When Ariel tells people she’s a graphic artist for TV and film, they usually don’t know what that means. It’s a lot more than the real world’s understanding of graphic design, that’s for sure. From her role in the art department, Ariel dreams up all the daily details of the story’s world. A character’s favorite pizza joint? Ariel designs the logo, the pizza box, the napkins, the fake soda can.

In this episode, she talks about the joys of working on kids’ shows, why she thinks about Clearance procedures before any designs, and how her best work should blend right in.

“You can’t ever be too detailed. If it’s a kid’s show or a comedy show, I will make sure that the fine print on the back of that cereal box says something I find funny that only an actor will see or or a stagehand. Some of the first people I worked with talked about how the details aren’t necessarily even for the show, like I do so many things that don’t make it on camera. But it’s to create this world. So actors feels like they’re really in that pizza shop, you know?”

Ariel Poster

Ariel is best known for her work on Sesame Street, The Amazing Spider-Man, and A Most Violent Year. For more info, check out her website or IMDb.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Lovely Bones — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0380510/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
• Joan Winters — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0935948/
• The Sorcerer’s Apprentice — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0963966/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
• Local 52, union — https://www.iatselocal52.org/
• Kevin Can Wait — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5462720/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5788792/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
• Sesame Street — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063951/?ref_=nm_flmg_ardp_3
• Black Mirror: Season 5 Episode 3, “Rachel, Jack and Ashley, Too” — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9053874/
• “Orange is the New Snack:” Sesame Street spoof of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Beii01AX0
• Blindspot — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4474344/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
• Bigstock — https://www.bigstockphoto.com/
• The Last O.G. — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5363912/
• Flesh and Bone — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3507484/
• Boardwalk Empire — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0979432/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
• Ted Haye, graphic designer
• The Knick — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2937900/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
• Holly Watson — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914658/?ref_=nv_sr_4?ref_=nv_sr_4
• Sausage Party with Seth Rogen — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1700841/
• Krystle Feher’s makeup tutorial — https://www.kfmakeupartist.com/

Special thanks to Cueniverse for the great theme song.