Creative Characters

53:19

From Rio to Barcelona: Naipe Foundry on making...

Creative Characters ·

2026/08/27

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

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44:49

Jim Sutherland on slowing down to make things that...

Creative Characters ·

2026/08/12

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.

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50:12

Matt Holmes on tinkering, type, and the joy of making.

Creative Characters ·

2026/07/29

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

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43:04

Ben Kelly on designing spaces that shape culture.

Creative Characters ·

2026/07/14

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

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53:02

Typography, AI, and the future of design tools with...

Creative Characters ·

2026/07/01

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

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43:44

Crafting thoughtful designs with Hugh Miller of...

Creative Characters ·

2026/06/03

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.

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34:22

Marta Cerdà Alimbau on why design needs time.

Creative Characters ·

2026/05/20

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

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43:42

John Trauscht on what it takes to design at Pixar.

Creative Characters ·

2026/05/06

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"

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55:30

The Stone Twins on craft, conflict, and creative...

Creative Characters ·

2026/04/23

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

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40:38

Sofie Beier breaks down legibility for designers.

Creative Characters ·

2026/03/25

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.

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50:56

Finding your creative voice with Goodtype.

Creative Characters ·

2026/03/11

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

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50:45

How type design changed everything for Magdalena...

Creative Characters ·

2026/02/18

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 hit typeface "Puffy" to navigating the business side of running a foundry, Magdalenashares a candid, energizing look at creativity, risk, and growth. Tune in to uncover the

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51:57

Signal Type: Crafting letters with passion and...

Creative Characters ·

2026/02/04

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

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44:09

Shaping Thai type and design with Cadson Demak.

Creative Characters ·

2026/01/21

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

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01:03:04

Designing the future with Malcolm Garrett.

Creative Characters ·

2025/12/17

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

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46:01

Tackling climate change with creativity, with Bruce...

Creative Characters ·

2025/12/03

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

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40:04

The fun of finding fonts at Adobe MAX 2025.

Creative Characters ·

2025/11/21

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

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37:43

Balancing expressiveness and readability with Cyla...

Creative Characters ·

2025/11/04

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

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01:10:38

Connecting people to places with Joy Nazzari.

Creative Characters ·

2025/10/21

In this episode, Joy Nazzari chats about her corner of the design world—place branding—with host Marie Boulanger. Joy is the Founder and Executive Chair of DNCO, an agency that’s done branding for neighborhoods in London, New York, and Vancouver as well as the city of San Francisco. From her early days in finance and tech to building an agency that centers both creativity and business strategy, Joy shares her perspective on design leadership, the power of discomfort, and how to connect people to

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01:02:35

Type, travel, and togetherness with Veronika Burian.

Creative Characters ·

2025/10/07

What does it take to build an international type foundry from scratch — and keep it thriving for nearly two decades? In this episode, host Doug Wilson talks with Veronika Burian, co-founder of the independent type foundry TypeTogether. From her background in industrial design to discovering a love for typography while working in Milan, Veronika shares how global experiences shaped her perspective and inspired her to build a remote global team. You’ll hear about the delicate craft of designing

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