Creative Characters

Exploring the American design story behind Field Notes with Jim Coudal. Oct 23, 2024

Field Notes notebooks are a staple in many creative lives. Aaron Draplin started the brand back in 2000-somethin', inspired by the old, frayed agricultural company memo books he'd find while out junking around Midwestern farm country. These promotional notebooks were giveaways — a throwback to the days of handshake deals and business relationships forged in a corn field or around a dinner table.

Aaron quickly partnered with today's guest, Jim Coudal, and together they turned Field Notes into a living, breathing brand that honors this heritage while leaning into all corners of American design. And of course, the blank pages of these pocket-sized notebooks create space for our own stories, from the mundane to the profound. Here's the story of Field Notes, in all of its 3½ × 5½-inch glory, plus an inside look at the latest limited edition, “The Birds and Trees of North America."

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

Never snap to guides: Exploring creative freedom with David Carson. Sep 26, 2024

Host Graham Sturt sits down with graphic design icon, David Carson. Known for his revolutionary work with Ray Gun magazine and his unconventional, expressive style, David has continually pushed the boundaries of visual communication.

Join us as we explore David’s unique approach, creative journey, and the philosophies that have shaped his illustrious career.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

Embracing Chaos and Stillness: Astrid Stavro’s Design Philosophy. Sep 12, 2024

In this week’s episode, Monotype’s Executive Creative Director, Tom Foley, sits down with renowned graphic designer Astrid Stavro to explore her captivating journey. Astrid grew up amidst the hum of printing presses in her father’s print shop in Trieste, Italy. She recounts the profound influence of her family’s publishing heritage, her deep-seated love for books, and pivotal moments such as her studies at St. Martins and her discovery of Interview magazine. Astrid opens up about her recent ADHD diagnosis, the delicate dance between chaos and tranquility in her creative process, and her responsibilities as Chair of the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD). Throughout the conversation, she reflects on her insatiable curiosity and endless pursuit of knowledge, the value of learning from mistakes, and the wealth of inspiration she finds in everyday experiences.

Learn more about Astrid at https://astridstavro.design.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

Revisiting Scott Starrett and how to design a visually stunning political campaign. Aug 22, 2024

It's August. Many of us on the podcast team are trying to wring out the last drops of summer. Others are hard at work getting ready for Monotype's visit to Adobe Max.

So this week, we're replaying an oldie episode from our first season.

Monotype Creative Type Director Charles Nix talks with Scott Starrett, Co-Founder and Principal of NYC design firm Tandem. Scott shares his story of a serendipitous introduction to a young bartender named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which led to Tandem designing the branding for her transformational 2018 Congressional campaign.

To learn more about Scott and the work Tandem is doing, visit: https://www.tandem.nyc/.

To see this episode's blog post and other past episode, head over to https://www.monotype.com/podcast

From Parsons to Type Thursday: a conversation with Thomas Jockin. Aug 07, 2024

This week on Creative Characters, host Charles Nix sits down with Thomas Jockin, the founder of Type Thursday, a global type meetup. The two discuss Thomas’s journey from an art-obsessed youth on Long Island to becoming a key figure in the global type design community. Thomas shares pivotal moments such as his apprenticeship with Joshua Darden, the development and international expansion of Type Thursday, and his passion for the open-source type movement. Tune in for an interesting look at the intersection of type design, education, and community-building.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

Kyle Read on the art (of the business) of type design. Jul 23, 2024

In this episode, host Doug Wilson sits down with his long-time friend, Kyle Read, a distinguished type designer and graphic designer based in Denver, Colorado. Kyle shares his journey from studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design, working for various design studios and advertising agencies, to founding Badson Type Foundry. The two discuss the balance Kyle maintains between branding and type design, offering insights into the economic realities of the industry and the importance of creating brand-ready, personality-driven typefaces. Additionally, the episode delves into Kyle's innovative marketing strategies for type foundries and his collaborative project, Proof & Co, which provides valuable data analyzing the independent typography market. Through it all, Kyle emphasizes the significance of community within the type industry, particularly within Denver, a city he and Doug both celebrate for its unique creative spirit and historical ties to typography.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

Behind the Font: Font Licensing, demystified (Part 3 of 3). Jul 09, 2024

In the final edition of our new podcast miniseries series, Behind the Font, we answer your questions about font licensing [cue Jeopardy theme]!

Once again, Monotype's Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Phil Carey-Bergren wades into the intricacies of font licensing with our host, Carl Unger. Topics include the implications of breaching font licenses, the significance of copyright, and what to do if you accidentally breach a contract or misuse a font license.

Behind the Font is exactly what it sounds like - a podcast miniseries that looks behind the creative work we love to better understand how creative work gets done. Have a question or topic you'd like us to explore? Email us at podcast@monotype.com and we may cover it!

Behind the Font: Font Licensing, demystified (Part 2 of 3). Jun 25, 2024

In the second edition of our new podcast miniseries series, Behind the Font, we dig into the technical side of font licensing [cue psycho theme]. Our Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Phil Carey-Bergren, and host, Carl Unger, dissect the main parts of a font license and walk us through some common font licensing use cases you might see at work.

Behind the Font is exactly what it sounds like - a podcast miniseries that looks behind the creative work we love to better understand how creative work gets done. Have a question or topic you'd like us to explore? Email us at podcast@monotype.com and we may cover it!

Behind the Font: Font Licensing, demystified (Part 1 of 3). Jun 13, 2024

In the first-ever edition of our new podcast miniseries, Behind the Font, we dive into the often murky and mysterious waters of font licensing [cue Jaws theme]. Our guest for this journey into the depths is Monotype Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Phil Carey-Bergren, and we couldn't ask for a better person to walk us through the ins and outs of these contracts.

In Part 1, we get a crash course in recent font history to understand how licenses have evolved and why this matters to today's brands, designers, and agencies.

