Creative Characters

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.