a horror movie, tragedy, science fiction? Perhaps it's a genre mashup? And what about a sequel to this? What could happen, or would not happen, if there's a continuation of del Toro's movie? - Professor Jessica Barness studies how designers talk about the work they do, and makes work that reflects on it. She's written about design discourse, collage, flexi-disc vinyl records, and reader perceptions, while also making digital machines and offbeat low-res videos. She writes loudly, if less officially, at The Quiet Design Scholar. She is a Professor of Visual Communication Design at Kent State University, where she coordinates graduate studies and teaches design research and professional practices. https://www.jessicabarness.com/ https://jessicabarness.substack.com/ https://www.whatscholarshiplookslike.net/ https://www.kent.edu/vcd/profile/jessica-barness - Frankenstein (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312221/ https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/frankenstein-ending-explained - Mary Wollstonecraft: Britain's first feminist, via BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/zkpk382 - Other movies discussed: The Bride! (2026) The Devil's Backbone (2001) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) Monty Python's Meaning of Life (1983) Nosferatu (2024) The Odyssey (2026) Pan's Labyrinth (2006) Prometheus (2012) The Shape of Water (2017) Until the End of the World (1991) | |||
| Strangeland (1998) with Debbie De Villa [bonus] | 15 Oct 2026 | 00:11:34 | |
In this bonus episode, production designer Debbie De Villa talks about her work on Strangeland (1998) and where it sits in relation to SE7EN (1995) and Saw (2004). Strangeland stars Dee Snider (of Twisted Sister), Elizabeth Peña, Robert Englund, and Linda Cardellini (from Scooby-Doo, Freaks and Geeks, as well as DTF St. Louis and the new series Crystal Lake based on Friday the 13th). In Strangeland, a stalker uses the internet to ensnare teenagers, who are kidnapped and put through painful rituals that bring the stalker pleasure. Actor Kevin Gage (who played Waingro in Heat) is the detective who will not stop until the stalker is apprehended. Debbie also talks about the notion of conformity in filmmaking, and movies that visually come from an emotional place. - As a teenager, when production designer Debbie De Villa saw an exhibition with work by set designers and production designers that was full of sketches, models, and works in progress, she knew she wanted to work in film. Studying set design for theatre gave her the hands-on experience she needed to embark on a career in movies. https://www.debbiedevilla.com/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212139/ - Strangeland (1998) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124102/ - Other movies and shows discussed: Crystal Lake (2026-) Escape from New York (1981) Friday the 13th (1980, 2009) Heat (1995) The Last Laugh (1924) Love the Hard Way (2001) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, 2010) Nostalgia (1983) Saw (2004) SE7EN (1995) Ulee's Gold (1997) Wings of Desire (1987) | |||
| Caddo Lake (2024) with Debbie De Villa | 08 Oct 2026 | 00:35:14 | |
Debbie De Villa has decades of experience as a production designer on dozens of films, including but not limited to Caddo Lake (2024) and Trap (2024). Caddo Lake tells a twisty story with a sprawling narrative that intertwines family members in ways they never imagined. In M. Night Shyamalan's Trap, a father and daughter attend a pop concert but as the evening goes on, the anxiety builds and things quickly unravel for everyone including the pop star. Debbie joins the show to talk about bringing words in the script to life, why being resourceful matters in filmmaking, and taking the audience for a ride. - As a teenager, when Debbie De Villa saw an exhibition with work by set designers and production designers that was full of sketches, models, and works in progress, she knew she wanted to work in film. Studying set design for theatre gave her the hands-on experience she needed to embark on a career in movies. https://www.debbiedevilla.com/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212139/ - Caddo Lake (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15552142/ - Other movies discussed: Backfire! (1995) The Burbs (1989) Lake Placid (1999) Love the Hard Way (2001) Strangeland (1998) Trap (2024) Ulee's Gold (1997) | |||
| Coming in October (2026) | 01 Oct 2026 | 00:02:08 | |
Sharing October updates, so you can learn about each guest and their movie, and watch or re-watch their movie of choice before you hear upcoming episodes. NOTE: there may be a Spooky Movie Theme here, we are near Halloween after all. - SCREAM (1996) with Matt Manos, who may not have worked on the movie but knows it backwards & forwards and has a lot to say about how masks are not only very necessary for each SCREAM killer but we discuss how masks also play a role in what designers do. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117571 - THE SUBSTANCE (2024) with Miriam Schulman who loves the movie and the dark take on what it means to be an artist. Miriam is author of "Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living From Your Creativity" and Host of The Inspiration Place. https://www.theinspirationplace.net/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/ - CADDO LAKE (2024) with production designer Debbie De Villa who talks about what makes working in film fun, and we also discuss her earlier work on movies like STRANGELAND (1998), plus we touch on the M. Night Shyamalan movie TRAP (2024) and her contributions that shaped TRAP's look & feel. https://www.debbiedevilla.com/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15552142 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124102/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26753003/ - FRANKENSTEIN (2025) with professor, designer, and horror fan Jessica Barness who returns to the show having already dissected (sorry for the slashing suggestion, I mean she analyzed) NOSFERATU (2024) on a prior season of the show. | |||
| Starstruck (2026) with Dr. George Ellis | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:47:42 | |
