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Two Designers Walk Into a Bar

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar

By: Evergreen Podcasts
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About this listen

 Pop culture inspires some serious fun. Join hosts Todd Coats and Elliot Strunk, two creatively curious pals living between the bookends of grand museums and dive bars, the sweet spot where highbrow and lowbrow become drinking buddies. They talk influential work and uncover stories of how the familiar became iconic. Think Behind the Music for the stuff we love. ----- Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/ for images, links, episode extras and more. ----- Two Designers Walk Into a Bar is part of the Evergreen Podcasts network.Copyright 2020-25, All rights reserved. Art World
Episodes
  • Episode 114: The Fall and Rise (Again) of Tiki Culture

    Episode 114: The Fall and Rise (Again) of Tiki Culture
    Aug 20 2025
    We’ve been exploring the Polynesian Pop trend that swept suburbia. From the 1930s to the ‘70s, tiki culture was everywhere. And then, like the tide going out, it was gone. Today we talk about the factors that brought it back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s (hint: swing, thrifting and SpongeBob) and how tiki is influencing artists today. Grab a Bahama Mama and join our conga line as we swing, sway and sashay back into the bar. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-114-tiki-culture-part-3 - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: Tiki Culture SpongeBob Squarepants The Lowbrow Movement - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit our Merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Episode 113: Embracing and Evolving the Tiki Style

    Episode 113: Embracing and Evolving the Tiki Style
    Aug 6 2025
    Today, we're continuing our series on tiki culture as we look at how professional designers embraced and evolved the island aesthetic. Was it low brow? High brow? A symbol of exotic adventure? A goofy gimmick? Regardless, the movement left a deep imprint on graphic, interior, fashion, product, and architectural design, in applications ranging from kitsch to high-concept. We'll gonna figure out the price of some amazing tiki drinks, get some quarters sticky with pineapple juice and throw some exotica on the jukebox. Join us as we sway our hips and hula back into the bar. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-113-tiki-culture-part-2 - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: Tiki Culture House Industries Palm Springs - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit our Merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins
  • Episode 112: Tiki Culture: The Story of Post-War Polynesian Pop

    Episode 112: Tiki Culture: The Story of Post-War Polynesian Pop
    Jul 23 2025
    Today we’re dressing up the bar with coconut mugs, gardenia flowers, surf boards and pu-pu platters because we’re diving into the first of a three episode series on Tiki culture. We’ll talk about the origins and influences — it’s not as simple as you think — and learn why this very Americanized look took off throughout the country and set sail across the globe. Grab your tiki mugs, some fresh-cut pineapple and a chilled pitcher of Classic Mai Tais. We’re spinning some good ol’ exotic sailor yarns back here in the bar. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-112-tiki-culture-part-1 - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: Tiki Culture Don the Beachcomber Trader Vic's - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to hello@twodesignerswalkintoabar.com and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit our Merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
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