This is a special episode, recorded live at OFFF 2025 in Barcelona on May 8th.
Thank you DK, Mason, AJ, Pep Salazar and the whole OFFF behind the scenes crew!
Simon is a legend in the design world.
He built a career over the years working in the entertainment industry, from the BBC to Prologue to Apple.
With his calm and controlled demeanour, he has lead projects with teams big and small, and we go over his experiences transitioning from designer to creative director, and then working on the client side.
And be sure to follow his own podcast,- Object Subject Form - here:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0TkdE2pZJtdHUAmAbqSUPt?si=4857dd8d579c4e14
Simon Clowes website
https://simonclowes.tv
Simon Clowes instagram
https://www.instagram.com/simon_clowes
I know Mark from the Digital Kitchen days, and have been following his new path now with wife and creative partner Katrina Crawford at Plains of Yonder.
Together they bring something uniquely fresh to the title sequence world, and this episode tries to explore what that is, and how it's used to great effect on shows like White Lotus or Rings of Power.
Plains of Yonder website
https://plainsofyonder.com/
Welcome to SEASON 2 of Signal to Noise!
Our first guest is Elliott, a renowned creative director who most recently worked at Trollback & Co for over 10 years, part of a long career dedicated to branding and entertainment all over the world.
He's also been very influential on other people's careers, with a trademark smile and open arms to whatever life brings.
Elliott's website
https://elyo.me/home
Trollback & Co
https://www.trollback.com/
Duncan's been doing a lot of work at Elastic, with teams large and small, all the way from Sydney, Australia.
He shares his process, his way of working with teams and how they tackled some of the more recent projects.
https://www.duncanelms.com/
https://makemakeentertainment.com/elastic/
Karin Fong needs no introduction - and if you really don't know who she is, then this podcast probably isn't for you!
We've worked together more than a few times, and we've become good friends in the process.
We cover many topics, and I got to ask stuff I've always wanted to know. A real treat.
This episode was recorded in 2 parts, and spliced together in post.
www.instagram.com/imaginaryforcesstudio
On a recommend from Duarte Elvas on the podcast, I got to know Ariel on the podcast - an amazing designer who's work I had admired from afar.
Turns out we have a similar path in the industry, being from our respective countries and trying to make in America.
Thank you Ariel for doing this!
https://www.blinkmybrain.wtf/
https://www.instagram.com/blink_my_brain/
An established figure in the 3D motion design scene, Thanos is one of the most versatile and robust art directors around.
Based in Greece and working worldwide, he's known for amazing visuals and impressive technical skills.
Thanos speaks with his traditional honesty and candor, and I'm here for it.
https://motion-punk.com/
https://www.patreon.com/motionpunk
https://www.instagram.com/thanu_lee/
Hazel is one of the most busy title sequence creative directors around, leading teams in multiple projects at Elastic - while also starting to get into directing longer format.
We talk about graphic design, movie titles, bringing back live action and how Elastic operates.
One of the most gratifying conversations I've had so far - have a listen.
Duarte is a creative director at Chicago-based Sarofsky.
He's been working there for a while, and rose through the ranks to become a renowned designer and project leader.
He tells us his personal story, how he went from finding his feet in Portugal and the US to working for clients like Marvel - and how education and music played a big role in his life.
Thank you Duarte, loved having you on!
Duarte Elvas
https://www.artofthetitle.com/designer/duarte-elvas/
Sarfosky
www.sarofsky.com
Ronnie Koff is a creative director at Imaginary Forces doing commercials and title sequences. He just got nominated again for Hello Tomorrow (congratulations!), and we talk at length about his design process, working in the title business and how things are changing in the field.
A legend in the motion design community and now a world renowned live action director, Rob Chiu is still one of the biggest references in everyone's mind, and someone who's been continously pushing the envelope in anything he does.
He's done work with the likes of Nikon, Porsche, Nike, McLaren and is represented worldwide by Iconoclast.
He doesn't do interviews often, so this is a rare opportunity - I know I really enjoyed talking to him.
Thanks Rob.
Rob Chiu website
Rob Chiu instagram
Toros Kose is one of motion design's secret weapons, someone's who's been involved in some of the most celebrated projects in the industry.
Wether working in super precise glitch animation, complex 3D or shooting his own films and photography, he's one of the most well-rounded artists out there.