Dr. George Ellis, who in addition to being a urologist is a producer making movies, has won plenty of awards in the film festival circuit. For his second time visiting the show, Dr. George talks about filmmaking as equal parts design thinking and social experimentation, and why as a producer it's important to have a methodical approach. Plus, learn about his film Starstruck, and what movies have impacted him, such as A Clockwork Orange with its modern take on violence fused with classical music. - Dr. George Ellis, MD is an award-winning filmmaker who has won multiple awards through his production company Coronado Beach Productions at several film festivals. Most recently, his film Starstruck was selected to be shown at the Central Florida Film Festival. He also won awards at the Tampa Bay Underground film festival and won the award for best Indie Short Film at the New York Movie Awards for his film The Eden Trials. George is an American Physician and Urologic Surgeon, and has been published numerous times in the scientific literature and now dedicates his medical skills to the under-insured as a volunteer. https://www.CoronadoBeachProductions.com https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15501484/ - Starstruck (2026) - Mortal Sin (2025) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EeFd3cDDA/ https://youtu.be/FH36AiDPNnE?si=WcfuL48wb-plUw7s - Dr. George's first guest spot (2025) from Season 2 https://www.designersonfilm.com/podcast/mortal-sin-2025-dr-george-ellis - Other movies and shows discussed: A Clockwork Orange (1971) Coma (1978) The Great Train Robbery (1978) M*A*S*H (1970) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) The Verdict (1982) | |||
| RE-RELEASE: The Fly (1986) with Daisy Koenig | 17 Sep 2026 | 00:39:20 | |
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://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 (1981) with Dan Stroupe | 10 Sep 2026 | 00:49:31 | |
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://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) | |||
| RE-RELEASE: One Crazy Summer (1986) with Mike Wirth [more thoughts] | 07 Sep 2026 | 00:19:45 | |
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/podcasts/the-jewish-futurism-lab/ - One Crazy Summer (1986) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091680/ - LETTERBOXD Season 3 - contact us | |||
| RE-RELEASE: One Crazy Summer (1986) with Mike Wirth | 05 Sep 2026 | 00:51:05 | |
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/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 - LETTERBOXD Season 2 - LETTERBOXD Season 1 - contact us | |||
| RE-RELEASE: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) with Noah Smith | 23 Jul 2026 | 01:07:26 | |
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.slashfilm.com/503532/the-ferris-bueller-fight-club-theory/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiMuj85ngEo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Rose_House - Pop culture discussed 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) | |||
| What’s in store for our 3rd Season! | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:01:00 | |
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 - LETTERBOXD Season 2 - LETTERBOXD Season 1 - contact us, online form: https://www.designersonfilm.com/hollaback - contact us, hotline, text or voicemail: 704-681-6880 | |||
| That’s a Wrap: Season 2 | 01 Jun 2026 | 00:02:17 | |
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 - Season 2 - Season 1 | |||
| Marie Antoinette (2006) with Sofia Cababa Wood [more thoughts] | 25 May 2026 | 00:18:30 | |
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/ - 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) | |||
| Marie Antoinette (2006) with Sofia Cababa Wood | 19 May 2026 | 00:42:23 | |
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/ - 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) | |||
| Clockwatchers (1997) with Christie Wu [more thoughts] | 13 May 2026 | 00:03:49 | |
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.fun/index.html - Clockwatchers (1997) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118866 | |||
| Clockwatchers (1997) with Christie Wu | 08 May 2026 | 00:36:22 | |
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.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) | |||
| Working Girl (1988) with Karen Cheng [more thoughts] | 30 Apr 2026 | 12:00:00 | |
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 Designing Type - 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 (1988) with Karen Cheng | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:47:34 | |
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 Designing Type Type Directors Club book discussion "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) | |||
| The Social Network (2010) with Scott Amyx and Cameron Tau | 16 Apr 2026 | 00:43:54 | |
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. Strive: How Doing The Things Most Uncomfortable Leads to Success by Scott Amyx - 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. - Uplifty https://www.instagram.com/upliftyai/ - The Social Network (2010) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/ https://youtu.be/lB95KLmpLR4?si=vKPKWSVjCNTHxulx - The Accidental Billionaires - 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) with Radha Sachdev | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:41:24 | |
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/ - 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) | |||
| RE-RELEASE: All the President’s Men (1976) with Michael Bierut | 02 Apr 2026 | 00:56:42 | |
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) | |||
| RE-RELEASE: Highlander (1986) with Tom Muller | 26 Mar 2026 | 01:16:47 | |
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.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) | |||
| Eyes Wide Shut (1999) with Chris Rubino | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:53:40 | |
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/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 - Julienne Davis, Mandy in Eyes Wide Shut, on Kubrick's movie and 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-) | |||
| Arrival (2016) with Debbie Millman, then the arrival of special guest Zipeng Zhu | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:16:20 | |
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 - 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. - Arrival (2016) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543164/ - Other movies discussed: Gravity (2013) Interstellar (2014) The Tree of Life (2011) | |||
| Arrival (2016) with Debbie Millman | 07 Mar 2026 | 00:44:34 | |
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 - 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. - Arrival (2016) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543164/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5384213/ Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang - 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) | |||
| Amélie (2001) with Zipeng Zhu [more thoughts] | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:21:00 | |
