Creative Characters

Monotype
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Creative Characters

We live in a world awash in typography - whether we realize it or not. From the road signs that lead us home to the phones in our pockets, typography is front and center in nearly every waking moment of our day. Come meet the people and hear the stories behind the letters that shape our world.

  1. DEC 18

    You’re going to need a passport: Simon Waterfall on sharpening and expanding your design practice.

    Creative Director Simon Waterfall is a creative character in every sense. Simon's built multiple creative agencies and has worked for global brands, like Intel, Airbnb, and Vevo. Now he's about to launch a new product: a sustainable cocktail in a can, developed with James Beard Award-winning spirts expert, Thad Vogler. Simon chats with host Bill Connolly about why not to repeat what you're good at, his advice for designers starting out, and Waste — his new sustainable canned cocktail. You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast

    41 min

  2. DEC 4

    Cat How on building a branding agency that stands out.

    Cat How launched How&How in May 2020, during the height of the pandemic, with her husband, Roger. Four years later, they’re an agency of about 20 people, with studios in London and Los Angeles. In this episode, host Tom Foley chats with Cat about building an ethical branding agency, tackling big projects, and having fun at work. You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast

    44 min

  3. NOV 14

    Kelli Anderson on the art and power of papercraft.

    Kelli Anderson makes objects out of paper that explore design and the world around us. Her popular books — “This Book is a Camera” and “This Book is a Planetarium” — both include pop-up stripped down paper contraptions designed to teach how common objects — like cameras, speakers, and stringed instruments — work. Luckily for us type nerds, Kelli is in the process of making “Alphabet in Motion” — a pop-up book about how letters get their shape. The book dives deep into the history of letterforms and includes hundreds of color images mined from the archives of type design. Creative Characters host, Doug Wilson, catches up with Kelli about her forthcoming book, her passion for teaching design with tactile objects, and her love of all things paper. If you'd like to learn more about "Alphabet in Motion" or back Kelli's Kickstarter, visit kellianderson.com/kickstarter You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

    56 min

  4. NOV 4

    Searching for our inner child at Adobe MAX 2024.

    This year, Adobe MAX migrated to Miami Beach, attracting thousands of creatives for three days of inspiring talks, playful brand activations, and a “total creative nerd fest,” as one guest told us. Throughout the week, we brought people inside a universe of type, had heartfelt conversations about the power of creative intuition, and nurtured our creative inner children. Adobe MAX always leaves us feeling refreshed, inspired, and amazed at the creative community.   In this episode, you’ll hear from twenty or so voices, including screen printers, creative evangelists, students, and educators, all of whom were kind enough to share their time and their stories with us on the mic. Thanks for tuning in!  A special thanks to all our amazing guests. Check out their work below:  Ben Vanderberg – benvanderberg.medium.com     Dale Zine – instagram.com/dale_zine  Eunsan Huh – behance.net/eunsan  Good Type – goodtype.us  Just Okay Company – justokay.co  Karin Fong – imaginaryforces.com  Kerry Squires – kerry-squires.com  Marie Boulanger – marie-boulanger.com Spike Spondike – instagram.com/spike_spondike  Little Friends Of – instagram.com/littlefriendsof  Meg Lewis – meglewis.com  Nigel French – nigelfrench.com    You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.

    44 min

  5. OCT 23

    Exploring the American design story behind Field Notes with Jim Coudal.

    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.

    59 min

  6. SEP 26

    Never snap to guides: Exploring creative freedom with David Carson.

    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.

    55 min

  7. SEP 12

    Embracing Chaos and Stillness: Astrid Stavro’s Design Philosophy.

    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.

    32 min

  8. AUG 22

    Revisiting Scott Starrett and how to design a visually stunning political campaign.

    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

    45 min
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4.7
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

We live in a world awash in typography - whether we realize it or not. From the road signs that lead us home to the phones in our pockets, typography is front and center in nearly every waking moment of our day. Come meet the people and hear the stories behind the letters that shape our world.

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