He's very well known in the community, and an old good friend of mine.
The tall swedish dude from from Brooklyn - Toros Kose.
Toros Kose website
Toros Kose on instagram
https://www.instagram.com/toroskose/
Aaron's one of my oldest friends in the business, we go back over 10 years.
He's one of the sweetest and most giving people I know, and when you have a conversation with him, you know you have his complete and undivided attention - a very rare thing.
Among other things, we share a love of typography and a less-is-more attitude to design.
An icon in design for film and television, he's been involved in some of the most celebrated shows like Mission Impossible, Rambo, John Wick, Wednesday, Tulsa King, Nope, Get Out, Insidious - the list goes on and on.
Partner and CD at Filmograph, based in the heart of La La Land, ladies and gentlemen - Aaron Becker.
Ash is a longtime friend, and a world renowned designer and artist.
We talk about a lot of things, as always, as we bounce back and forth between the work we do, the work we've done in the past and how things have evolved over time. He's the most prolific person I know, and a true inspiration for achieving whatever dream you might have.
Ash is mostly recently known for his work on The Batman film, and also for a constellation of amazing projects like Orion, Chimera, Make Haste Corp, Akira, Evinetta, The Collective Podcast, among others.
ALT (Ash Thorp)
https://www.altcinc.com/
Ash Thorp on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ashthorp/
Taylor is the operations manager at The Mill Design Studio, working for the all the design departments in The Mill group worldwide.
She's been in the HR and recruitment side of things for a a while, and I've always wanted to talk to her about that side of the business: learn about best practices for staff and freelance, work relationships, managing teams, and how being a good decent human will always go much longer than just having an amazing skillset.
The Mill Design Studio (The Mill+)
https://www.themill.com/work/category/design-studio/
Alex Moulton is Chief Creative Officer at Trollback+Company in NYC.
Alex doesn't think he's a graphic designer, but he still found his way to working with the best brands in the world, surrounded by some of the most talented designers around.
Trollback has long been regarded as one of the most influential design studios in the world, responsible for large scale brands such as FOX, HBO MAX or DISNEY+
We chat about working in large projects, dealing with teams and clients, the longevity of work and how to adapt to the future.
A deep and wide-reaching conversation.
Alex Moulton
https://www.alexmoultoncreative.com/
Trollback+Company
www.trollback.com
Eric is a big reference for me, and a friend I've kept in touch with throughout the years. To me, he embodies what left-field thinking is - a true creative. His background in music creation helped inform his television work, and also make up for some amazing stories (Nirvana anyone?).
He's a two-time Emmy Award-winning director and editor for the title sequences of Dexter and Six Feet Under.
After graduating from film and interdisciplinary studies at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Eric formed Pachyderm Recording Studio with Mark Walk and Jim Nickel, where they handled projects such as Nirvana’s “In Utero” and PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” among others. In 1998, Eric joined Digital Kitchen as a live action director, editor, and executive creative director, managing the creative from their Chicago office for over 12 years. In 2010, he relocated to Hollywood to assume the role of creative director at yU+co, Logan and MPC, and is now an independent live action director.
Just two friends sitting down for a chat. Can't get any better than that.
Lauren Hartstone is someone I've always looked up to as a designer, and after working with her on a couple of amazing projects, can now also call a friend.
I love how clear and precise her work his, and how that also translates to her style as a team leader.
Lauren is an Executive Creative Director (and now partner) at Sibling Rivalry in NY, and previously worked at Gretel and Imaginary Forces.
We talk about roles in design practice, levels of involvement, teams and clients - and how I think women are generally better than men at it!
A wonderful conversation.
Personal website
https://www.lhartstone.com/
Sibling Rivalry
https://www.siblingrivalry.com/
Alan is a director at Imaginary Forces and a longtime friend.
He's behind titles like Vinyl, Anne with an E, For All Mankind and projects like The Oscars show package, VS Rules SK-II and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
He's also a very kind human, known in the industry for being so easy to work with, and someone who's always ready to collaborate with teams large and small.
Be sure to listen to this one, a true gem of an episode.
Alan Williams website
https://www.ohmagicohwonder.com/
IF Alan Williams profile
https://imaginaryforces.com/bio/alan-williams
