ArtsDesignVisual Arts

Creative Characters

Monotype

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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24 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 48 min
English

Episodes 24

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S6 · E16
November 6 · 37 min
Jun Kamo on surfing, sign painting, and the art of riding creative waves.
Jun Kamo is a Tokyo-based multifaceted designer and artist who's on a roll with lettering and sign painting at the moment. Host Terrance Weinzierl talks to Kamo about his creative journey—from growing up in Southern California around surf culture to designing sportswear on the West Coast to developing a passion for sign painting while living nomadically in a van. Wax your board and zip up your wetsuit—there's a lot of surfing involved. Check out Jun's work on Instagram @tokyonegi You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/creative-characters
S6 · E15
October 8 · 51 min
Raven Mo on chop suey fonts, multilingual type, and the myth of authenticity.
This week, host Dan Rhatigan talks with NYC-based identity designer and type researcher Raven Mo. Raven studies cultural essentialism in typography and dives into her research on chop suey fonts—a Latin style of letterform that is meant to visually signal "Chineseness"—and why they are problematic. Raven and Dan also discuss multilingual typography, the importance of local expertise, and why translation alone doesn't make a design resonate. Check out Raven's work at ravenmo.info or follow her on Instagram @ravenmodesign. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/resources/podcast.
S6 · E14
August 27 · 53 min
From Rio to Barcelona: Naipe Foundry on making Brazilian-inspired type.
This week, host Dan Rhatigan catches up with Felipe Casaprima and Álvaro Franca of Barcelona-based Naipe Foundry. Felipe and Álvaro met while studying typography in Rio de Janeiro and launched Naipe in 2018 with a goal of telling Brazilian stories through type. The two tell the story behind their retail font that's inspired by stone-carved letters at São Paulo's Pacaembu stadium; share how they built the foundry across continents and time zones; and discuss how community and collaboration have helped their foundry grow. Check out Naipe's work at https://naipefoundry.com You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/podcast
S6 · E13
August 12 · 44 min
Jim Sutherland on slowing down to make things that matter.
This week, host Graham Sturt sits down with Jim Sutherland to talk about London-based Studio Sutherl&—a design practice built on ideas, collaboration, and joy. Jim explains why he avoids a fixed house style, why discomfort can lead to better outcomes, and how a spontaneous trip to Wales led to his involvement in MTTR, a sustainable denim brand. Follow Jim's work at https://studio-sutherland.co.uk or on Instagram @studio_sutherland.
S6 · E12
July 29 · 50 min
Matt Holmes on tinkering, type, and the joy of making.
In this episode, we enter the world of serial tinkerer, Matt Holmes. A world where printing presses are rebuilt with 3D-printed parts and the finer points of typography are mastered through the trial and error of making physical type. Tune in for a conversation about curiosity, experimentation, and why learning sometimes works best when we slow down and make things with our hands. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/podcast
S6 · E11
July 14 · 43 min
Ben Kelly on designing spaces that shape culture.
This week, Graham Sturt sits down with legendary British designer Ben Kelly to explore the ideas, collaborations, and creative philosophy behind a career that has shaped British design culture. From the iconic Hacienda nightclub to museums, exhibitions, and public spaces, Ben reflects on designing for longevity rather than fashion, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and why context is the starting point for great design. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/podcast.
S6 · E10
July 1 · 53 min
Typography, AI, and the future of design tools with Typogram.
What if design tools helped you make smarter design decisions? This week, Dan Rhatigan talks with Typogram co-founders Hua Shu and Wenting Zhang about typography, side projects, AI, and the thrill of building tools for other creatives. Hua and Wenting share how New York's visual landscape shaped their love of type, how experimental side projects led them to entrepreneurship, and why publishing imperfect ideas can open unexpected doors. They also dig into Typogram's two design tools: Typogram, a guided branding tool for non-designers, and Typogram Studio, a typography-first tool built for designers who want to explore the hidden richness inside fonts. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, craft, and what happens when designers build the tools they wish existed. As a special thank-you for listening, we're giving away a mystery font pack. Inside, you'll get three premium font families to use for commercial projects. All for free. Claim yours at https://typogram.co/launch. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at https://www.monotype.com/resources/podcast.
