Design Freaks

My guest for ep 56 is Jeffrey Everett of ROCKETS ARE RED. Jeffrey is an award winning graphic designer, illustrator, and author working outside of Washington, DC. He’s designed for Lou Reed, Flight of the Conchords, Patton Oswalt, Childish Gambino, Universal Records, LiveNation, Dreamworks, and so many more... He shares some incredible tales of: being targeted by QAnon, school woes, his new book ,...

In episode 55, I speak with comic artist and musician Zak Sally (The Hand, Low, Enemymine). NOTE: This episode was recorded the day before founding member of Low, Mimi Parker passed away so our tone is much different than it would be today. The world lost such a special talent/voice/truth/light. Please keep an eye on the Low facebook page for a special piece that Zak wrote for Mim. I'm so thankful...

Episode 54 features artist and Big Boys founder, Tim Kerr!  We talk about his origins as a creative and his many music projects, how to avoid the quicksand of nostalgia, the distinction between DIY and “punk” culture, artists he’s working with, Big Boys album art, the reissues, and lots more… Thanks for listening! Timkerr.net @movetk Follow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_  ~~ Designfreakspodcast....

Clarita’s guest for episode 53 is multi Grammy Award-winning graphic designer, artist, and founder of Phyx Design – Masaki Koike!  We discuss his projects: WOODSTOCK: Back to the Garden-The definitive 50th anniversary archive and What It Is! and Funky Soul and Rare Grooves boxed sets for Rhino Records. Both earned Grammy Awards for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package and he’s also racked...

In episode 52 Clarita chats with pal Nick Turner from Sub Pop Records. Nick is a Seattle musician, record collector, co-founder of Sonic Reducer on KEXP, currently at Sub Pop, and all around great human. He talks about his bands, working at record stores, his college radio show, starting a punk show in Seattle, The Vera Project, Sub Pop Singles Club, terrifying Beatles, confusing covers, design pr...

Episode 51! Clarita talks about her essay in The Wild World of Barney Bubbles and takes a stroll through the book: Barney's process, behind the scenes stories, marketing mischief and design pranks. Available now at bookshop.org!  Plus: the Design Freaks instagram is still hacked!  Stay tuned, friends and thank you for listening.  ~~ Designfreakspodcast.com Ruinousmedia.com ~~ Donate to help with r...

EPISODE 50! Publisher, Creative Director, Archivist Aaron Tanner talks about his 15 years designing for Ween, independently publishing books as Melodic Virtue (Butthole Surfers, Ministry, the Residents, Lil Bub!), industry challenges and changes, super exciting upcoming projects and lots more.  Follow Aaron/Melodic Virtue:  @melodicvirtue https://www.melodicvirtue.com/ ~~ Follow on IG @designfreak...

This episode is dedicated to Andy Warhol record cover art. Learn what makes it a Warhol cover, how young Andy got started, who he collaborated with, which album cover ruined the vinyl inside and also ranks among the most shocking sleeves of all time!  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SOURCES: Thank you, Andy Earhole https://warholcoverart.com/ Thank you, Richard Forrest https://recordart.net/20...

Raissa is an Italian-born, UK-based art director, graphic designer, and musician who specializes in digital typography and branding. Her clients include MTV, Apple, Adobe, NY Times, WeTransfer, artists Willie Nelson, Paul Weller, Idles and many others.  We discuss her current artist residency in Ibiza, how she got started with zines & a radio show, designing for bands, outside inspo, what it m...

Callum Rooney is a graphic designer, illustrator, and print maker based in Auckland, New Zealand.  He’s designed posters and album covers for a roster of international bands including Acid Mother’s Temple, King Gizzard, the Levitation Festival, and his band Ounce.  We chat about his creative beginnings, print making, and general ooziness! Thanks for listening, friends! @callumrooneyart https://www...

Jeff Kleinsmith, VP of Creative at Sub Pop Records, describes creative origins, his time at The Rocket Magazine, his bands, Italian mid century influence, pre-internet graphic design, record cover mistakes / process, film posters, and lots more!   Thanks for listening, friends! @jeffkleinsmith @subpop https://cargocollective.com/httpwwwjeffkleinsmithcom ~~ Follow on IG @designfreakspodcast Twitter...

Marcus Wilson is a Seattle based musician, artist, designer, performer, producer of shows, and overall aesthetics mastermind. In this episode, he talks favorite album design, creative origin story, hilarious party tales, Drag personas, and the upcoming ONONOS release on Cruisin Records! Thanks for listening, friends! Follow Marcus @gaypartydadonparole72 ONONOS https://cruisinrecords.bandcamp.com/a...

Episode 44 is a mini 2021 end of year wrap up with an exciting announcement about Paul Gorman’s book The Wild World of Barney Bubbles and my other recommendations: a book on new wave graphics, album designers and type foundries to follow. Onward…. A BOX OF BUBLES: https://vol.co/product/barney-bubbles/ https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/jun/01/ken-garland-obituary Goodbye, Kenneth John...