In this bonus episode, hear more from Zipeng Zhu who talks about his design philosophy and methodology, the importance of sprinkling magic dust on top of things, and why swiping up and down and hoping for the best isn't the best design approach. We also talk about manga and manifestation, creating work that you can touch or work that touches people, and be sure to listen to the end, you'll hear us planning a Zoom Drop-In to surprise an upcoming guest. - 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://www.instagram.com/zzdesign https://sva.edu/features/sva-creators-zipeng-zhu-makes-exuberant-designs-that-leave-you-dazzled - Amélie (2001) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/ - Other movies, shows, and books discussed: Akira (manga, 1982-1990) Chicago (2002) Harry Potter (2001-2011) Naruto (manga, 1999-2014) One Piece (manga, 1997-) Sailor Moon (manga, 1991-1997) Shōnen Jump (manga, 1968-) | |||
| RE-RELEASE: Pretty in Pink (1986) with Nikki Villagomez | 21 Feb 2026 | 00:34:14 | |
Nikki Villagomez knows a thing or two about fonts, not only because she's a designer but also because she's a published author and historian who loves typography. In addition to learning about her books Culture+Typography: Examples in Font Pairings and also the sold out Culture+Typography: How Culture Affects Typography, hear why Pretty in Pink means so much to her. Plus, we touch on Miami Vice, the Brat Pack documentary called Brats (2024), Mondrian, and hair gel. This episode appeared on Season 1 of the show in 2024. - Nikki Villagomez is a nationally recognized speaker on typography, and a graduate of Louisiana State University with a BFA in Graphic Design. After working as a designer in New York City, she moved to her home state of South Carolina where she became a full-time freelancer. She's the founder and former president of the South Carolina chapter of AIGA, has been an educator teaching Graphic Design and Typography at the University of South Carolina and the University of Akron, and lives in Charlotte, NC. Learn more at her blog, culture+typography, online since 2012. https://nikkivillagomez.wordpress.com/ https://nikkivillagomez.wordpress.com/my-book/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-villagomez/ - Pretty in Pink (1986) | |||
| Amélie (2001) with Zipeng Zhu | 12 Feb 2026 | 00:50:43 | |
Zipeng Zhu talks about his time studying design in New York and learning from Debbie Millman. He also gives thanks to all the amazing people who helped him on his creative journey, including Jessica Walsh who loves the movie Amélie as much as Zipeng. Amélie lives in a world unto herself, full of imagination and creativity, but she's kind and gives back to others, creating joy in a variety of ways. - 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://www.instagram.com/zzdesign https://sva.edu/features/sva-creators-zipeng-zhu-makes-exuberant-designs-that-leave-you-dazzled - Amélie (2001) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yy0dc-mzTM https://www.npr.org/2001/11/02/1132568/amelie https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210916-amlie-the-most-stylish-film-ever-made | |||
| Miracle (2004) with Sam Potts | 05 Feb 2026 | 00:55:00 | |
Sam Potts talks about his comfort movie, Miracle starring Kurt Russell and Patricia Clarkson. Based on real life events, Miracle tells the story of the American hockey team and the 1980 Olympics Miracle on Ice. Russell plays Coach Herb Brooks, who leads the underdog American hockey team on a challenging journey and through rigorous training and a series of wins, they eventually face the seemingly invincible Soviet Union team. We also discuss the Cold War backdrop looming over the characters and events in the movie, teamwork on and off the ice, and how teamwork and accountability are a part of the design world. - Sam Potts has over two decades of graphic design experience across print and digital media. He brings humanity and personality to a project using voice, elegance, and intelligence to solve visual communication problems, taking the long view while also attending to the details. From his first job editing college textbooks to his wide-ranging career as a graphic/ux designer, the thread that runs through everything is a search for meaningful expression, whether the task at hand is a book jacket, a digital experience, or a hardware store for superheroes that's also a writing center for kids. Sam was the original UX/UI designer (first designer on the Games team) for The New York Times Crossword app. He created signage, packaging, posters, books, branding, and websites for the original Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. and 826NYC. And designed the book and jacket for all three of John Hodgman's humorous books of complete world knowledge. You may have also seen his complete branding of the Independent Film Channel's flagship theater in New York for their IFC Center. When he's not working as a designer, Sam plays left wing for the Geri-Hat-Tricks in his local beer league. https://sampottsinc.com/present_tense/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHzsbfltdFM - Miracle (2004) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349825/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd0_Dm2xlEM - The 1984 USA vs USSR Miracle on Ice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR56GJ05IMs&t=5224s https://www.si.com/olympics/2014/10/28/reminder-what-we-can-be-1980-us-olympic-hockey-team-si-60 - Other movies and shows discussed: American Flyers (1985) Breaking Away (1979) Hoosiers (1986) Of Miracles and Men (2015) Quicksilver (1986) Red Army (2014) - Art, books, design, shops discussed: Breaking Away poster, affiliate link Frenchtown Bookshop | |||
| Blade Runner (1982) with Kevin Finn | 29 Jan 2026 | 00:46:07 | |
Brand expert, author, internationally recognized designer, and TEDx speaker Kevin Finn joins the show to talk about Blade Runner starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, Brion James, and Joanna Cassidy. Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, is brought back to an elite unit that hunts and retires rogue Replicants, bioengineered beings virtually identical to humans but often used for slave labor. We also discuss the movies Alien and Aliens, as well as Blade Runner 2049 and Barry Lyndon. - Kevin Finn is a brand expert, author, internationally recognized branding designer and TEDx speaker. Having begun his career in Dublin, he later moved to Sydney, where he became Joint-Creative Director of Saatchi Design, part of the Saatchi & Saatchi global network. From 2003-2018 he wrote, edited, and published the independent design journal, Open Manifesto, which included interviews, essays, and conversations with some of the most influential designers and global thinkers, including: Michael Bierut, Milton Glaser, Jessica Walsh, Edward de Bono, Noam Chomsky, ex-CIA operative Larry J. Kolb, and Neil Harbisson, a real-life cyborg, among many others. During a time when weblogs and Tumblrs had overtaken the design landscape Open Manifesto's print publication was a refreshing approach. In 2022, Open Manifesto, An Anthology was published by Formist. In 2007, Finn founded his independent design practice, TheSumOf, in remote Australia before moving to Brisbane in 2010, where he now lives and works. His award-winning book Brand Principles: How to be a 21st Century Brand was published in 2022. He is also founder and creator of DESIGNerd, the trivia app where the most influential designers test your knowledge and share theirs. Finn acknowledges Australia's First Peoples as the original knowledge holders of the Country, paying respect to Elders, both past and present. https://www.instagram.com/just.kevin.finn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-finn-3aa8a33/ - Blade Runner (1982) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/ https://collider.com/blade-runner-tears-in-rain-monologue/ - Other movies and shows discussed: Alien (1979) Alien: Earth (2025-) Aliens (1986) Barry Lyndon (1975) Blade Runner 2049 (2017) | |||
| Her (2013) with Weber Wong | 22 Jan 2026 | 00:34:25 | |
The 2013 movie Her, written and directed by Spike Jonze, stars Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, and Rooney Mara. We see Phoenix as Theodore living an isolated life, occasionally recalling his marriage to Catherine played by Mara. The movie explores loneliness, love, and divorce, as well as technology. When Theodore acquires a new, advanced operating system that is able to relate to him and communicate with him, the Samantha artificial intelligence changes his life. Weber Wong joins the show to talk about the 2013 movie, and we also discuss FLORA, a professional creative tool with all the best text, image, and video AI models on one infinite canvas. Weber started building FLORA to help him make his own art projects at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, a graduate program focused on using technology to make art. - Weber Wong is the Founder and CEO of FLORA, a professional creative tool with all the best text, image and video AI models on one infinite canvas, which you can connect these together to concept rapidly and build scalable generative media workflows to accelerate your creative workflows. FLORA's aim is to build a creative operating system for the creative team of the future. Since FLORA launched their product, it has been used by hundreds of world-class creative teams (such as Pentagram, Publicis, Denstu, Lionsgate) to accelerate their creative workflows for branding, marketing, and VFX. Weber started building FLORA to help him make his own art projects at NYU ITP, a graduate program focused on using technology to make art. Weber has also been an investor at Menlo Ventures before his forays into creative technology. https://www.linkedin.com/in/weberwong/ - Her (2013) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709 https://www.facebook.com/herthemovie - Other movies and shows discussed: Blade Runner (1982) | |||
| Tron: Ares (2025) with Tim Lapetino | 15 Jan 2026 | 00:47:54 | |
Greetings, Programs! Designer, writer, curator, and historian Tim Lapetino, who's the Creative Director at Atari, shares insights about Tron: Ares, which tells the story of two tech giants battling for digital dominance. We also talk about video games, the fantastic Nine Inch Nails music, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel comics, Alien, and artificial intelligence. - Tim Lapetino is an award-winning designer and author who has helped brands tell their stories through design and writing. Tim enjoys working with geeky brands and their passionate fans, telling stories and inspiring generations of collectors, creators, programmers, tastemakers, and artists. His best-selling book, Art of Atari, has been published in four languages, and his writing appears in publications worldwide. https://www.instagram.com/timlapetino/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/timlapetino/ - Tron: Ares (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6604188/ - Other movies and shows discussed: Alien (1979) Alien: Earth (2025) Batman Beyond (1999-2001) The Mandalorian (2019-) Oblivion (2013) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Tron (1982) Tron: Legacy (2010) Tron: Uprising (2012) | |||
| RE-RELEASE: Tron (1982) with Tim Lapetino | 08 Jan 2026 | 00:53:36 | |
Greetings, Programs! Meet designer, writer, curator, and historian Tim Lapetino, who's the Creative Director at Atari. Armed with a passion for digital and visual culture, Tim shares insights about 1982's Tron, its production, sequels, and video games. We also discuss WarGames, classic sci-fi, artificial intelligence, and The Big Lebowski. This episode was originally released for our 1st Season in July 2024 and during this recording, Tim was working on a Visual History of Tron book, in mid-pitch mode. - Tim Lapetino is an award-winning designer and author who has helped brands tell their stories through design and writing. Tim enjoys working with geeky brands and their passionate fans, telling stories and inspiring generations of collectors, creators, programmers, tastemakers, and artists. His best-selling book, Art of Atari, has been published in four languages, and his writing appears in publications worldwide. https://www.instagram.com/timlapetino/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/timlapetino/ - Tron (1982) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084827/ https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/09/movies/disney-tron.html - Other movies and shows discussed: The Big Lebowski (1998) The Black Hole (1979) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Photo Tronology (2011) The Shining (1980) Time After Time (1979) Time Bandits (1981) Tron: Ares (2025) Tron: Legacy (2010) Tron: Uprising (2012-2013) WarGames (1983) | |||
| Groove (2000) with Michael Sinanan | 01 Jan 2026 | 00:53:25 | |
