For many designers making it to the coveted role of Creative Director at a reputable agency is viewed as a ‘dream job’, and the realisation of reaching the very top of the career ladder. Monotype’s Phil Garnham discusses what it takes to become a Creative Director and how to thrive in the position.

In Episode 16, we talk with Tyler Haughey, a photographer whose work highlights otherwise unseen details of Jersey shore beach towns in the off-season. He discusses the creative influence of having a father who was a sign painter, as well as the nature of memory and how signage and décor help anchor experiences in our minds.  

In Episode 15, Creative Type Director Charles Nix talks to James Horowitz during a London heatwave about the lessons he learned from founding a design agency, his approach to guiding clients through the creative process, and the impact of Instagram and social media on branding and design.

Juan Villanueva, Type Designer at Monotype was interviewed by Print Magazine to discuss his thoughts on what the new normal could look like post-pandemic. Check out the below to explore Juan’s thoughts - and ask yourself does post-pandemic mean ‘the new normal’ or ‘the next normal’ to you?

In Episode 17, Monotype’s Brand Designer, Marie Boulanger talks with Ellen Lupton, writer, curator, educator, and designer. They discuss her recent book, Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designers, and Lupton’s mission to democratize type through teaching, collaborating, and writing. 

On Creative Characters, we meet the people and personalities behind the brands, campaigns, and designs we love. You can listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and wherever quality podcasts are available.

In Episode 12, Creative Type Director Charles Nix speaks with James Edmondson, founder of OH no Type Company in California. James shares how he got his start in typography, as well as his perspective on designing a fulfilling creative career.

This year, we had the joy of collaborating with Middlesex University and Andy Gossett’s typography module. Phil Garnham (Creative type director and Middlesex alumni) and Emilios Theofanous (Type Designer, Monotype), had the opportunity to host two online sessions with Middlesex students.

In episode 11, Monotype’s Jay Loo interviews Lauren Hom, celebrated designer and hand-lettering artist. The two discuss how to build a creative career, and Lauren shares a new passion she is preparing to pursue.

In our first episode, we talked with James Sommerville, co-founder of KNOWN_UNKOWN, about his ideas for the future of creative work, community, and work/life balance in a post-pandemic world.

In our second episode, Monotype Creative Type Director Charles Nix talked with Scott Starret, co-founder of the design studio Tandem NYC, about serendipity and the experience of designing for a transformational political candidate.

In episode three we talked with Chicago-based lettering artist Jenna Blazevich, about chain stitching, punk rock, intersectional feminism, and whatever the heck Malört is.

In episode four we talked with Tré Seals, founder of Vocal Type, about his efforts to break down stereotypes in design and how a middle-school side gig, born out of a brush with serious childhood medical issues, helped him become the artist he is today.

In episode five we talked with Terrence Williams, Senior Design Lead at Salesforce, who discusses the emergence of relationship design, and shares why it is important for people to bring their full identities into their work.

In episode six we talked with Chris Do, award-winning designer, CEO and Chief Strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur—an online education platform that teaches creatives how to make a living doing what they love.

In episode seven we talked with Sarah Hyndman, founder of Type Tasting and the author of several books, including Why Fonts Matter and How to Draw Fonts and Influence People.

Our guest in episode eight was John Norman, a celebrated visual storyteller and former Chief Creative Officer of world-renowned creative agencies like Translation, The Martin Agency, and most recently, Havas Chicago.

Creative Type Director Charles Nix talks with Angelina Lippert, Chief Curator at the Posterhouse museum in New York City, about the history of poster design, the unseen hands behind some of the more iconic posters from history, and the finicky wonder of Rubylith.