Columbia Faculty Help Bring Children's Series ‘Fluff Piece’ to Life

Campus Communications Staff / Aug 12, 2026

Columbia faculty built the visual world of the new children’s series “Fluff Piece.” (Photo courtesy of "Fluff Piece.)

person on set behind a dresser with tape in their hand

Kate Stransky, with tape in hand, works to create the visual world of “Fluff Piece.” (Photo courtesy of "Fluff Piece.")

David “Big” Krause (left) owns Big Works Industries, which provided fabrication support during production of “Fluff Piece.”

Adjunct Professor Kate Stransky and Associate Professor David “Big” Krause, both production designers, shaped the visual world of a series now streaming on Wonder Project through Amazon Prime.

Behind the carefully crafted visual detail on the new children’s series’ “Fluff Piece,” you’ll find the work of production designers who teach at ��’s School of Film and Television: Kate Stransky, adjunct professor of instruction, and David “Big” Krause, associate professor. Their task is no easy feat for a show, now streaming on Wonder Project through Amazon Prime Video, that combines live action, animation, puppetry, and virtual production to entertain young audiences while encouraging media literacy and critical thinking.

"When kids watch the show, the things they get excited about and laugh about are the puppets and the fun visuals," says executive producer and writer Shane Snow. "That component that Kate, Big, and their teams brought really made the whole thing."’

Designing a World Children Want to Explore

Created by Sylvia Brindis and Brian Donegan (who also star in the show), “Fluff Piece” follows a canine news reporter and his human partner as they investigate stories designed to help young audiences ask important questions about the information they encounter.

Stransky served as the series' original production designer, establishing its whimsical visual identity in just four weeks before production began. Working with virtual production technology for the first time, she had to seamlessly blend physical sets, puppets, and props with LED-screen environments.

"I had to think much more about the foreground elements and how everything fits together," Stransky says. "It was really fun because I loved the ideas behind the show. It was easy to design something I understood."

Inspired by art deco influences, pastel color palettes, and distinctive characters, she also designed and built several puppets while ensuring every visual element supported the storytelling.

When Stransky transitioned to another project midway through production, Krause stepped in as production designer for the remaining episodes, expanding the show's visual language while preserving the world she established.

"Our conversation was really about how we could take this gorgeous foundation and build on it," Krause says. "It wasn't about changing anything. It was about expanding the world and making it deeper and richer."

His work also extended into elaborate music videos for the show and even puppeteering. Meanwhile, his company, Big Works Industries, provided fabrication support during production.

Professional Experience That Comes Back to the Classroom

Both Krause and Stransky say projects like “Fluff Piece” directly shape the way they teach.

"I bring all of the work that I do into the classroom," Big says. "This project introduced challenges in virtual production, puppetry, and designing specifically for children's audiences. Those are valuable ways to approach the broader world of production design."

Students don't just hear stories about industry work—they often see active productions taking shape.

"It's so important to have instructors engaged in actual work so students can see, in real time, both the challenges and the triumphs of professional production," Krause says.

For Stransky, working on “Fluff Piece” has been especially helpful in the classroom, particularly as virtual production becomes more common throughout the entertainment industry.

"Now I can talk about virtual production from experience," she says. "I have students interested in creating concept art for virtual production, and I use examples from the show when we discuss puppets, production design, and how all those pieces work together."

Creating Opportunities Beyond Graduation for Columbia Students

Working on the show also reflects a broader commitment to creating professional pathways for Columbia students and recent graduates.

Several alumni and students joined the “Fluff Piece” production crew, while classroom discussions and design explorations informed work throughout the project. Krause hopes projects like “Fluff Piece” continue to provide emerging creatives with meaningful industry experience.

"This kind of production is an early entry point for recent alums and current students," he says. "They can work on a vibrant, exciting production without having to spend years just carrying coffee. That's a gift, not only for those of us making the project, but for the students coming out of the school."

Watch the trailer for “Fluff Piece”

“Fluff Piece” is now streaming on Wonder Project, available through .

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