Designing a rave requires planning and patience, it also requires a vision. Get the proper space, the best DJs, and electronic dance music (EDM) that gets people dancing all night and into the early morning, until the last record spins. It's all captured in the movie Groove (2000) which Michael Sinanan fell in love with after the first viewing, not only because EDM has the beats that keep his design process going, but the movie also inspired him to become a DJ himself. Michael talks about what makes the movie so iconic, and touches on the current club and dance culture, from musical tastes, to ticketing and admission, to people being distracted by their phones. - Designer Michael Sinanan loves searching for the big idea, creating visuals and visual worlds that fascinate people, pulling them into a unique experience full of wondrous layers and textures. Based in Toronto, he's the creative director running Brainmetal Design and his 20 years of experience shape impactful visual communications that connect meaningfully with target audiences, aligning with marketing and business objectives. He's insatiably curious about AI and like technology itself, Michael is constantly evolving but always puts clarity and strong visual impact first. Whether building a brand, telling a story, navigating change, or spinning as a DJ, Michael moves with purpose, asks the right questions, and pursues excellence. https://www.brainmetaldesign.com/ https://www.instagram.com/brainmetaldesign/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sinanan-3336a86/ - Groove (2000) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212974/ - Other movies and shows discussed: Clerks (1994) Friday (1995) Go (1999) House Party (1990) Last Days of Disco (1998) Night at the Roxbury (1998) Singles (1992) Swingers (1996) | |||
| Die Hard (1988) with handfellas | 25 Dec 2025 | 00:46:30 | |
Omar Diaz and Manny Colon, who work together as handfellas, bring iconic movie moments to life with custom-made puppets, cardboard props, creature designs, and special effects magic. Their puppet-powered parodies include The Matrix, Pulp Fiction, Jaws, and just in time for the holidays, Die Hard. The team brings unapologetic comedy, vintage puppet vibes, and handcrafted absurdity right to your eyeballs, through painstaking craft and an insatiable curiosity. https://www.instagram.com/handfellas/ https://www.youtube.com/@HandFellas https://www.patreon.com/handfellas/ - Die Hard (1988) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_Lasts_Forever_(Thorp_novel) - Die Hard by handfellas https://www.instagram.com/p/DSeWijfDrgA/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DSjZ1ufjtT3/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DSoOnJqjsoS/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DSoiz4ujsFs/ - James Cameron named Die Hard his favorite action movie during Stephen Colbert's "Questionert." https://youtu.be/7x3Gp2yXuxw&t=354 - Other movies and shows discussed: The Dark Knight The Fifth Element Goodfellas Independence Day Jaws Jurassic Park Last Action Hero Psycho Pulp Fiction Staying Alive The Terminator Top Gun The Wizard of Oz | |||
| RE-RELEASE: Die Hard (1988) with Sean McCaul | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:40:38 | |
What's the best book-to-film adaptation, and could it be Die Hard? Sean McCaul, of Citizen By Design, calls the Bruce Willis action flick his favorite movie. And Sean is in great company, James Cameron has called Die Hard HIS favorite action movie. We also discuss Frank Lloyd Wright, terrorism, Moonlighting and Blind Date, plus 1994's The Crow. For good measure, we get into Batman and Robin and how the comic book detectives connect to Die Hard with a Vengeance, as well as Se7en. Plus, because villains are fun, we touch on Wicked and Cruella. This episode was originally released for Season 1, in July 2024. - Sean McCaul, of Citizen By Design, is a brand-focused creative who helps people bring ideas to life, crafting brands that make businesses stand out. https://www.instagram.com/citizenbydesign/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/citizenbydesign/ - Die Hard (1988) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_Lasts_Forever_(Thorp_novel) - James Cameron named Die Hard his favorite action movie during Stephen Colbert's "Questionert." https://youtu.be/7x3Gp2yXuxw&t=354 - Other movies and shows discussed: Avengers: Endgame Batman and Robin Blind Date The Crow Cruella Death Becomes Her Die Hard with a Vengeance First Blood Predator Pulp Fiction Se7en Wicked | |||
| RE-RELEASE: The Princess Bride (1987) with Mónica Malavé | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:44:36 | |
This episode is dedicated to Michele Singer Reiner and Rob Reiner, and was originally released for our 1st Season in February 2025. The Princess Bride, based on William Goldmans book with a screenplay by William Goldman, is directed by Rob Reiner. "Romance, comedy, suspense, pirates, mystery, and a quest all blended into a single, action-packed movie? Inconceivable!" No, Vizzini, it exists, and it's The Princess Bride. - Mónica Malavé is a marketing and branding strategist, and CEO of Elevate It Now. Originally from Puerto Rico, she has a passion for design, marketing, and all things creative and is a big believer in "people helping people." Her specialties include branding, social media management, technical and creative marketing, and innovative marketing strategies. She's an Adobe Express Ambassador and also a Marketing Mentor with the American Marketing Association, DC Chapter. A big fan of movies, including but not limited to 2015's Cinderella, Michael Keaton movies like Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously, and Batman, she suggested we discuss The Princess Bride, a true gem of a movie. https://www.elevateitnow.com/about-us/ https://www.instagram.com/elevateitnow/ https://www.threads.net/@elevateitnow - The Princess Bride (1987) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/characters/nm0001597/ https://youtu.be/XCHKYNFH9Lk?si=zcmBVNdsKLMUXTib https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/the-princess-bride-homemade-fan-film https://ew.com/movies/2019/09/18/princess-bride-remake-jamie-lee-curtis-cary-elwes/ https://deadline.com/gallery/the-princess-bride-cast-rob-reiner-tribute/ | |||
| Mortal Sin (2025) with Dr. George Ellis | 13 Dec 2025 | 00:20:29 | |
Dr. George Ellis, who in addition to being a urologist, is a producer making films, getting them into festivals where he's won plenty of awards. We talk about filmmaking as equal parts design thinking and social experimentation, and why as a producer it's important to have a methodical approach. We discuss his new film Mortal Sin, why theaters matter, and we touch on the Warner Brothers and Netflix deal. - George Ellis, MD is an award-winning filmmaker who has won multiple awards through his production company Coronado Beach Productions at several film festivals. Most recently, George's film Starstruck was selected to be shown at the Central Florida FIlm Festival. George also recently won awards at the Tampa Bay Underground film festival and won the award for best Indie Short Film at the New York Movie Awards for his film The Eden Trials. George's surf documentary, Apres Surf also received an honorable mention at the Jollywood Film Festival. George is currently working on his next film, Mortal Sin and was also a co-producer on the award-winning short film Parallel Lives, which came out in 2024. George is an American Physician and Urologic Surgeon, and has been published numerous times in the scientific literature and now dedicates his medical skills to the under-insured as a volunteer. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15501484/ https://coronadobeachproductions.com/ https://youtu.be/FH36AiDPNnE?si=WcfuL48wb-plUw7s - United Artists https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Artists https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-5/united-artists-created - Other movies and shows discussed: The Eden Trials Starstruck Ted Lasso | |||
