Funny You Should Mention

I got to design the branding for a podcaster I actually love to listen to: Mike Pesca of The Gist! He needed graphics for a new series collaboration with The Comedy Cellar: Funny You Should Mention. It’s a series of lighthearted conversations with stand up comics where he examines the actual arguments being made behind the jokes. Think: journalism meets comedy.

How to convey this cerebral approach to comedy? This was a fun challenge.

I gave Mike 4 options to consider: the “math” of comedy, frenzied note-taking, comedy under a lens, even a nod to classical philosophy.

Manic paper scribbling was the winner, and with a few small adjustments, the creative was fully approved.

Exploring the visuals often gives me ideas for copy as well, and I like to include tagline pitches in the mockups when I can. In this case, Mike actually used Unpacking Profundity in the Punchlines. Who doesn’t love a good alliteration?

So freaking satisfying when client and designer visions align. Usually it takes collaboration and compromise to reach consensus, but sometimes, like this, it just clicks.