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where we'll dissect the elements of a license and ask the question everyone is thinking - do I really need to read this whole thing?

Behind the Font is exactly what it sounds like - a podcast miniseries that looks behind the creative work we love to better understand how creative work gets done. Have a question or topic you'd like us to explore? Email us at podcast@monotype.com and we may cover it!

The power of initiative: Kat Romulo on following your creative passions. Jun 11, 2024

This episode of Creative Characters is hosted by Livia, our Social Media Manager at Monotype.

Livia interviews designer Kat Romulo about her unconventional journey into design, beginning with a serendipitous flyer at UC Berkeley. Kat shares her rise from posting personal projects on Instagram to acquiring client work, her experiences with public speaking, and her thoughts on the pros and cons of social media for creatives. The conversation emphasizes the importance of designing for oneself to combat burnout, as well as Kat's philosophy of seeking client work that aligns with her values. Additionally, Kat talks about her evolving creative process, the significance of artistic experimentation, and the impact of building a close-knit community through social media.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

Lee Yuen-Rapati on the typography and design of watches. May 30, 2024

Host Doug Wilson geeks out about watch design with Lee Yuen-Rapati of Fears Watch Company. They discuss the intricacies of designing numerals for watches and the parallels between watch design and typeface design.

And if you’re looking for inspiration on a personal project — or just want to drool over some gorgeous sketches — check out Yuen-Rapati’s @onehourwatch project, where he draws bespoke watches in one hour or less and posts them on Instagram.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at www.monotype.com/podcast.

Beyond Mexico ’68: Lance Wyman’s world of design. May 14, 2024

Host Graham Sturt journeys into the life and work of famed graphic designer Lance Wyman. Renowned for his iconic Mexico 1968 Olympics identity, Wyman shares the story of how a one-way flight to Mexico City ultimately landed him a role on this influential design team.

Wyman talks about other key moments in his career as well, like working on the Chrysler Pavilion at the '64-'65 New York World's Fair and creating a comprehensive wayfinding system for the Mexico City Metro.

The conversation also covers Wyman’s thoughts on design philosophy, his inferiority complex around typography, and his knack for infusing local cultural elements into his designs. Take a deep dive into the mind of a design legend who continues to influence the field well into his eighties.

Reinventing yourself at any age with Vic Lee. Apr 30, 2024

Hear Monotype Creative Director Graham Sturt in conversation with Vic Lee, an artist, illustrator, and self-described “ragamuffin.”

After years of doing graphic design work for agencies, Vic was ready for a change. So, he began sketching a streetscape from a little cafe in his London neighborhood — a practice that evolved into a popular local prints project and launched his career as a working artist.

Murals may be what Vic is best known for, as he’s inked them for clients across the UK and internationally. Currently, he's painting a portrait a day, each inspired by a real person he’s seen out and about.

If you need a bit of creative inspiration or are looking to reinvent your creative practice, this episode’s for you!

Petra Dočekalová on the influence of history in modern design. Apr 16, 2024

In this week's episode, first-time host Doug Wilson chats with Petra Dočekalová, a designer, educator, calligrapher, and sign painter from Prague, Czech Republic. They explore Petra's involvement in a book about Yaroslav Benda, a notable Czech designer known for his typography and calligraphy. Their conversation covers networking at events like TypeCon, the influence of Benda's style on Czech design, and the impact of his work. Petra also shares insights on her lettering, calligraphy, and type design work, along with her passion for teaching and knowledge sharing, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and blending historical and modern design practices.

Live from SXSW: A branding masterclass with Dentsu, eBay, Neurons, and WeTransfer. Apr 04, 2024

Each year, for over a week, the city of Austin, Texas erupts into a cacophony of life, music, film premieres, comedy showcases, interactive tech demonstrations, and world-class exhibitions for the annual South by Southwest (SXSW).

This year, amongst the chaos, community, and creativity of the festival, we recorded our first-ever episode of the podcast on stage in front of a live audience. Monotype’s Bill Connolly gathered guests from different corners of the branding world and settled on stage in the balmy, Austin air to talk branding, design, and customer experience through each of their unique lenses.

Tune in for a masterclass in branding that explores the visual elements and innovative technology driving how brands, advertising, and experiences influence our responses. Read more about the event here: monotype.com/resources/expertise/brandtalks-sxsw

Searching for signs of the British seaside with Justin Burns. Mar 19, 2024

For many of us, the sea holds a special place in our hearts — the sights, smells, sounds of long summer nights are etched into our minds.

Join Monotype Creative Director Graham Sturt as he and guest Justin Burns, Head of the School of Arts at the University of Derby, explore the signage and typography of the English seaside and examine the linkage between letters, memories, and emotion.

Studying the subconscious superpowers of type trends across the globe. Mar 06, 2024

How do cultural influences, historical contexts, and geopolitics influence design and typography? As part of the 2024 Type Trends report, we wanted to take a deeper look at how design is manifesting across the globe.

This episode will take you on a journey from the bustling streets of New York City to the colorful neighborhoods of Santiago, the romantic avenues of Paris, and the vibrant restaurants of Kuala Lumpur.

Tune in for insights, stories, and anecdotes from creative thought leaders shaping their local design scenes: Jolene Delisle, Founder & Creative Director of The Working Assembly; Belén La Rivera, Senior Brand Designer, and Alan Eaglehurst, Creative Director, at FutureBrand; Violaine Orsoni and Jérémy Schneider, Creative Partners at VJ Type and Violaine & Jeremy; and Joanne Chew, Founder of Fictionist Studio.

Want to learn more about type trends? Join our Type Trends 2024 webinar on March 21; register here.

Heading to SXSW? Don't miss a live recording of this very podcast! Join us March 13 at 3pm; register here: mntype.co/sxsw

Talking type that melts in your heart (not in your hand) with Steffi Marty. Feb 21, 2024

This week, host Charles Nix sits down with Steffi Marty, the Global Director of Brand Identity and Design for Mars Snacking. If that sounds abstract, you probably know the brands she oversees: the Mars Bar, Snickers, Skittles, and M&M's.