| Predator (1987) with Jesse Shoffstall | 06 Dec 2025 | 00:43:47 | |
"It came for the thrill of the hunt. It picked the wrong man to hunt." Predator (1987) features Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham, and was directed by John McTiernan (who also directed 1988's Die Hard). One by one, the predator hunts and massacres soldiers, and eventually kills a rescue team led by Schwarzenegger's Dutch. Today's guest was so fascinated by the movie that watching it wasn't enough, he had to bring it into the real world, as a playable table-top game. Jesse Shoffstall is a graphic designer who received his design degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. When he's not doing design work, playing games, or re-watching 1987's Predator, you'll find Jesse sitting quietly, listening to death metal through his AirPods. - Jesse Shoffstall is a graphic designer who's been dedicated to creating honest work that inspires others to fully embrace their unique interests, desires, and obsessions in the same way that his own passions have inspired him. In addition to being a designer at Social Design House in South Carolina, Jesse is a collector of hobbies, a proud generalist, and accomplished photographer, and he has a sense of humor and loves fantasy table-top games, stories, and movies. He received his design degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. When he's not doing design work, playing games, or re-watching 1987's Predator, you'll find Jesse sitting quietly listening to death metal through his AirPods. https://www.instagram.com/jesse.shoffstall/ https://www.jesseshoffstall.com/work/ptom https://www.socialdesignhouse.com/ - Predator (1987) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093773/ - Alien, the stage play - Alien, Flight of the Nostromo game - ET, Light Years from Home game - The Thing Infection at Outpost 31 game - Universal Monsters game - Other movies and shows discussed: Alien (1979) Alien: Earth (2025-) Alien: Romulus (2024) Aliens (1986) Alien v Predator (2004) Alien v Predator: Requiem (2007) Jurassic Park (1993) The Predator (2018) Predator: Badlands (2025) Predators (2010) - URLs for products sold on Amazon are affiliate links | |||
| RE-RELEASE: Prey (2022) with Diane Faye Zerr | 27 Nov 2025 | 01:01:09 | |
What am I thankful for this holiday season? Dan Trachtenberg's Prey from 2022. Diane Faye Zerr, who has never been a Predator fan, talks about how much she enjoyed 2022's Prey, savoring every minute of Naru in action, "She doesn't have assault rifles, she doesn't have grenades," says Diane. We also talk about the next movie in the saga, the recently released Predator: Badlands, starring Elle Fanning. Plus, dogs in movies, rights of passage for heroes, sequels as pure money makers, 1979's Alien, the erstwhile smoking sections in theaters, and Alien: Earth. This episode was recorded in October 2024, released last year for Season 1. - Diane is a graphic designer specializing in lettering and illustration. Her hand-drawn designs have been seen in Inked magazine and Tattoos for Women magazine, and various websites dedicated to outstanding stationery designs. Get 50% off of everything in her Etsy shop until Monday Dec. 1st, 2025. - Prey (2022) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11866324 https://amzn.to/4rgVLRn (affiliate link) https://www.emmys.com/shows/prey - Predator DVD 4-movie collection https://amzn.to/3M2S1Tr (affiliate link) - Other movies and shows discussed: Alien (1979) Alien: Earth (2025) Predator (1987) Predator: Badlands (2025) | |||
| Predator: Badlands (2025) with makeup designer Susie Glass | 22 Nov 2025 | 00:38:27 | |
The 2025 Predator: Badlands movie takes the Predator and Yautja mythology into a new, unforeseen realm. Dek, who's ridiculed, persecuted, and then banished from his family, winds up on a strange planet where he befriends a synthetic organism played by Elle Fanning, known as Thia. She has a punk look with a new wave, futuristic charm. Thia and Dek team up to battle monsters and the greedy, evil Weyland-Yutani Corporation, with Elle playing a second synthetic organism known as Tessa. Susie Glass, makeup designer on Badlands, talks about the concepts behind the characters, early mornings on set, the importance of teamwork, and why caring for the actors is of the utmost importance. - Susie Glass is a New Zealand-born hair and makeup designer based in Auckland who's become known for her versatility and leadership with a portfolio that includes feature films, streaming series, and high-end television. With over 30 years of experience, she's dedicated herself to high-quality storytelling and strong craft skills, meeting a variety of demands across a range of genres and screens. As makeup designer on Predator: Badlands, Susie and her team brought a variety of characters to life, from rough ideas to proof of concept to production, including but not limited to synths Thia and Tessa, portrayed by Elle Fanning. Susie is a three-time New Zealand Film and Television Award winner, and her art, craft, and design reflect a dedication to collaboration and storytelling, and most importantly, an understanding of the unique demands of screen work at the highest levels. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322007/ https://www.instagram.com/susiesparkle67/ - Predator: Badlands (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31227572/ - Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36463894/ - Prey (2022) https://www.emmys.com/shows/prey - Other movies and shows discussed: Alien: Earth A Rainy Day in New York (2019) | |||
| The Happy Film (2016) with Stefan Sagmeister | 14 Nov 2025 | 00:51:37 | |