S6 · E9
June 3 · 43 min
Crafting thoughtful designs with Hugh Miller of Pentagram.
In this episode, Tom Foley speaks with Pentagram Partner Hugh Miller about creativity, collaboration, and the experiences that shape a design career. From music and typography to sketchbooks, record sleeves, and creative partnerships, Hugh reflects on the importance of self-critique, surrounding yourself with people who push you, and why great ideas rarely come from the first solution. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S6 · E8
May 20 · 34 min
Marta Cerdà Alimbau on why design needs time.
What happens to creativity when designers are expected to work faster? In this episode, host Phil Garnham speaks with Barcelona-based designer and typographer Marta Cerdà Alimbau about the growing tension between speed, technology, and creating meaningful design work. Known for blending typography and illustration into expressive visual systems for global brands like Vogue, Nike, and The New York Times, Marta reflects on why doubt, memory, craft, and process still matter in an era shaped by automation and AI. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S6 · E7
May 6 · 43 min
John Trauscht on what it takes to design at Pixar.
What does it take to bring a Pixar film to life for audiences around the world? In this episode, host Bill Connolly sits down with John Trauscht, Senior Graphic Designer at Pixar Animation Studios, to explore the craft behind adapting films for global audiences and the creative mindset that makes it all possible. From designing band posters to shaping global Pixar films, John's career has been consistently artistic but not exactly linear. He shares how collaboration, critique, and "creative surfing" help bring stories to life across languages and why humans are still central to storytelling. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S6 · E6
April 23 · 55 min
The Stone Twins on craft, conflict, and creative chemistry.
What happens when your creative partner is also your identical twin? In this episode, The Stone Twins—Garech and Declan Stone—share how a lifelong relationship built on trust, honesty, and a bit of friction fuels their work. From their upbringing in Dublin to building a studio in Amsterdam, they reflect on why competing ideas often lead to stronger outcomes and why, in a fast-moving industry, original thinking and human perspective matter more than ever. The Stone Twins also unpack their unique approach to branding, from shaping the identity of Amsterdam's A'DAM Tower to turning an Irish postage stamp into a storytelling platform, all while making the case for craft, clarity, and creating work people talk about. You can find blog posts for this and other episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S6 · E5
March 25 · 40 min
Sofie Beier breaks down legibility for designers.
What makes something easy — or frustrating — to read? In this episode, typeface legibility expert Sofie Beier shares an introduction to legibility and readability from a designer's point of view. Sofie and host Terrance Weinzierl discuss common legibility myths, how typeface designers should plan for legibility, and some real-world consequences of poor legibility and readability. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S6 · E4
March 11 · 50 min
Finding your creative voice with Goodtype.
This week we're joined by the dynamic duo of Ilana Griffo and Katie Johnson. They're creatives, co-owners of Goodtype, and co-authors of a new book, Follow Your Art: Uncover and Unleash Your Creative Voice. With a community of 1 million on Instagram — as well as digital courses and events IRL — Goodtype is a resource for type lovers, artists, and designers to connect and learn. Katie and Ilana are obsessed with helping creatives find their unique voice. In this episode, they open up about their own creative voices and share strategies to help you find yours. Follow Your Art: Uncover and Unleash Your Creative Voice comes out March 17. You can pre-order it here: https://goodtype.us/follow-your-art-book To explore the Goodtype community, or to check out Ilana and Katie's work, head to goodtype.us or follow them on Instagram at goodtype. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S6 · E3
February 18 · 50 min
How type design changed everything for Magdalena Arasanz.