Charles and Steffi collaborated on a new typeface for M&M's, released last year, and the two discuss the joys and challenges of managing such beloved and personal brands, why typography is crucial to that, and what she calls a "ruthless discipline to weed out the things that are unnecessary.”

Heading to SXSW? Don't miss a live recording of this very podcast! Join us March 13 at 3pm; register here: mntype.co/sxsw

Behind the 2024 Type Trends report with Jordan Bell and Damien Collot. Feb 07, 2024

You’ve probably heard something about it, but just in case you missed it: our 2024 Type Trends report is finally here! And good news: this week on Creative Characters, you can tune in to hear even more about it.

Join Type Designer Jordan Bell and Creative Type Director Damien Collot as they discuss their experiences curating this year’s report, guide you through the trends that moved them, and discuss the projects they admired. Take a plunge into the styles that shaped the typographic landscape this past year and find out more about what sets them apart. Who knows, you might fancy something a little bit deformed? Or perhaps you’ll welcome a return to serifs? Maybe you’ll crave a little bit of Everythingallofthetime! Listen up — this is what type is telling us as 2024 begins. Enjoy!

If you haven’t done so already, download the report at monotype.com/type-trends-2024 — and if you’re keen to hear more about it, be sure to sign up for our webinar on March 21, 2024!

Studios we love: the stories of ArrowType, Type Salon, and Blaze Type. Dec 06, 2023

We're closing out 2023 by spotlighting three amazing type studios from different corners of the world — and three of our favorite hosts.

This week, Charles Nix, Phil Garnham, and Tom Foley each selected a type designer they admire to bring on the show: Stephen Nixon of ArrowType; Alja Herlah, Directress & Lead type designer at Type Salon; and Matthieu Salvaggio, Founder and Type Designer at Blaze Type. Three perspectives, three journeys, and three lively conversations about our favorite subject. Enjoy!

Roger Black and Charles Nix trace the history of type. Nov 21, 2023

Roger Black draws from origins and evolution of type, type trend drivers, and his own career in this week’s episode with our own Charles Nix. Combining various lenses that allow creatives to see between and behind the lines of type, the two designers inspect the nitty gritty of typographic design — from machinery to wider influences of cultural shifts — and how to look backwards in order to see forward and achieve timeless and iconic type design.

Roger Black is a renowned American designer known for his extensive and influential portfolio, from editorial designs for Rolling Stone, New York Times Magazine, and Newsweek to his digital work for Barnes & Noble, the Senate, and more.

Celebrating community, embracing vulnerability, and fostering self-discovery at Adobe MAX 2023. Nov 08, 2023

Now that the Adobe MAX dust has settled, we bring you our second annual recap of the inspiring event that brought 10,000 from around the world to Los Angeles in October. Between emotional, soul-baring presentations that went much deeper than design, to the “font connection” game at the Monotype booth, there was a palpable sense of community and connection at MAX this year.

In this episode, you’ll hear from twenty or so voices, including type designers, animators, comic book designers, students, and even a specialty letterpress printer, all of whom were kind enough to share their time and their stories with us on the mic.

Read more about Adobe MAX here: monotype.com/adobe-max-2023-follow-up

Follow our guests:

Zipeng Zhu - instagram.com/zzdesign

John Roshell - swelltype.com, comicbookfonts.com

Chris Hoffman - velleitystudios.com

Cam Sherrill - camsherrill.com

Nubia Navarro - nubikinistudio.com

Eph Gerard Cruz - instagram.com/quantumeph, xfinitycreative.com

Joshua Ariza - instagram.com/joshua_ariza, joshuaariza.com

Ben Levitz - instagram.com/STUDIOONFIRE, studioonfire.com

Kelsey Slay - instagram.com/kelseyslaydesign

Exploring the fluorescent legacy of Baltimore's Globe Collection and Press with Allison Tipton. Oct 18, 2023

For decades, the bright colors and bold type of Globe Poster Printing Corportation formed the cultural heartbeat of Baltimore. From R&B shows and rock concerts to boxing matches and, now, something called a Deviled Egg Pageant (?!), Globe's unmistakable style has shouted out a range of events — and brought color and electricity to the urban landscape.

Globe and its archive are now part of the Maryland College Institute of Art (MICA), and we sat down with Allison Tipton from MICA to discuss the living legacy of this landmark print shop.

Check out Globe's collection online here.

What our emotions can teach us about design and branding. Oct 05, 2023

Can you remember a time you had an emotional reaction to type? Have fonts ever made you feel some type of way? This week, we dive into Monotype’s scientific research on the emotional power of typography.

Marie Boulanger, Senior Brand Designer at Monotype, joins as a guest and shares some of the thinking, methodology, and insights behind the global studies. You’ll also hear stories about fonts and feelings from designers, creative directors, and producers we spoke with at Brand Talks Chicago and Brand New Conference.

Learn more about the research at monotype.com/typography-matters

Talking shop with David Berlow, type hero and font technology pioneer. Aug 30, 2023

David Berlow has been at the forefront of type design, publishing, and technology for 45 years. His impressive career began in 1978 drawing letterforms for the Haas, Mergenthaler, Linotype, and Stempel type foundries, before he went on to work at Apple, Bitstream, and later founded the Font Bureau with Roger Black.

A self-described “loose cannon” and “boat rocker,” Berlow has been at the center of type innovation for decades, consulting for companies like Apple and Google, all whilst designing some of the world’s most celebrated and recognizable fonts, including custom designs for iconic publishers such as The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, Esquire Magazine and The Wall Street Journal and brands including Apple Computer Inc., Google Inc. and Microsoft Corporation.

