Inside the Mysterious and Important Design of Severance

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Film and Furniture Podcast, host Paula Benson sits down with Severance Season 2 set decorator David Schlesinger to explore the unnerving design language of Apple TV+’s hit series. Fresh from the show’s Emmy win for production design, Schlesinger shares how the interiors of Lumon Industries—and the contrasting “outie” world—were meticulously crafted to be as mysterious and important as the story itself. From the Warren Platner desk that became the “design DNA” of the series, to Dieter Rams’ Braun stereo, Joe Colombo’s plastic futurism, and the uncanny Christmas tree duplication, every detail reinforces Lumon’s ideology and the characters’ lives beyond it. 🎯 Episode Highlights 🏢 Lumon Headquarters Discover how green carpets, anonymous desks, and endless corridors were used as psychological tools to create sameness and disorientation. 🪑 Furniture as Ideology Hear how classics like Dieter Rams’ Vitsoe 620 Chair Programme, Joe Colombo’s Universale Chair, and Shiro Kuramata’s Apple Honey Chairs were transformed into instruments of control. 🖋️ The Desk That Defined the Show The Warren Platner desk in the Management Office became a lynchpin: its sculptural base and Saarinen lineage seeded the entire visual vocabulary of Severance. 🎄 The Christmas Tree Duplication Why a 3D-printed green Lumon tree on the Testing Floor was mirrored by a live tree in Mark and Gemma’s home—revealing Lumon’s reach “everywhere.” 🏠 The Outie World Step into Devon and Ricken’s warm mid-century haven, Mark and Gemma’s grief-stricken home, the icy Eagan mansion, and the folkloric Birthing Cabin—each a study in personality, ideology, and myth. 🧠 Behind the Scenes David reveals how entire libraries were sourced from retiring Russian professors, why he imagined a “severed set decorator” working for Lumon, and how even the smallest objects were reimagined through the lens of control. 🎭 Guest & Host Info Guest: David Schlesinger – Set Decorator (Severance Season 2, Knives Out, John Wick 2 & 3, House of Dynamite) Host: Paula Benson – Founder and Editor of Film and Furniture 🎞️ Designers, Furniture & Influences Mentioned • Warren Platner – Desk (1960s) • Dieter Rams – Braun Hi-Fi Wall Unit Stereo, Vitsoe 620 Chair Programme, FS-80 television • Marc Newson – Nimrod Chair • John Pomp Studios – Rift Dining Table • Joe Colombo – Universale Chair, Coupé Wall Light, Triedro Lamp • Shiro Kuramata – Apple Honey Chair • Charles & Ray Eames – Time-Life Executive Chair • Charlotte Perriand – Consado Console • Hans Wegner – CH07 Shell Chair • Isamu Noguchi – Akari Lamps • Poul Henningsen – PH Lamp • Carlo Scarpa – Chandeliers 🔗 Links & Resources 🛋️ Shop furniture seen in Severance: https://filmandfurniture.com/film/severance/ 📖 Read our in-depth two-part features on the innie and outie worlds of Severance: https://filmandfurniture.com/features 📧 Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive content and giveaways: https://filmandfurniture.com/membership 📺 When to Watch/Listen to This Episode? Whether you’re a Severance fan, a mid-century modern enthusiast, or a design professional, this episode offers a rare look at how architecture and furniture can become storytelling devices. Listen before or after watching Severance for a deeper appreciation of its design legacy. 🎨 Credits • Host & Editor: Paula Benson • Guest: David Schlesinger • Graphics: Paul West at Form • With thanks to: Apple TV+ and the Severance production team 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and share with fellow lovers of film, design and storytelling!