In the 2016 documentary The Happy Film, designer Stefan Sagmeister started the film's creative process with one set of expectations and ultimately became a co-director who took multiple risks, and suffered a tremendous loss. During the filmmaking, co-director Hillman Curtis passed away. Stefan's movie about happiness not only forces us to look at his life but also our own lives with a fresh perspective, and it teaches us the importance of coping with harsh, tragic, and unforeseen realities. - Stefan Sagmeister is an Austrian designer living and working in New York. He received his MFA from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, and as a Fulbright Scholar he earned his MFA in communication design from The Pratt Institute. In 2025 he received an honorary degree from Pratt, the Doctor of Fine Arts, for being a creative and innovative leader in the field. He's also been honored by the AIGA, received a National Design Award from the the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and exhibited his solo and collaborative designs internationally. Early in his career, Stefan brought new life to music packaging with his memorable, interactive designs for albums by the Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and David Byrne, among others, winning two Grammy Awards. His work is in multiple permanent collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, and he is the author of "Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far" a blend of visual whimsy, serious plan, and sound advice. https://www.grammy.com/artists/stefan-sagmeister/9972 https://www.moma.org/artists/30682-stefan-sagmeister - The Happy Film (2016) rent/buy @ Amazon https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5134870/ - Sagmeister's "Now Is Better" - Sagmeister's "Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far" - Other movies and shows discussed: Comedian (2002) | |||
| Wrapping Up 2025 | 07 Nov 2025 | 00:01:28 | |
Movies and guests coming soon! Stefan Sagmeister who talks about his documentary The Happy Film (2006), plus plenty of other awesome guests COMING SOON! Get ready for upcoming episodes. WATCH NOW! The Happy Film (2016) with Stefan Sagmeister rent or purchase The Happy Film @ Amazon Amelie (2002) with Zipeng Zhu -https://www.instagram.com/zzdesign/ rent or purchase Amelie @ Amazon Then, our next episodes, listed alphabetically. Blade Runner (1982) with Kevin Finn Arrival (2006) with Debbie Millman -https://designmattersmedia.com/ Her (2013) with Weber Wong -https://weberwong.cargo.site/ Moon (2009) with Andy Pratt Tron (1982) with Tim Lapetino Tron: Ares (2025) with Tim Lapetino | |||
| The Fly (1986) with Daisy Koenig [more thoughts] | 01 Nov 2025 | 00:13:14 | |
In a previous episode, illustrator and graphic designer Daisy Koenig talked about what makes David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986) so appealing, and explained why the movie is always on a constant rotation in the back of her mind. In this bonus episode, she talks about other Cronenberg movies that have left a mark. - Daisy Koenig, a graduate of Winthrop University's design program, is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in Charleston, SC. She just finished painting her first mural for the software engineering company Modus21 and continues to illustrate for a variety of clients. https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisykoe/ https://www.instagram.com/daisykoenigart/ - The Fly (1986) with Daisy Koenig [full episode] https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YBTXs0kpX7wGfIxQbHRnl?si=gxVVTLj7Qc-tRtXlLeeS4g https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designers-on-film/id1758203056?i=1000734355230 - The Fly (1986) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091064/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906901/awards/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Langelaan https://collider.com/the-fly-david-cronenberg-production-history-explained/ https://ew.com/movies/2018/10/23/the-fly-mel-brooks-david-cronenberg/ - Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical list Challengers (2024) Crash (1996) Crimes of the Future (2022) Dead Ringers (1988) The Fly II (1989) Multiplicity (1996) Saltburn (2023) Scanners (1981) Videodrome (1983) | |||
| The Fly (1986) with Daisy Koenig | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:38:14 | |
David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986) stars Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle, a brilliant scientist who creates a teleportation process using telepods. Geena Davis, who was Goldblum's real-life partner during the filming, plays the ambitious journalist Veronica who falls in love with Brundle. Coming in at approximately an hour and 36 minutes, 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, experiments with flesh, and a bizarre transformation. 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. - Daisy Koenig, a graduate of Winthrop University's design program, is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in Charleston, SC. She just finished painting her first mural for the software engineering company Modus21 and continues to illustrate for a variety of clients. https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisykoe/ https://www.instagram.com/daisykoenigart/ - The Fly (1986) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091064/ https://people.com/movies/geena-davis-says-short-marriage-jeff-goldblum-was-magical-exclusive/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000343/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0486228/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Langelaan - Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical list Alien (1979) Beetlejuice (1988) The Brood (1979) Call Me by Your Name (2017) Cosmopolis (2012) Dead Ringers (1988) eXistenZ (1999) The Fly (1958) Frankenstein (2025) 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) | |||
| The Shining (1980) with Chris Cureton | 23 Oct 2025 | 00:57:00 | |
Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance stay at The Overlook Hotel, caring for the estate during its off-season period. Jack has been outlining a new writing project and believes that five months of peace is just what's needed, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Fortunately, Danny has been mentored by Dick Hallorann, who provides cautionary advice and special instructions such as, "Stay out of Room 237," guidance that helps Danny stay one step ahead of dangers that lie within The Overlook, helping Danny evade the horrors that his father Jack will unleash. Designer, brand strategist, and writer Chris Cureton talks about what makes Stanley Kubrick's The Shining a perfect horror movie, and why writing in and of itself can sometimes be a scary endeavor. - Designer, brand strategist, and writer Chris Cureton helps executive teams move from confusion to clarity. His forthcoming book, The Five Laws of Brand Design, is a field guide for aligning product, marketing, and sales around one powerful, unified