1 May 2026 04:00
From a Broken Jaw to Iconic TV Costumes with Daniel Lawson - Elsbeth
From a bullied rural kid to Emmy-nominated costume designer—this is a masterclass in creativity, resilience, collaboration, and storytelling through design. Daniel Lawson pulls back the curtain on shaping the visual identity of hit television series like Elsbeth, The Good Wife, and The Good Fight.
In this deeply inspiring conversation, acclaimed costume designer Daniel Lawson shares how a humble upbringing in rural Indiana—marked by hard work, limited resources, and early bullying—unexpectedly became the foundation for a thriving creative career. Through the power of community theater, mentorship, and relentless curiosity, he discovered not only a passion for storytelling but a lifelong calling in costume design.
Lawson shares how early mentorship and community-driven storytelling opened doors he never imagined—including a pivotal shift from acting to costume design after realizing he belonged behind the scenes. His path wasn't linear: a life-altering accident abroad forced him to rethink everything, ultimately redirecting him toward a thriving career in television and theater.
The conversation dives deep into the creative process behind character-building through wardrobe, especially the evolution of Elsbeth—a character carried across three series—where bold colors, patterns, and silhouette become storytelling tools. Lawson reveals how collaboration with actors, directors, and writers shapes every costume, and why flexibility and preparation are essential in fast-paced TV production.
Packed with insights on storytelling, filmmaking, costume design, creative careers, collaboration, resilience, and pivoting under pressure, this episode offers powerful lessons for any creative looking to turn obstacles into opportunity and build something meaningful.
The "Voice of Costume" is the first podcast created between working costume designers sharing stories, inspiration, struggles, and insights into the creative career of costume design. A behind-the-scenes podcast to showcase the voices of Costume Designers around the world. Listen in on this inspirational, one-on-one conversation with Catherine Baumgardner.
Audio available wherever you get podcasts.
