CAPTN OffScript

CAPTN OffScript

CAPTN OffScript (previously The Type Convo) is where bold creatives go unscripted. Hosted by Alen, a type designer and creative founder behind SilverStag Type Foundry, the podcast dives into real, raw conversations with the people behind the work. Designers, founders, illustrators, storytellers, and makers who’ve carved their own paths. No scripts. No filters. No fluff. Just honest talk about creativity, imposter syndrome, reinvention, burnout, breakthroughs, and everything in between. New episodes weekly. Come aboard and go OffScript.

  1. S02/E16 - Hyperfocus on What Matters – Building a Modern Design Studio Without the Noise

    8 HRS AGO

    S02/E16 - Hyperfocus on What Matters – Building a Modern Design Studio Without the Noise

    In this episode, I sit down with Paul and Jan, founders of Hyperfocus, to talk about building a design studio with intention in an industry that constantly pulls your attention in a hundred different directions. We discuss how Hyperfocus was founded during a moment of uncertainty, and how that experience shaped their approach to work, culture, and decision-making. From the influence of skateboarding and street culture to working with international clients, they share how personal background often becomes the invisible foundation of strong creative systems. A big part of the conversation centers on focus – not as a productivity trick, but as a philosophy. We talk about why brand and product should never be disconnected, how clarity improves collaboration, and why doing fewer things well often leads to better outcomes than chasing everything at once. Paul and Jan also open up about imposter syndrome, leadership, and the emotional realities of running a studio. We explore how creative confidence evolves over time, how doubt never fully disappears, and why building healthy boundaries is just as important as building strong work. The episode closes with reflections on AI, craft, and the future of design. Rather than replacing creativity, new tools are forcing designers to be more intentional, more thoughtful, and more human. A grounded, honest conversation about focus, culture, and building a studio that lasts.

    1h 1m
  2. S02/E15 - Alex Trochut on Creativity, Identity, and Staying Human in a Hyper-Optimized World

    21 JAN

    S02/E15 - Alex Trochut on Creativity, Identity, and Staying Human in a Hyper-Optimized World

    In this episode, I sit down with Alex Trochut for one of the most personal and reflective conversations we’ve had on the podcast. We talk about creativity, identity, and what it really means to stay human in a world that constantly pushes optimization, speed, and output. Alex shares stories from growing up in Barcelona, discovering graphic design early, and being shaped by a family environment where creativity, culture, and craft were always present. A particularly moving part of the conversation centers around Alex’s grandfather. We also explore Alex’s decision to leave Spain, his years in New York and California, and what it means to build a creative life as an immigrant. Alex speaks openly about belonging, distance, and how moving away from home can sharpen your sense of identity rather than dilute it. We talk about cities as creative accelerators, but also about the personal cost of constantly adapting. The conversation moves into creative evolution. Alex shares his honest resistance to new tools, the fear of change, and the moment he realized that repeating what already worked was quietly limiting him. Learning 3D later in his career became less about technology and more about breaking patterns, opening new creative doors, and reconnecting with curiosity. We also talk about music, DJing, personal projects, and the importance of having creative spaces that exist outside commercial expectations. Alex reflects on freedom, experimentation, and why staying playful is not a luxury, but a necessity for a long creative life. This episode isn’t about trends, tools, or success metrics. It’s about roots, evolution, vulnerability, and designing a creative career that stays emotionally honest over time. If you’ve ever questioned your direction, felt stuck in repetition, or wondered how to grow without losing yourself, this conversation will resonate.

    1h 2m
  3. S02/E12 - Kieron Anthony Lewis on Editorial Design, Identity, and Finding Meaning Through Work

    17/12/2025

    S02/E12 - Kieron Anthony Lewis on Editorial Design, Identity, and Finding Meaning Through Work

    Kieron Anthony Lewis is an editorial designer, speaker, educator, and Adobe Live host whose work is deeply rooted in culture, community, and meaning. In this conversation, we go far beyond design portfolios and talk about the life experiences that shaped how he works and why he creates. We discuss the monumental Lagos publication, designing books as cultural artifacts, and how Kieron’s love for magazines and editorial structure began long before he knew design was a career. He shares his journey through agencies, freelancing during COVID, and the unexpected chain of events that led to working with Adobe and major publishers. The episode opens up into fatherhood, grief, identity, and perspective. Kieron reflects on becoming one of the Design for Planet Trailblazers on the same day he lost his grandfather, and how that moment reshaped his understanding of success, ambition, and what truly matters. This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about creative purpose, humility, and building a life that aligns with your values, not just your output. 🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons. Welcome to CAPTN OffScript. — 🔗 Full show notes and episode transcript: https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e11-james-barnard-on-creativity-speed-and-designing-a-life-you-love 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript ✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week, where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.