strategy. With nearly 20 years of experience, he's assisted leadership teams by helping them cut through complexity, clarifying their unique value, and confidently going to market. He loves helping CEOs, CMOs, CROs, and COOs build one clear strategy, creating actionable steps for teams. https://chriscureton.com/the-five-laws-of-brand-design-book https://www.instagram.com/chriscureton - The Shining (1980) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/ https://www.afi.com/news/afi-movie-club-the-shining/ https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-shining/ https://youtu.be/U8wxjIecmD4?si=mhwfxDBqNZuoXRy6&t=292 https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/saul-bass-the-shining - Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical list The Book of Boba Fett (2021) Black Panther (2018) The Exorcist (1973) Get Out (2017) Hostel (2005) The Mandalorian (2019-) Poltergeist (1982) Room 237 (2012) John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) Tron (1982) US (2019) | |||
| Cure (1997) with Zac Lim Eubank | 18 Oct 2025 | 00:52:50 | |
For Zac Lim Eubank, there's only one movie that delivers exceptional sound design, calculated editing, and non-stop tension, and it's Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure. Random acts of violence seem to follow a mysterious, wandering man who appears ghost-like but is very grounded in reality. - Zac Lim Eubank is Chief Creative Officer at Hyper Rabbit Media, an award-winning video production, interactive, and livestreaming studio. He heads up the creative development and technical direction for Hyper with his wife and CEO Malika Lim Eubank and their full service production company is experienced with livestreaming, virtual production, motion control, scripted or unscripted productions, events coverage, original content creation, and audience engagement and gamification. Zac has over 10 years of creative leadership with video production and community strategy for such clients as Microsoft, Amazon, Nintendo, Twitch, AMC Networks, Mapquest, and more. His prior work includes showrunning Legendary Digital's Geek and Sundry Twitch channel, working with several of Hollywood's top talent. https://www.instagram.com/hyperrpg/ https://www.instagram.com/zaceubank/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-lim-eubank-b62568129/ - Cure (1997) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123948/ https://letterboxd.com/director/kiyoshi-kurosawa/ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/movies/kiyoshi-kurosawa-primer.html https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/03/movies/film-in-review-cure.html - Allegory of the Cave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_cave - Collectivism https://sites.psu.edu/global/2018/11/04/4908/ https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170118-how-east-and-west-think-in-profoundly-different-ways - Franz Mesmer, mesmerism https://exhibits.stanford.edu/super-e/feature/franz-anton-mesmer-1734-1815 - Violence in Film https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_film https://www.imdb.com/list/ls076483352/ - Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical list Chime (2024) Dead Ringers (1988) Heat (1995) Pulse (2001) SE7EN (1995) Smile (2022) | |||
| Weapons (2025) with Catalina Z. Olvera | 10 Oct 2025 | 00:40:20 | |
Catalina Z. Olvera recalls seeing Weapons in a jam-packed theater, and observing the movie's villain Aunt Gladys for the first time. We also talk about the difference between seeing a horror movie late at night on a small screen in the darkness of your den, or watching it on the big screen with friends and family, as well as strangers, surrounding you. Plus, we reflect on the way design factors into the investigative work Archer does through observations, drawing with a pen and ruler, and ultimately the diagrammatic reveal. - Catalina Z. Olvera is a Charlotte-based designer and illustrator who combines strategy, storytelling, and artful design to create work that feels intentional and full of character. She studied Visual Communication Design at Winthrop University and now works at Yellow Duck Marketing, shaping brand systems and crafting custom illustrations. Her experience spans nonprofit initiatives, sustainable beer branding like Renew Brew, and local signage in East Charlotte. A dedicated thrifter, film fan, traveler, and collector of oddities, she has been fascinated by horror since age eight. The 2004 horror film Saw remains a guilty pleasure because nothing says “form and function” quite like a well-designed trap. She is always on the lookout for the unusual, the weird, and the wonderfully unexpected. https://www.yellowduckmarketing.com/about-yellow-duck-marketing/catalina-olvera/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designers-on-film/id1758203056?i=1000671582112 - Weapons (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26581740/ https://newuniversity.org/2025/08/23/a-convoluted-review-of-zach-creggers-weapons/ https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/weapons-zach-cregger-interview-1235398084/ - The Woodford Slasher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Joubert_(serial_killer) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-woodford-slasher/id1618014949?i=1000598177430 https://www.aetv.com/articles/serial-killer-myths - Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical list Barbarian (2022) The Conjuring (2013) Dead Silence (2007) Hereditary (2018) Prisoners (2013) Saw (2004) Sinners (2025) Smile (2022) Stranger Things (2016-2025) | |||
| Kandie (2025) with Jasmine Osean Thomas and Kyle Marchiafava | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:28:33 | |
Director and writer Jasmine Osean Thomas and production designer Kyle Marchiafava talk about Kandie (2025), and how various influences come together to make this unsettling horror movie. Notably, Jasmine and her team use visuals to provide backstory, with a variety of graphic, photographic, typographic, and artistic elements revealing a character's interests and passions, as well as inner demons. - Kandie (short, 2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29232698/ Beyond Fest 9/23-10/8 Downtown Film Festival 10/15 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 10/19 - Director, Jasmine Osean Thomas https://www.instagram.com/jasmineethomass/ - Production Designer, Kyle Marchiafava https://www.instagram.com/not_for_nothin_papi/ - Art Director, Elena Chudoba https://www.instagram.com/elenachudoba - Graphic Designer, Brooke Bamford https://www.instagram.com/good1bb - Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical list Alien (1979) All the President's Men (1976) House of 1000 Corpses (2003) | |||