In this week’s episode Tom Rickner, the Senior Director of the Studio at Monotype, sits down with Berlow. Fun fact: Berlow hired Rickner at the Font Bureau, kicking off his career as a type designer. You’ll hear the two reminisce, talk shop, and explore Berlow’s influences, predictions, and perspectives on mentorship and team building.

Read more about this episode and our past guests at monotype.com/podcast.

From Basquiat to branding: how Erwin Hines creates space for community, dialogue, and collective liberation. Aug 01, 2023

Erwin Hines’ creative life began with an interest in architecture and urban planning but shifted to art, design, and brand building after several serendipitous events.

In a time when concepts like empathy and inclusivity have become trendy catchphrases, Erwin decided to step away from agency life, where he had been actively involved with DE&I initiatives, to build his own brand, Future is Color.

Erwin designs and produces intentionally crafted garments and hosts in-person events at Future is Color's mixed-use studio in San Diego, California. The brand's mission is to create space for intentional conversations about collective liberation.

For more on Erwin's work and Future is Color, visit future-is-color.com.

Read more about this episode and our past guests at monotype.com/podcast.

Chasing Dreams and Making Them Real with Muralist Kent Yoshimura. Jul 18, 2023

Kent Yoshimura does a lot. And that's kinda his thing. At a young age, Kent learned that pouring himself into something artistic meant he could glimpse at mastery and then find ways to play with whatever that skill might be.

Throughout his life, Kent has illustrated for children's books, recorded music for film and television, made a couple documentaries, designed immersive experiences, built a thriving business, painted numerous beautiful murals, and so much more.

But what's maybe most striking is this: through all the hard work, trial and error, and eventual success, Kent's pursuit is in the joy of creating something with a community and for a community.

We're excited for you to hear his story.

Read more about this episode and our past guests at monotype.com/podcast

From magazine to brand design with Warby Parker's Sarah Olin. Jun 21, 2023

Sarah Olin started her career as a magazine designer at a challenging time — during the 2010s, when the industry was trying to figure out its transition to digital. She stuck with magazines for over a decade, designing for major fashion and beauty publications like Allure, Glamour, and Cosmo. But she recently shifted to brand art direction and, spoiler, she likes it.

As Art Director at Warby Parker, Sarah works on everything from retail design to TV commercials to fashion campaigns. Her story is one of adaptability, and with the design landscape rapidly changing, it feels fitting for the moment.

Goodbye, zombie bosses: Making WFH work for creatives with Upwork's Patrick Holly. Jun 06, 2023

In the Before Times, working from home was often treated as a perk, or maybe a dubious accommodation for someone with a doctor’s appointment. But we know how that story unfolded following the COVID outbreak in 2020, and now remote work is the norm for creative teams all over the world.

Upwork Executive Creative Director Patrick Holly joins us this week to talk about the benefits and challenges remote work presents for creatives, how he keeps his global team connected and fulfilled, and why the days of “adult daycare” and “butts in seats” should be relegated to the history books for good.

Finding the “feels” with Picsart’s Scott Walker. May 23, 2023

“Modern creators know that pace rivals perfection.” Picsart, which provides photo and video editing tools and templates to the creator community, has lived this motto since it began more than a decade ago. Today, with more than 150 million monthly users, the company is helping to streamline the design process like never before.

In this week's episode, Monotype's Bill Connolly sits down with Scott Walker, Executive Creative Director at Picsart, to learn about Scott's design process, which began in a print shop and has led him to work with some of the world’s most popular brands. They also discuss artificial intelligence, the future of creativity, and why it’s important for designers to always “follow the feels.”

Read more about this episode and our past guests at monotype.com/podcast.

Studios we love: the stories of CoType, Naïma Ben Ayed Bureau, and XYZ Type. May 09, 2023

This week’s episode is a triple threat. Monotype Executive Creative Directors Phil, Tom, and Charles each selected a type designer they admire to bring on the show.

What resulted is inspiring discussions with Mark Bloom of CoType, Naïma Ben Ayed Bureau, and Jesse Ragan and Ben Kiel of XYZ Type, three unique studios making great work in their own distinct ways.

Big brands, big ideas, and big breaks with Tongal's James DeJulio. Apr 25, 2023

For decades, creative work has consolidated in traditional locations such as Los Angeles, New York, and London. Today, technology has opened the aperture on creativity, enabling brilliant producers, writers, and artists to work directly with brands and entertainment studios from anywhere.

In this week's episode, Monotype's Bill Connolly sits down with James DeJulio, co-founder and CEO of Tongal, a "studio on demand" that boasts an impressive roster of clients like LEGO, PayPal, NBC Universal, and more.

A former Hollywood producer, DeJulio shares his insight into the ever-changing world of content creation and outlines the recipe that has grown Tongal's community to more than 160,000 members.

Read more about this episode and our past guests at monotype.com/podcast

Exploring all things novel and familiar with Mark Simonson. Apr 11, 2023

Mark Simonson has designed some of the most widely used typefaces in the world. Host Charles Nix sits down to talk influences, process, and why truly memorable work – such as Simonson’s versatile, legible, and wildly ubiquitous Proxima Nova – has to be “both novel and familiar.”

And speaking of legibility, don’t forget to check out the article about font legibility mentioned in our intro: https://www.monotype.com/resources/expertise/find-legible-fonts

Bringing design to the masses with Canva’s Andrew Green. Mar 28, 2023

Ever wanted a peek inside the creative minds behind one of the biggest design platforms in the world? If so, this episode is for you. Canva, the go-to graphic design software for 125 million global users, recently celebrated its 10th birthday at its annual Create event in Sydney. Before the big event, our Executive Creative Director, Charles Nix, sat down with Canva’s Head of Design, Andrew Green, to talk about his own international career beginning at agencies in New York and Hong Kong and circling back to Canva, where he now oversees the design leadership team in Melbourne.