Seattle art director, graphic designer and illustrator Victor Melendez has been working for over 15 years in agencies, in-house studios, and as a freelancer. He's most well-known for his amazing illustrated gig posters but is also a prolific packaging and mural designer. We chat about his beginnings as an artist screen-printing in Mexico, college in Seattle, his process, poster influences, and wha...

Episode 42! I chat with Byron Wilson of Singles Going Steady Records in Seattle, Washington.  We discuss the history of the shop, Byron's favorite album artists, having a beer with Joe Strummer, Belltown characters, Byron’s Creedence connection, true Danzig crimes!  Follow Byron and the store: @singlesgoingsteadyrecords https://www.facebook.com/byron.wilson.718 Thank you for listening!  ~~ Follow...

Episode 41! I chat with Sonny Kay, who’s designed hundreds of record covers and his roles at one time or another have included art director, vocalist, musician, label founder, tour manager, writer, and illustrator, though album cover designer is one for which he's probably most well-known. He's designed covers for The Mars Volta, Sun Ra, Omar Rodriguez Lopez & Damo Suzuki, and lots of other ba...

Best of the Design Freaks Podcast Part 1!  Enjoy early clips of the show discussing Arturo Vega (The Ramones), Peter Saville (Joy Division), Pennie Smith (The Clash), Barney Bubbles (Hawkwind/Stiff Records), Raymond Pettibon (Black Flag).  Hippie busses, alien pulsars, Frendz magazine, Barney invents air guitar, origin stories of the names Bubbles and Pettibon. Keeping it KILLER.  OCTOBER MARKS YE...

Tadanori Yokoo is one of the best-known Japanese illustrators, painters, and graphic designers of post-war Japan. This episode features a very special guest– Professor of Japanese Art and Culture at Harvard University, and my sister, Melissa McCormick!  We discuss Yokoo's absurdist psych record covers from the '70s, including the album "Lotus" for Carlos Santana which holds the world 'record' for...

San Francisco artist Jon Bernson of Higher Lows shares about all the facets of making their eponymous record– from the album concept to screenprinting the sleeves at the Space Program. Plus, his public installation, scoring plays, Casio vibes, and more! https://higherlows.bandcamp.com/ Thank you for listening!  ~~ Follow on IG @designfreakspodcast Twitter @designfreakspod Facebook https://www.face...

Join host Clarita for a brief trip down the blacklight detour of poster art history.  The origin of blacklight/UV, gig posters, psychedelia, Houston Black Light Poster Company, Black Power, zodiac intercourse positions, rasta lions!  Thank you for listening!   ~~ Designfreakspodcast.com Ruinousmedia.com ~~ Follow on IG @designfreakspodcast Twitter @designfreakspod Facebook https://www.facebook.com...

Clarita chats with artist, designer, musician, handyman ROY G BIV @theartofroygbiv !  We go over his creative origin story, Oakland, psychedelic influence, electrocution for fun, Hawkwind, cartoons, his band Glitter Wizard and their upcoming tour!  Connect with ROY G BIV Theartofroygbiv.com @theartofroygbiv @glitterwizard @theuglyoakland Bandcamp  https://glitterwizard.bandcamp.com/album/opera-vil...

5 poster history facts and a chat with Funko Games Art Director, Josh Manderville. We discuss Early 80s/90s rock show poster artists, Seattle music, board game design… Thank you for listening!   ~~ @jlmanderville ~~ Follow on IG @designfreakspodcast Twitter @designfreakspod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/designfreakspodcast ~~ Designfreakspodcast.com Ruinousmedia.com ~~ Donate to help with reco...

Clarita catches up with Gregory Smith AKA Radjaw about Seattle music past and present, packaging concepts/design for the new release Indian Yard by Ya Tseen, dazzle camo, protest design, Mr. Onions! ~~ Thank you for listening!   ~~ @radjaw ~~ Follow on IG @designfreakspodcast Twitter @designfreakspod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/designfreakspodcast ~~ designfreakspodcast.com Ruinousmedia.com...

BOARD THE BUS. Clarita and Rick discuss the concepts behind their early releases, the truth behind Live at the ACI, art influences, touring, and some NEW Satellite releases to come (including some unheard demos!) ~~ Thank you for listening!  ~~ @sixfingersatellite ~~ Follow on IG @designfreakspodcast Twitter @designfreakspod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/designfreakspodcast ~~ designfreakspodc...

Clarita gives an overview of Milton Glaser’s life, coincidental death, and the album sleeves and typefaces he designed throughout his career. Rest in power, MG! ~~~ SOURCES https://reaganray.com/2020/07/01/milton-glasser-albums-covers.html https://www.wright20.com/auctions/2020/07/to-inform-delight-the-collection-of-milton-glaser/198 https://archives.sva.edu/page/about?autoscroll=0 https://archive...