This week, we sit down with designer David Jon Walker and talk about his journey from Nashville to Yale. We explore how David’s roots, family inspirations (his quilting grandmother!), and a persistent drive to learn have shaped his style and career in typography and design. David candidly shares the sacrifices, risks, and leaps of faith that brought him to where he is today, including starting a new MFA mid-life and juggling fatherhood. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with insights a...
Jul 16, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 12
Ohno Type Company is an industry rebel. Equal parts punk and precision, the studio is a direct reflection of founder James' Edmondson love of expression and eccentricity. From globular California hippie text (Chee) to deceptively complex takes on classic geometric forms (Polymath), James and his team chart their own course through the wilds of type design. In this interview from 2021, James discusses his story, process, and mindset with Monotype's Charles Nix, and shares his thoughts on building...
Jun 24, 2025•59 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Alex Swatridge is the kind of creative you wish you could just sit down and brainstorm with. In this episode, host Graham Sturt talks to Alex about co-founding DutchScot, her London-based design agency that’s making waves with bold, award-winning work. Preferring to gain inspiration from physical books and museum visits instead of scrolling, Alex shares her approach to design and how she stays true to her ideas while avoiding trends. Plus, hear Alex’s thoughts on AI in design and how DutchScot k...
Jun 11, 2025•47 min
Get ready for an honest chat with Bryan Edmondson, the visionary force behind London-based SEA Design . In this episode, Bryan shares his thoughtful approach to design and studio culture and explains why developing a simple design isn’t as simple as it looks. From focusing on identities that tell a story to mentoring young creatives, Bryan shares wisdom from nearly 30 years of running an award-winning studio. You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast Chec...
May 29, 2025•39 min•Season 5Ep. 9
We're ready for summer here at Creative Characters, so we decided to dig into the archives and explore the seasonal rhythms that influence art and life. From the ephemeral art of beach calligraphy by South Africa’s Andrew van der Merwe, to photographer Tyler Haughey’s striking portraits of off-season beach towns, to Justin Burns’ reflections on the magic of the British seaside, this episode explores how the summer season shapes creativity, placemaking, and memory. Tune in and get ready for summe...
May 15, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 8
From studying 19th-century sans serifs to expanding Gotham for the Obama Foundation, Sara Soskolne’s career has helped define how the world reads today. In this episode, Doug Wilson sits down with his longtime friend and brilliant type designer, Sara Soskolne, for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about growing up curious, falling into typography, and Sara’s experiences of coming into her own in a male-dominated field. It’s an episode filled with humor, insights, and a touch of typographic ma...
Apr 29, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Hold onto your sketchpads! This week, Livia Halltari sits down with Jess Goldsmith, the one-woman-show behind Women of Type. Jess talks about her creative journey — from doodling graffiti-inspired letters as a kid to building a global community that amplifies lettering work from women and non-binary creatives around the world. As a self-taught designer, lettering artist, and author, Jess also shares her advice for aspiring creatives. Check out Jess’s work on Instagram at @chickofalltrade, and se...
Apr 15, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this week’s episode, host Graham Sturt joins British designer and music producer Trevor Jackson in his Shoreditch studio. Surrounded by an impressive collection of music ephemera, they discuss Trevor’s creative approach, how he got into designing record sleeves for early house and hip-hop artists, and why he doesn’t believe in having a “house style.” Check out Trevor’s work at trevor-jackson.com Listen to Trevor’s monthly show on NTS Radio You can find blog posts for this and all our past epi...
Apr 02, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 5
On this week’s episode, Sydney-based artist Kris Andrew Small shares his journey from frustrated graphic designer to global creative powerhouse. He spills on how he transformed personal passion into bold, high-energy artwork that breaks rules and speaks volumes. From collaborating with icons like artist M.I.A., to creating campaigns for Nike and Reebok, Kris dives into his process, his love for color and movement, and why staying true to yourself is everything. Packed with thought-provoking mome...
Mar 18, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this episode of Creative Characters, we dive into the whirlwind world of political design with Shar Biggers, the creative mind behind some of the most memorable campaign visuals in recent US politics. Join us as we chat about Shar’s unexpected journey into political campaign branding, from designing Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run to her most recent role as Deputy Creative Director for the Harris-Walz campaign. Shar takes us inside last-minute logo sprints, the art of balancing bold t...
Mar 05, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Typography is more than just choosing cool fonts — it gives designers and brands the power to take action and spark change. This episode of Creative Characters is all about shaking things up in the design world with Monotype’s Re:Vision, a transformative approach to our annual Type Trends report. Host Carl Unger joins report creators, Phil Garnham and Charles Nix, along with design leader and futurist, Lisa Gralnek, to discuss how typography can impact big cultural topics like AI, climate change...
Feb 19, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Ever wondered what happens when you combine ceramics with typography and throw in a DIY 3D printer for good measure? Join us for a delightful chat with Taekyeom Lee, the graphic designer and educator who takes typography off the page and into the third dimension. Host Doug Wilson dives deep into Taekyeom’s inventive world where letters become slinkies, and business cards are embossed on demand. From his adventurous journey from South Korea to the cornfields of Illinois — to his experiments with ...
Feb 05, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 1
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 fi...
Dec 18, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 20
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
Dec 04, 2024•44 min•Season 4Ep. 19
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 ...
Nov 14, 2024•56 min•Season 4Ep. 18
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...
Nov 04, 2024•44 min•Season 4Ep. 17
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 l...
Oct 23, 2024•59 min•Season 4Ep. 16
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 ....
Sep 26, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 15
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...
Sep 12, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 13
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 th...
Aug 22, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 13
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 i...
Aug 07, 2024•28 min•Season 4Ep. 12
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 crea...
Jul 23, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 11
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 exactl...
Jul 09, 2024•24 min
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 c...
Jun 25, 2024•25 min
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 to...
Jun 13, 2024•26 min
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 co...
Jun 11, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 10
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...
May 30, 2024•47 min•Season 4Ep. 9
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 c...
May 14, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 8
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 inte...
Apr 30, 2024•53 min•Season 4Ep. 7
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 d...
Apr 16, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 6