Read more about this episode and our past guests at monotype.com/podcast

Changing the game with Maureen Raisch. Mar 14, 2023

Maureen Raisch has spent the past 18 years designing for some of the biggest names in professional sports — from MLB team rebrands to marquee events for the NHL and NFL, including the Super Bowl.

Now, as she embarks on a new journey as the first ever Creative Director for the National Women's Soccer League, Maureen reflects on the importance of visibility and inclusivity in sports branding, the power of design to elevate women's sports, and what she calls her own "personal rebrand."

To read more about this episode and our past guests, head over to monotype.com/podcast.

Making the Monotype Type Trends report with Terrance Weinzierl and Emilios Theofanous. Feb 28, 2023

This week, we take you behind the scenes of one of Monotype’s biggest, and most anticipated campaigns of the year: the annual Type Trends report. Tune in to hear from the report’s curators, Creative Type Directors Terrance Weinzierl and Emilios Theofanous on their experiences producing the report. Why do people make trends reports? What does the curation process entail? How do cultural and societal shifts influence patterns in typography and design? What should creatives do with this information?

Download the report, watch our webinar, and get more Trends goodness at https://www.monotype.com/type-trends-2023.

To read more about this episode and our past guests, head over to monotype.com/podcast.

Getting into the ‘heavy stuff’ with Aaron Draplin. Feb 14, 2023

Aaron Draplin likely needs little introduction – he's one of the most beloved and well-known designers working today. People fill auditoriums for his talks and workshops, wait in long lines for selfies (and Draplin Design Company merch), and fill his DMs with requests for advice, help, and perspective. In this episode, Draplin shares his perspective on design education, staying inspired and motivated, the “surreal” experience of becoming a mentor figure to so many designers, and the “weird little spot” he’s in as he approaches 50.

Warning: some explicit language, but all in jest!

Iterative, content-first design with In-House International. Jan 31, 2023

This week, Monotype Executive Creative Director, Charles Nix, is joined by Michu Benaim Steiner and Lope Gutierrez-Ruiz of In-House International. Michu and Lope share the studio’s origin story, which also includes Art Director, Alex Wright. In-House is connected by Venezuelan roots, and they discuss how the country’s “tropicalized geometries,” and former lives as researchers and magazine publishers, help to infuse curiosity into their work and their cutting-edge typographic designs.

To read more about this episode and our past guests, head over to monotype.com/podcast.

To learn more about In-House and see their work, visit weareinhouse.com

Jim Moran – Preserving print history at the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum. Jan 20, 2023

In our first episode of Season 3, we welcome the new Senior Director of the Monotype Studio, Tom Rickner, as a first-time host. Tom speaks with Jim Moran, Master Printer and Collections Officer for the internationally-known Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum. The two discuss Jim’s history as a printmaker working at his family business for 35 years, the road that led him to Hamilton, and why letterpress is still important today.

To read more about this episode and our past guests, head over to monotype.com/podcast.

To learn more about Type Electives, visit typeelectives.com

Elliot Jay Stocks - Navigating a Universe of Type. Dec 16, 2022

This week, Creative Type Director Phil Garnham sits down with Elliot Jay Stocks, designer, musician, and lover of all things typographic. From his time with Adobe Typekit to his current project building out Google Fonts' Knowledge center, Elliot has explored the vast universe of typography and helped people understand what they need, how to use it, and why there's so much to love about type.

'Live' from Adobe MAX, this week’s guest is: You! Nov 17, 2022

What has everyone been up to for the past two years? Is AI coming to take all our jobs? What’s your least-favorite typeface? We packed up our recording gear and traveled to Adobe MAX, one of the largest creative conferences in the world, to pose these very questions to people just like you. What we found was an audience craving connection and inspiration, and that was more than happy to wait at our booth so we could… scan their brains? Yes, really.

To learn why we were scanning people's brains, visit monotype.com/neurons

Craig Ward: From metal type to the digital unknown. Oct 27, 2022

From big brands to lego bricks, Craig Ward has left his mark all over the world of typography. This week, host Charles Nix sits down with Craig to talk about his career, his myriad side projects and quirky pastimes, and how technology could revolutionize the way we use type and ensure the rights of ownership for designers.

Annie Atkins: Building worlds in film through graphic props and typography. Oct 11, 2022

Today we're welcoming Annie Atkins, a creative in the film industry. She's known for her graphic props and set pieces for Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs. She's also done design work for The Tudors, The Boxtrolls, and Spielberg's thriller, Bridge of Spies. Tune-in to learn about the magic of film.

Holly Fraser – Winning Oscars and attention with a purpose-driven brand. Sep 27, 2022

Today we're welcoming Holly Fraser, editor-in-chief at WePresent, WeTransfer's digital arts platform that works with 1,000+ creatives from over 100 countries. Holly was part of the team that commissioned the 2022 Oscar-winning best live action short film, "The Long Goodbye", created by Riz Ahmed and Aneil Karia. Tune-in to learn what makes a hit film, how to stay inspired, and why the creative industries need more diversity.

Mindy Seu - Gathering 30 years of cyberfeminism. Sep 13, 2022

Today we're welcoming Mindy Seu, a New York-based designer, researcher, and assistant professor at Rutgers. Seu recently completed the Cyberfeminism Index, a book documenting more than 700 short entries of radical techno-critical activism. Tune in as Seu shares her story of getting involved in cyberfeminism and the process involved in publishing her book.

To see what Mindy Seu is currently working on, view her Instagram or visit her teaching portal for a list of upcoming classes. You can pre-order a copy of the Cyberfeminism Index book, which ships December 2022.

