Fail. Hard. with Will Hall
Fail. Hard. is a By Design podcast that explores the relationship between fear, failure, and creativity. Each week, host Will Hall sits down with top designers and makers to explore the various ways that failure and iteration can lead to breakthrough ideas and remarkable creative executions. Sponsored by Adobe.
Episodes
35 episodes
031 — Wisdom
We're living in a time where the pace of innovation is accelerating so rapidly that it feels almost instantaneous. The systems we're building—especially in AI—are often black box, with consequences that remain largely unknown. So, who is shapin...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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16:04
030 — Angelina Lippert // Poster House
In this episode of Fail Hard, Will Hall sits down with Angelina Lippert, executive director and curator of New York’s Poster House, to dive into the fascinating world of posters, design, and ephemera. From the fascinating history o...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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36:55
029 — Frank Ockenfels III
In this episode of Fail Hard, host Will Hall sits down with legendary photographer Frank Ockenfels III, whose iconic imagery has shaped some of the most defining moments in entertainment. From Breaking Bad and Mad Men to The Bear and American H...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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31:37
028 — Scott Henderson
In this episode of Fail Hard, host Will Hall sits down with acclaimed industrial designer Scott Henderson for a conversation about design, intuition, and the creative process. Scott, founder of his own design studio in Brookl...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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29:26
027 — The Night
In this episode of Fail Hard, host Will Hall dives deep into the creative chaos of insomnia and the strange beauty of late-night life. Will reflects on his lifelong struggle with sleep, the surreal experiences that come from wandering ...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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11:05
026 — Friction
What does it truly mean to be a professional? Beyond dedication, discipline, and perseverance, there's another key factor that often goes overlooked: mindset. In this episode of Fail Hard, host Will Hall unpacks this question, exploring how men...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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12:04
025 — Creative Seasons
After a two-year hiatus, Fail Hard is BACK! In this season three premiere, we dive into the idea of creative seasons—those periods of intense growth, reflection, and everything in between. Host Will Hall shares his journey ov...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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12:12
024 — Listener Mail
We answer some listener mail in this Season Two Finale (Season Three is just around the corner!). Questions covered the pesky topic of procrastination, promoting iteration within organizations, professional advancement, and the somewhat questio...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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23:01
023 — Matters of Time
Creativity is born from constraints. And of all the limitations we have to deal with, the restriction of time is the most profound. In this episode, we explore the topic of time and its relationship to expression and meaning. CREDI...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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14:41
022 — 'Owe' Canada // Learning from Montreal
Montreal's Olympic Stadium is often considered the most poorly managed construction project ever. What started as a $140 million project ballooned to over $3 billion. Every moment of this stadium's 50-year legacy is laced with failure.
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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25:28
021 — 1924us // Christian Watson
Internet fame is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, having a large audience opens doors and builds influence. On the other, it can also become a burden and warp everything around you. In this episode, Christian Watson of 1924us sat down wit...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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37:28
Travel Update
In this short teaser, host Will Hall gives an update on travel and next episodes.
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Season 2
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3:20
020 — Art & Science // Ways of Seeing
There's an artistic whisper before every significant scientific breakthrough — an intuition of what's to come. In this episode, host Will Hall explores the unexpected relationship between creative exploration and scientific discoveries.
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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22:40
019 — Matt Owens // Athletics
Matt Owens is a Designer and partner at Athletics in NYC. In this episode, Matt sat down with host Will Hall to discuss his early days in music, his time at Cranbrook, the future of creative agencies, and the value of creating programs for your...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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1:03:12
018 — Draplin // Part 2
In this second installment of our two-part interview, Draplin of DDC and Field Notes fame sits down with host Will Hall to discuss running a merch empire, the surprise success of his book, and speculations about the next ten years. Hint: sweatp...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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55:57
017 — Draplin // Part 1
From running his studio, DDC, to starting everyone's favorite EDC, Field Notes, few designers have been more influential than Aaron James Draplin over the past two decades. In this part one of a two-part interview, Draplin sits dow...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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43:44
016 — In a Single Night
The Royal Oak. Falling Water. Rocky. In this episode, host Will Hall explores how moments of creative genius often emerge in a single night. But these sparks of inspiration aren't always what they seem to be.CREDITSHost: Will Hall
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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17:47
015 — Stephen Pulvirent
What does it mean to be a professional enthusiast? In this episode, Artist and Creative Director Stephen Pulvirent sits down with host Will Hall to discuss his early days at the luxury watch site Hodinkee, the brand's evolution, the art of risk...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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31:04
014 — Daniel Marcello // Brooklyn Coachworks
How do you make a passion into a career? In this episode, Daniel Marcello of Brooklyn Coachworks, the premier Land Rover builder, shows how he left the design and advertising industries to start the brand. CREDITSGuest: Dan...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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27:56
013 — Michael DiTullo
From his early days working with Brand Jordan and Converse to being a Creative Director at Frog to running his own firm, Michael DiTullo has designed pretty much everything. Michael sits down with host Will Hall to discuss his love of craft and...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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30:08
Season 2 Update
Season two is almost upon us. Let's set the table. CREDITSHost: Will Hallhttps://www.willhall.cohttps://www.instagram.com/willhall.co/Engineer: Martin Nayerihttps://kariom.art/https://www.instagram.com/k...
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Season 1
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3:16
Season 2 Teaser
In this short update, host Will Hall teases Season 2. CREDITSHost: Will Hallhttps://www.willhall.cohttps://www.instagram.com/willhall.co/Engineer: Martin Nayerihttps://kariom.art/https://www.instagram.c...
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Season 1
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4:24
012 — Debbie Millman // Part 2
Debbie Millman is a highly accomplished designer, author, podcaster, and educator. From establishing the world's first Masters in Branding program at SVA to hosting one of the oldest and most respected podcasts, Design Matters, Debbie has been ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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29:16
011 — Debbie Millman // Part 1
Debbie Millman is a highly accomplished designer, author, podcaster and educator. From establishing the world's first Masters in Branding program at SVA to hosting one of the oldest and most respected podcasts Design Matters, Debbie has been a ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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23:55