20th Anniversary celebration with theatre designers David Korins, Ina Mayhew, David Rockwell, Es Devlin, and Dane Laffrey
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
This special 20th anniversary episode of Design Matters celebrates theatrical and production design through interviews with five remarkable designers. Host Debbie Millman revisits conversations with David Korins (Hamilton), Ina Mayhew (Spike Lee collaborator), David Rockwell (Broadway architect), Es Devlin (concert designer), and Dane Laffrey (Maybe Happy Ending). (03:00)
- The episode explores how set design shapes emotion, deepens storytelling, and creates transformative audience experiences across Broadway, film, and live performance
Speakers
David Korins
David Korins has designed everything from restaurant interiors to performance stages for Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, and Bruno Mars. He's best known for his revolutionary set design for the Broadway musical Hamilton, where he created the iconic turntable staging that became central to the show's visual storytelling.
Ina Mayhew
Ina Mayhew is a production designer who has worked extensively with directors Spike Lee and Tyler Perry. She began her career in hair and makeup before transitioning to production design, working on films including Girls Six, Get on the Bus, and Clockers.
David Rockwell
David Rockwell is an architect and designer who has designed hotels, restaurants, and created sets for major Broadway productions including Into the Woods, Hairspray, and Chess. He successfully expanded his practice from architecture into theatrical set design.
Es Devlin
Es Devlin is a theater designer from the UK who has become one of the world's leading concert set designers. She has designed more than 50 theatrical productions and collaborated with major artists including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, and Adele, while also creating sets for ceremonies like the Olympics and Super Bowl.
Dane Laffrey
Dane Laffrey won the 2025 Tony Award for best scenic design for the musical Maybe Happy Ending. His innovative approach combines cutting-edge technology with deeply human storytelling, creating immersive theatrical experiences that blur the boundaries between digital and physical design elements.
Key Takeaways
Obsessive Attention to Details Creates Subconscious Impact
David Korins' approach to Hamilton demonstrates how meticulous attention to seemingly minor details creates powerful subconscious effects on audiences. (09:44) He researched 33 different colors of brick to find the perfect shade that would allow actors to be clearly visible against the wall, and during intermission, eight feet of wall is added to convey the nation being built - details most audience members never consciously notice. This principle applies beyond theater: professionals should invest time in perfecting elements that may go unnoticed but contribute to overall excellence and impact.
Persistent Advocacy Can Override Traditional Pathways
Ina Mayhew's career breakthrough came through relentless persistence rather than following conventional industry routes. (16:57) When she encountered Charles Lane at Macy's and learned about his film project, she called him every day until he hired her, despite already having a designer. Her approach of "I'm not gonna take no for an answer" demonstrates how determined advocacy for yourself can create opportunities that don't exist through traditional channels.
Cross-Disciplinary Thinking Enhances Creative Solutions
David Rockwell's transition from architecture to theater design shows how skills from one field can revolutionize another. (23:38) His architectural background gave him unique insights into transitions and spatial transformation, which became his specialty in theater. Professionals can enhance their value by identifying how their existing expertise can solve problems in adjacent fields or industries.
Intuitive Response Combined with Research Creates Breakthrough Design
Es Devlin's approach to Harold Pinter's "Betrayal" exemplifies how combining instinctive creative responses with thorough research leads to innovative solutions. (34:07) Her immediate instinct was to perform the play "at somebody's sculpture," inspired by Rachel Whiteread's concrete house installation. This intuitive leap, backed by extensive research and collaboration, resulted in a design that Pinter himself praised. The lesson for professionals is to trust initial instincts while supporting them with rigorous investigation and preparation.
Technology Should Serve Story and Character, Not Dominate
Dane Laffrey's award-winning design for "Maybe Happy Ending" demonstrates how advanced technology can enhance rather than overshadow human storytelling. (52:00) Despite using cutting-edge video elements and digital integration, every technological choice served to show how the robot characters process their world, creating empathy rather than spectacle. This principle applies to any professional incorporating new technologies - the tool should amplify your core message, not become the focus itself.
Statistics & Facts
- David Korins researched 33 different colors of brick to find the right shade for Hamilton's backdrop, ensuring actors would be visible against the wall without additional scenic elements. (09:44)
- During Hamilton's intermission, 8 feet of wall is added to the set to convey the impression of the nation being built, though most audience members never consciously notice this change. (13:07)
- Es Devlin has designed more than 50 theatrical productions, not including hundreds of other projects in opera, dance, film, and major ceremonies like the Olympics and Super Bowl. (43:55)