Jason Debiak - Let's start a design agency from scratch. Aug 23, 2022

Today we welcome Jason Debiak, an old friend of our co-host, Carl, and co-founder of Paper Tiger, a family-owned design agency in New Jersey. Jason runs the agency alongside his brother, creating designs for user-friendly websites and mobile applications while having a "Helvetica of a good time" (his words, pun intended, no apologies). They've worked with big-name companies including the New York Times, Fort Point Beer, and PBS. Tune in as Jason shares his story from the world of indie music, his "journey of screwing up," and why AI design programs may not be as scary as they seem.

Ximena Amaya – A recent graduate on the role of design in communication, architecture, and protest. Aug 09, 2022

This week we speak with Ximena Amaya, recent graduate of ArtCenter in Pasadena, California by way of Mexico City. Ximena talks about what led her to study graphic design and her passion for using it as a communication tool, in architecture, and for emerging technologies through her work as an intern at Pentagram.

To see Ximena’s work, visit ximena.works.

To learn more about the research she documented, visit hmctartcenter.org/programs/mujeres-hispanas-y-tipografia/

Sarah Boris – On the power of defining yourself as a creative. Jul 26, 2022

Today, we're welcoming Sarah Boris, a London-based artist who runs her own creative studio. Creativity seems to be in her DNA. Tune in as Marie Boulanger, Brand Designer at Monotype talks to Sarah about her experiences working in-house versus running an independent creative studio, the power of titles, and her interest in pop art.

To see more of Sarah Boris's design work, view her portfolio at sarahboris.com or visit her Instagram to see her latest projects.

Nathan Lance - How to build an (authentic) sustainable brand. Jul 12, 2022

This week’s guest is passionate about designing for change. We're welcoming Nathan Lance, creative director at Leap, a B Corp certified design agency in Truro, England. Nathan is here to spill the tea on eco-friendly design, sustainability, and brand transparency.

To see more design projects from Leap. Design for Change, view their case studies online.

For more information on the agency's sustainability ethos, visit the Leap website.

Andrew Krivine and Michael Worthington - How punk and new wave turned design on its head. Jun 28, 2022

Get ready for a dive into punk rock history! This week’s we're welcoming Andrew Krivine, author and punk rock collector, alongside Michael Worthington, faculty at CalArts and co-founder of Counterspace. The creative duo is here to tell the tale of how they co-created the largest exhibition of punk and new wave graphics ever shown on the West Coast.

Visit the "Torn Apart" exhibit at the PDC Design Gallery until September 8. For more information, check out the PDC Design Gallery on IG and the exhibit website. To see more of Andrew's work, view his collection of published books.

Cristina Pandol - A creative's road to 'Bel-Air.' Jun 14, 2022

This week we're joined by award-winning creative Cristina Pandol, VP Creative at Westbrook Media, an entertainment company founded by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Tune in as our own Bill Connolly talks to Cristina about her experiences as a creative from growing up multi-cultural to her short-lived allergy to entertainment.

Listen until the end to hear their favorite advertisements.

Juan Villanueva - Cultivating a global community through type. May 31, 2022

This week’s episode features the first ever guest from Monotype, our very own Juan Villanueva, a senior type designer on the studio team. Outside of the work he does designing typefaces for clients like M&M’s, Tencent and Google, Juan leads a busy life as an educator and active member of the design community in NYC. The overarching theme of this episode is personal challenges – and how you can challenge yourself throughout life whether in your career, as a leader, or in your personal practice.

To learn more about the work Juan is doing, visit www.juankafka.com or www.typecritcrew.com.

Jennifer Sagalyn & JoAnn Becker - On building an accessible, inclusive digital world. May 17, 2022

This week’s guests are Jennifer Sagalyn, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and JoAnn Becker, Assistive Technology Support, Training and Testing Specialist at Perkins Access. Perkins Access is an organization whose mission is to build a more accessible digital world for all people, regardless of their abilities. Sagalyn and Becker both have years of experience working in accessibility and share some of their favorite tools, best practices and stories of how they help organizations build for all.

See Perkin’s work at https://perkinsaccess.org/knowledge-center/client-stories/.

David Sheldon-Hicks - The designs behind blockbuster moviemaking magic. Apr 19, 2022

Dune. Blade Runner 2049. Spider-Man: Far from Home. Avengers: Endgame. Ready Player One. If you’ve seen any of these big-name blockbusters (along with many others), then you’ve seen the work of this week’s guest: David Sheldon-Hicks, Founder and Executive Creative Director at Territory Studio, a design firm that specializes in VFX and graphics for the entertainment industry. David sits down with his schoolmate Phil Garnham, Creative Type Director at Monotype, for an inside look at moviemaking, managing a creative studio, and how type and design contribute to believable world-building on the screen.

Greg Lutze - The power of creative community. Apr 06, 2022

In this week’s episode, our host Bill Connolly chats with all-around creative, Greg Lutze.

Greg is a founder, advisor and artist based out of California. His company, VSCO, started as an app for photo and video, but now provides tools, tips and community for creatives.

Greg has a rich perspective on the evolution of the art community, the role of the artist and talks of his own creative trajectory (beginning in kindergarten!) and why he founded VSCO in Silicon Valley to show up for creators.

Find Greg online at greglutze.com

As always, find out more at monotype.com/podcast

Dewey Saunders - Career collage, or: Flip your aesthetic. Mar 10, 2022

In this episode, Senior Content Strategist at Monotype, Kadley Gosselin, is joined by Dewey Bryan Saunders, the mastermind behind album covers for artists like Anderson .Paak, Future, and Turnstile. Classically trained in graphic design and illustration, Saunders discusses how he landed clients like The New Yorker fresh out of college, and a path that’s led him to collage, art direction and inspired him to launch a clothing line during lockdown.

This episode offers wonderful advice for creatives just getting started as well as those further along looking for inspiration to invert their creative practice or flip their aesthetic. To learn more about Dewey’s work, visit deweysaunders.com.