    1h 6m
  4. S02/E11 - James Barnard on Creativity, Speed, and Designing a Life You Love

    10/12/2025

    S02/E11 - James Barnard on Creativity, Speed, and Designing a Life You Love

    James Barnard is one of the most recognizable logo designers working today, but this conversation goes far beyond logos. We talk about how he entered design at 25, why he left agency life, and how freelancing became the turning point that gave him freedom and clarity in his work. James shares how a single TikTok changed everything, why he only presents one concept to clients, and how he built a process that now gets projects signed off with no amends. We get into speed, systems, taste, experience, and how his Illustrator mastery became a core part of his career. He also explains how Allan Peters’ brand noun method helped him rebuild his entire approach to discovery and direction. We talk about momentum, visibility, imposter feelings, and the pressure creators feel to always keep up. James opens up about burnout, family life in Australia, raising kids, wildlife encounters, and the real tradeoffs behind the lifestyle he intentionally (and unintentionally) designed. There are stories from Adobe Max, embarrassing Allan Peters on stage, building the Designers Community, and how teaching, connection, and sharing knowledge became a huge part of why he shows up online. If you’re a designer, freelancer, or creative navigating uncertainty, growth, or overwhelm, this episode offers clear, grounded insight into building a career that feels good and actually works. 🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons. Welcome to CAPTN OffScript. — 🔗 Full show notes and episode transcript: https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e11-james-barnard-on-creativity-speed-and-designing-a-life-you-love 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript ✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week, where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.

    1h 6m
  5. S02/E10 - The Creative Life of Angela Lyons: Visibility, Intent, and Showing Up

    03/12/2025

    S02/E10 - The Creative Life of Angela Lyons: Visibility, Intent, and Showing Up

    In this episode of CAPTN OffScript, I sit down with UK based designer, creative director, and community builder Angela Lyons for a grounded and deeply honest conversation about the creative life. Angela has worked in the industry for more than 20 years across branding, editorial design, magazine design, web design, and podcasting. She is also the co creator of Freelancer Magazine and the host of Creatives Like Us. We explore the themes that shaped Angela’s recent years, including visibility, intention, and her commitment to showing up even when it feels uncomfortable. Angela shares her perspective on social media pressure, the challenges of staying consistent, and the internal battles that many creatives never talk about publicly. We also dive into community, mental health, and identity. Angela opens up about her experiences as a woman of colour in the design industry, the biases she encountered early on, and how much the landscape has changed. She talks about the power of community through Freelancer Magazine and Black Women on Wheels, a London based cycling group where she found connection, movement, and joy. This conversation also touches on anxiety, imposter syndrome, parenting, and the importance of stepping away from the desk to find clarity. Angela shares how she uses yearly vision boards to stay intentional and how she has learned to trust herself more with each passing year. If you are navigating your own creative journey, this episode with Angela Lyons offers perspective, encouragement, and a reminder that none of us figure this out alone. 🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons. Welcome to CAPTN OffScript. — 🔗 Full show notes and episode transcript: https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e10-the-creative-life-of-angela-lyons-visibility-intent-and-showing-up 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript ✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week, where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.

    1h 11m
  6. S02/E09 - David Airey on Creativity, Calm, and a Life Built With Intention

    26/11/2025

    S02/E09 - David Airey on Creativity, Calm, and a Life Built With Intention

    In this episode of CAPTN OffScript I sit down with David Airey, a designer whose books, thinking, and calm perspective have shaped how countless creatives approach identity design. But we go far beyond the craft in this conversation and explore the human side of a long creative life. David talks openly about growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, finding his way through early jobs, and how traveling across Asia shifted his understanding of the world. He shares the story of building a twenty year independent career, how he learned to slow down, and why he chooses a life defined by intention instead of speed. A big part of this episode focuses on comparison, self doubt, and the quiet pressure that follows every creative who works in public. David explains why comparing yourself to other designers is never healthy and why the only comparison that matters is the one with your past self. He talks about fatherhood, family, burnout, balance, the need to disconnect, and the small moments that bring meaning back into your days. We also dive into the third edition of Logo Design Love. David walks through what it feels like to revisit and rewrite work more than a decade later, how much of the book has changed, and why designing for yourself is always harder than designing for others. This is a calm, thoughtful, and deeply human conversation about creativity, life, focus, and the choices that shape who we become. If you are a designer, freelancer, or someone trying to build a creative career without losing yourself in the noise, this episode will resonate on a different level. Tune in for one of the most grounding conversations of the season. 🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons. Welcome to CAPTN OffScript. — 🔗 Full show notes and episode transcript: https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e09-david-airey-on-creativity-calm-and-a-life-built-with-intention 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript ✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week, where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.

    1h 3m

About

CAPTN OffScript (previously The Type Convo) is where bold creatives go unscripted. Hosted by Alen, a type designer and creative founder behind SilverStag Type Foundry, the podcast dives into real, raw conversations with the people behind the work. Designers, founders, illustrators, storytellers, and makers who’ve carved their own paths. No scripts. No filters. No fluff. Just honest talk about creativity, imposter syndrome, reinvention, burnout, breakthroughs, and everything in between. New episodes weekly. Come aboard and go OffScript.

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