In this episode, host Kelci Elliott sits down with Magdalena Arasanz, co-founder of W Type Foundry, to talk about falling unexpectedly in love with type, building a creative business from scratch, and what it really takes to turn design obsession into momentum. From quirky experimental fonts and the story behind their playful typeface "Puffy" to navigating the business side of running a foundry, Magdalena shares a candid, energizing look at creativity, risk, and growth. Tune in to uncover the moments that sparked transformation and the ideas that continue to fuel Magdalena's journey. To check out work from Magdalena and WTF, head to wtypefoundry.com, MyFonts.com, or follow them on Instagram at wtypefoundry. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S6 · E2
February 4 · 51 min
Signal Type: Crafting letters with passion and precision.
New York-born Max Phillips has been drawing letters for money since he was a teenager. But his path to full-time type design was a bit circuitous — and even involves a stint as a novelist. Join us as Max, founder of Dublin-based Signal Type, waxes poetically about designing typefaces. He shares the creative process behind his diverse library; how Hermann Zapf has influenced him; and the delicate balance between crafting bold faces to amuse yourself and making versatile fonts for the design world. Check out the newly expanded version of Max's Reckham family from Signal Type on MyFonts and Monotype Fonts. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S6 · E1
January 21 · 44 min
Shaping Thai type and design with Cadson Demak.
This week, we travel to Thailand to hear the story behind Cadson Demak, the Bangkok-based type foundry and design studio that has been shaping the landscape of Thai typography and design for 25 years. Host Dan Rhatigan chats with Founding Partner Anuthin Wongsunkakon and Senior Type Designer Nalat Jaturapattarapong about how their foundry and studio have influenced Thai type culture, moving from a time when fonts were undervalued to building a thriving industry. They discuss the complexities of the Thai script, the evolution of the design industry in Thailand, and their pivotal role in educating designers and creating infrastructure for the industry. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S5 · E22
Dec 17, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Designing the future with Malcolm Garrett.
Step into the world of Malcolm Garrett, an iconic British graphic designer whose career is grounded in punk rock and new technology.In this episode, Malcolm talks about designing record sleeves for bands like Buzzcocks, Duran Duran, and Simple Minds, as well as his enthusiasm for adopting new digital design tools. From the DIY spirit of London's Shoreditch neighborhood in the '80s to learning how to design on Apple IIe computers and early iterations of Adobe Illustrator, Malcolm's reflections offer a glimpse into the evolution of graphic design over the past five decades. You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S5 · E21
Dec 3, 2025 · 46 min
Tackling climate change with creativity, with Bruce Mau Design.
Toronto-based Bruce Mau Design is known for tackling environmental, social, and economic problems with design. Kar Yan Cheung, Director of Design Strategy at Bruce Mau, and Laura Stein, Bruce Mau's Chief Creative Officer, joined us to talk about optimism, the realistic potential for design to influence behavior, and our Re:Vision project with the agency. Also joining us are Monotype's Terrance Weinzierl and Phil Garnham, and Phil's puppy, Otto. You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast.
S5 · E20
Nov 21, 2025 · 40 min
The fun of finding fonts at Adobe MAX 2025.
Tune in for an inside scoop on Adobe Max 2025, a hub for creativity and design. In this episode, hosts Carl Unger, Kadley Gosselin, and Livia Halltari guide participants through an interactive Find the Font game and reveal which font they'd send in their place to a job interview. We also trade notes about MAX's vibrant artist marketplace; talk to Monotype Executive Creative Director, Sara Soskolne, about her work expanding the iconic Gotham typeface for the Obama Foundation; and catch up with John Roshell of Comicraft. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast
S5 · E19
Nov 4, 2025 · 37 min
Balancing expressiveness and readability with Cyla Costa.
Cyla Costa's work feels alive. Hailing from Curitiba, Brazil, she's an award-winning graphic artist and type designer known for expressive lettering and vibrant color palettes. Feminism, strength, inclusivity, and culture are a few of the themes her work explores. This week, Cyla chats with host Molly Doane about building a creative career and studio in Brazil, her approach to type design, and why letters are not only meant to be read. You can find blog posts for this and past episodes at monotype.com/podcast

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