Andrew van der Merwe - Ephemeral calligraphy from the beaches of South Africa. Feb 24, 2022

In the first episode of Season 2, Carl Unger sits down with calligrapher, lettering artist and beach calligrapher. Andrew van der Merwe from Cape Town, South Africa. They discuss the ephemeral nature of his work; how movement, philosophy and asemic writing play into his letterforms and creative process; and what led him to start carving calligraphy into his local beaches.

Adam Weiler - Rethinking design thinking for a changed world. Dec 03, 2021

In this week’s episode, Monotype Creative Type Director, Terrance Weinzierl has an inspiring conversation with designer, educator and design thinker, Adam Weiler, who currently leads the social innovation program at Steelcase, a furniture company founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Weiler shares his perspective on design thinking, strategy, his complicated relationship with the internet and the meandering it took to find his place in the creative world.

To learn more about Adam’s work, check out our blog post at Monotype.com/podcast

Chelsea Goldwell - Hard-won lessons on balance, health, and nurturing creativity. Nov 19, 2021

In this episode, our own Bill Connolly is joined by Chelsea Goldwell, partner and creative director at Zero Studios, a digitally-native branding studio. Goldwell shares her experience designing for the Hillary for America campaign, teaching the next generation of design students at Parsons, and how her team prioritizes balance and health in this era of intense work.

This is a good one for anyone looking to create a multi-disciplinary career and a purposeful life. To learn more about Chelsea’s work, visit ChelseaGoldwell.com or Zero.nyc. Or, check out our blog post at monotype.com/podcasts.

Dave Addey - Classic sci-fi films and the typography that brought them to life. Nov 05, 2021

Pew pew! Our eighteenth episode goes deep into the world of science fiction films, with a decidedly typographic twist.

Terrance Weinzierl, Creative Type Director at Monotype, talks with Dave Addey, author of Typeset in the Future, about the use of type in classic science fiction movies like Blade Runner, Alien,and Wall-E. In particular, Terrance and Dave explore how Eurostile became the de facto font of the future for movie makers, and what science fiction says about our dreams and fears for the unknown years ahead.

To learn more about Dave’s work, visit typesetinthefuture.com, or check out our blog post at monotype.com/podcasts.

Ellen Lupton - On mentorship, relationships of equality, and representation in design. Oct 22, 2021

This week’s guest, Ellen Lupton, has built a prolific career as a writer, educator, and designer. She serves as a senior curator at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City, and the Betty Cooke and William O. Steinmetz Design Chair at the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has also authored several books, including most recently Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Non-Binary Field Guide for Graphic Designers. In the episode, hosted by Monotype’s Brand Designer Marie Boulanger, Ellen shares her perspectives on building a career in design, the power of bringing typography together with the written word, and the importance of representation within the design community.

To see Ellen’s work, visit ellenlupton.com or read our blog post at monotype.com/podcast

Tyler Haughey - Neon and nostalgia down on the unseen Jersey Shore. Oct 06, 2021

This week’s guest, photographer Tyler Haughey, has made a career for himself photographing the unseen angles of beach towns in the off-season—neon signs glowing in the snow, darkened motel rooms blinking out of deep hibernation, a promise to “see you next spring” painted by some unknown hand. We talk about how signage and other visual signifiers anchor memories in our minds, how those memories slowly transform into nostalgia, and how we reconcile the distance between places as they are and places as we want them to be. And we trade a few Jersey shore stories along the way, for good measure.

To see Tyler’s work, visit tylerhaughey.com or read our blog post at monotype.com/podcast.

James Horwitz - Bold type and big ideas from a cutting edge design mind. Sep 24, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

This week, Creative Type Director Charles Nix talks to James Horwitz, founder of the London-based design agency Two Times Elliott. The agency's work was featured heavily in Monotype’s 2020 Type Trends report, thanks to its inventive use of bold type. Even a quick glance at their portfolio reveals an agency working at the cutting edge of modern design.

James spoke with us during a London heat wave and shared the lessons he learned from founding a design agency, his approach to guiding clients through the creative process, and the impact of Instagram and social media on branding and design.

Make sure you check out the work at Two Times Elliott. It's excellent: https://www.2xelliott.co.uk/

To learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/.

Dan Black & Jes Seamans - DIY printmaking from the edges of America (and several Midwestern basements). Sep 10, 2021

This week’s guests are Jessica Seamans and Dan Black, who together comprise Landland. Landland is a small but mighty studio that designs and screenprints posters, primarily for bands and musicians. A lot of Landland’s aesthetic centers around the strange and forgotten and corners of society—the abandoned gas stations, rest stops, and other relics of lived lives—and the combination of linework, watercolor, imaginative imagery and lettering is truly unique. We discuss their early days of going to (and playing in) DIY punk shows, how screenprinting keeps you humble, and the evolving relationship between music and the art of the poster.

Check out their work at landland.bigcartel.net or on Instagram @landlandcolportage. Also be sure to read our blog post at monotype.com/podcast.

Michael Johnson - Design with a purpose. Aug 27, 2021

In this week’s episode, Senior Creative Type Director Phil Garnham sits down with the esteemed Michael Johnson, founder of the UK-based design firm Johnson Banks.

Michael has seen and done it all in the nearly thirty years since founding his studio, and he shares his perspective on design, branding, and the importance of purpose-driven work. This episode includes some bonus guitar playing and lots of sardonic humor, plus an amusing story about an old Monotype logo that never got a fair shake.

To learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/

James Edmondson - Let the design be what it wants to become. Aug 09, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

In our twelfth episode, we speak with James Edmondson, a renowned type designer and founder of OH no Type Company in California. James speaks with our own Charles Nix, and shares how he got his start in typography, as well as his perspective on designing a fulfilling creative career.

To learn more about James and his work, visit his website (https://ohnotype.co/), or check out our blog post.

To learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/.

Lauren Hom - There is no recipe for reinvention. Jul 30, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

In our eleventh episode, we speak with Lauren Hom, a celebrated designer and hand-letterer based in Detroit. Lauren shares her perspectives on design and how her personal vision has given her the courage to take on a new journey in her impressive career. This one is for everyone who is pursuing their passion, and is hosted by one of Monotype’s most passionate voices, Jay Loo (making his Creative Characters debut!).

To learn more about Lauren and her work, check out our blog post.

To learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/.

Hannelore Ocampo - How type keeps your car (and eyes) on the road. Jul 15, 2021

Monotype Creative Director and admitted car nut Terrance Weinzierl sits down with Hannelore Ocampo, Fonts Lead and Type Specialist at Ford Motor Company.

Terrance and Hanne discuss the countless ways type shapes the in-car experience, how type helps keep your eyes (and your car) on the road, and the role type will play in our self-driving future.

To check out more great Monotype content, head over to https://www.monotype.com/

Angelina Lippert - Charting the human experience through poster design. Jun 17, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

In this episode, Creative Type Director Charles Nix talks with Angelina Lippert, Chief Curator at the Posterhouse museum in New York City, about the history of poster design, the unseen hands behind some of the more iconic posters from history, and the finicky wonder of Rubylith.

To learn more about Angelina and Posterhouse, check out our blog post at monotype.com/podcast.

To learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit https://www.monotype.com.

John Norman - Visual storytelling for the masses. Jun 04, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

In our eighth episode, we speak with John Norman, a celebrated visual storyteller and former Chief Creative Officer of world-renowned creative agencies. John shares insights from his career, which started with an appreciation of typography and has spanned several decades, including work for iconic brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, HP, and many more.

To learn more about John and his work, check out our blog post. To learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit https://www.monotype.com/.

Sarah Hyndman - Celebrating typography, one taste (???) at a time. May 20, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

In our seventh episode, we speak with Sarah Hyndman, founder of Type Tasting and the author of several books, including Why Fonts Matter and How to Draw Fonts and Influence People. Sarah shares her mission to change the way we think and talk about typography by making it entertaining and relevant with humour, a dash of theater, and lashings of audience participation.

To learn more about Sarah and her work, visit typetasting.com and check out our blog post.

To learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit, montype.com

Chris Do - Can creatives make a living doing what they love? (Spoiler: yes.) May 06, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

In our sixth episode, we speak with Chris Do, award-winning designer, CEO and Chief Strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur—an online education platform that teaches creatives how to make a living doing what they love. Chris shares his vision for helping one billion people build meaningful careers, and discusses what the future holds for creative work.

To learn more about Chris and to connect with his team, visit thefutur.com and check out our blog post. Also, we’ve partnered with Chris on something pretty exciting: a set including his hand-picked, curated, all-time favorite typefaces. Explore all three font bundles here, which fit every application from posters, websites, identity systems, presentations and videos.Finally, to learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/.

Terrence Williams - The beauty and power of embracing identity in the workplace. Apr 22, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

In our fifth episode, we speak with Terrence Williams, Senior Design Lead at Salesforce. Terrence discusses the importance of relationship design for brands, and shares his perspective on building environments that allow designers to bring their full identities into the workplace.

To learn more about Terrence and to connect with his work, check out our blog post at http://monotype.com/resources/expertise/creative-characters-terrence-williams.

Also, be sure to read his brilliant article, “Designing My Blackness,” and listen to his new podcast, Macro Progressions.

To see what his team at Salesforce is working on, visit: https://www.salesforce.com/design/.

Finally, to learn more about Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/.

Tré Seals - Telling true stories through type. Apr 07, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype that explores the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

Our guest in episode four is Tré Seals, founder of the type studio Vocal Type. We talk about his efforts to break down stereotypes in design, create space and opportunity for designers from marginalized communities, and how a middle-school side gig, born out of a brush with serious childhood medical issues, helped him become the artist he is today.

To see Tré’s work and learn more about Vocal Type, visit: https://www.vocaltype.co/ or check out our blog post at http://monotype.com/resources/expertise/creative-characters-tre-seals.

To learn more about how Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/

Jenna Blazevich - Punk rock activism, one chain-stitched letter at a time. Mar 25, 2021

In this episode, we talk with Chicago-based lettering artist Jenna Blazevich, founder and sole proprietor of Vichcraft, a multi- disciplinary design studio that "works right around the line between art and design to build a collection of activist-driven products." Topics include (but are not limited to) chain stitching, punk rock, the artist’s role in social justice movements, and whatever the heck Malört is.

To see Jenna’s work, check out our blog post at https://www.monotype.com/resources/expertise/creative-characters-jenna-blazevich

Or visit her website at www.vichcraft.com and follow her on Instagram @vichcraft.

Scott Starrett - Designing an authentic, memorable, winning (and now iconic) political identity. Mar 11, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

In our second episode, Monotype Creative Type Director Charles Nix talks with Scott Starrett, Co-Founder and Principal of NYC design firm Tandem. Scott shares his story of a serendipitous introduction to a young bartender named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which led to Tandem designing the branding for her transformational 2018 Congressional campaign.

To learn more about Scott and the work Tandem is doing, visit: https://www.tandem.nyc/.

To learn more about how Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/

James Sommerville - Let's reimagine how creative work gets done, shall we? Feb 22, 2021

Welcome to Creative Characters, a podcast by Monotype exploring the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love.

This is our first episode, and our guest is James Sommerville, who has worked at several notable brands including The Coca-Cola Company. Today, he is the co-founder of KNOWN_UNKOWN and is working to transform the future of creative talent.

To learn more about James and the work he’s doing at KNOWN_UNKNOWN, visit: https://known--unknown.com/

To see a presentation James gave on his career journey and the future of creative work, visit: https://www.monotype.com/resources/videos/james-sommerville-keynote-brand-talks-connected

To learn more about how Monotype, and how we are empowering brands through type, visit: https://www.monotype.com/

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