Talk Paper Scissors

Meet emerging typeface designers, Max Berardi and Cecilia Ly! Max designed a typeface called League Gothic and Cecilia designed a typeface called Verre Fondu and in the following conversation, you'll get to hear about each typeface. You'll also hear their perfect type pairings, sensory descriptions of each (sight, smell, touch, sound and even taste), what was easy and difficult about the process, including what they’d do differently next time. Let the type geekery begin! I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

Today's guest is Franz Hoffman, designer-turned-entrepreneur and cofounder of Fontself, which brings easy type-making capabilities into the hands of all creatives. In this conversation you’ll learn why Fontself was created and more about Fontself as a tool and its evolution, hearing about some interesting projects from around the globe with the Fontself toolset at their centre. Experimentation, iteration and democratization are all themes explored throughout the following 40 minutes. This episode is not sponsored by Fontself; I believe that it’s just a really great tool that I was excited to learn more about from Franz directly. This episode is co-hosted by Graphic Designer, Michael Young. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

Today’s guest is the best designer in the world! [Source: his website, TheBestDesignerInTheWorld.com] Harbor Bickmore is a graphic designer and type designer, selling his work under That That Type. In this conversation you’ll hear why Harbor got into typeface design and his process for creating typefaces. You’ll hear about Harbor’s favourite typeface he’s released to date, as well as what hasn’t worked in his type design experimentation (the juicy failures!). You’ll also hear about Harbor’s new offering: That That Font Box, a font-of-the-month club for type enthusiasts. It’s a creative solution to the problem of selling type in a time that’s proving difficult for type designers. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

In this episode you’ll hear artist Sarah Nguyen’s multi-hyphenated career and her role as a life-long learner. Sarah shares the deepest and most delicious answer to ‘why paper?’ ever articulated in 188 episodes of this podcast. You’ll hear about the stories woven within Sarah’s paper cut artworks, which can be up to 20 feet long, as well as the details of working with Tyvek as a medium and the ways in which ‘drawing with a knife’ means that there’s no eraser. We dig into the concept of failure and the way Sarah views ‘failed’ cuts into her artwork. Sarah and I embark on a little inspired improv, revealing the magic of storytelling, following your intuition and what can happen when art is treated a community act. Equally as delightful as her partner, Phong, I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation between Sarah and I as much as I enjoyed having it. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

In this episode you’ll hear author Phong Nguyen’s playful approach to his work that harnesses ‘beginner mind’. You’ll learn more about Phong’s 4th book, ROUNDABOUT: An Improvisational Fiction that has a clever narrative, fascinating process and incredible constraints… there are no letter e’s found within the 60,000 word book! (More accurately, there’s a single e, which you’ll hear about in the episode.) This book project is all about constraints, as well as yes-anding; applying the foundations of improvisational theatre to writing. We talk subconscious, we talk speed and we talk space in the act of creative making. You’ll also learn about his next book project that’s almost complete. Phong is delightful and I trust you’ll enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

There are few things more typographically satisfying than recognizing type in the wild. Gotham over here, Futura over there, Helvetica everywhere! Perhaps the only thing more satisfying is sitting down for a hearty conversation about letterforms with a fellow type geek. Pan to my conversation with Jeremy Gladstone, owner and founder of Gladstone Media in Toronto. In this conversation, Jeremy shares more about Gladstone Media and how they do what they do, digging into the step-by-step process behind their creative work. He shares a helpful strategy for starting simple, constructing and then deconstructing creative work until it works. We then dive into Gladstone Media’s Typefaces of Toronto project (currently in episode 9), including where it started and where it’s going. And we meet Oscar the dog! I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

In this episode, you’ll meet designer and illustrator, Ben O’Neil, who worked for 70 days to create a typeface based on visual prompts from images online to create an alphabet of whimsical and wonderful letterforms. You’ll hear Ben discuss this project (called ‘Type Alike’), including his thoughts on creative constraint, as well as creative consistency. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This episode features printmaker, Heather J.A. Thomson, who has created an incredible 96-layer screen printed work that took 1 year with a grand total of 8 (!) copies existing in the world. During this discussion, you’ll learn about Heather, her love of history and printmaking, as well as the specific process for her epic 96-layer screen printing project of banknotes from the Weimar Republic. You’ll hear about the technical set up required for this project, as well as the unexpected hiccups that presented themselves and how Heather handled them (including the harrowing thing that happened when printing layer 96!). You’ll also hear more about Open Studio in Toronto, as well as Heather’s work as a photo lithography instructor in the space. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This episode is all about my favourite practice for living a connected creative life: informational interviewing. This episode will help you better understand what informational interviews are and how they can help creative people find one another to build authentic connections. This episode pairs well with the actionable next steps found within my 'Warm Email Template' available at https://www.talkpaperscissors.info/education. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type (Part 4!) This episode is guest hosted by Kennedy Thornton. Name: Arial Release Date: 1982 Designers: Robin Nicholas Classification: Neo Grotesque Sans Serif Owned by: Monotype Corporation Claim to Fame: The Helvetica copycat I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type (Part 4!) This episode is guest hosted by Mandy Lu. Name: Myriad Release Date: 1992 Designers: Robert Slimbach and Carol Twombly Classification: Humanist, Sans Serif Owned by: Adobe Systems Claim to Fame: This was Apple’s primary marketing typeface for over a decade, from 2002 to 2017 for its modern and simple appearance. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type (Part 4!) This episode is guest hosted by Audrey Grandinetti. Name: Baskerville Release Date: 1757 Designer: John Baskerville Classification: Transitional Serif Owned By: Well...it’s a bit complicated. The original Baskerville punches are now owned by Cambridge University Press, but the design itself is in the public domain. Many digital adaptations of Baskerville have been introduced over the years, and are owned by the specific type foundries (or individuals) who designed them. Claim to Fame: Baskerville was praised by U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This is the sixth (bonus!) episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with type professionals all over the world. Final stop New York, USA! In this episode you’ll hear David Soto discuss his creative process, as well as the way that building time into his practice and cushioning deadlines is critical to produce his best work. You’ll learn about David’s creative rituals, the Dope Type Society, as well as his future art and design aspirations. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This is the fifth episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with type professionals all over the world. Next stop Margate, UK! In this episode you’ll hear illustrator, Melanie Johnsson, discuss her family history of graphic design, as well as her favourite tools including how and why she loves Adobe Photoshop. Mel describes how personal branding plays a huge role in today’s world of graphic design and the ways that making your core values known to the world can be critically important to working with your dream clients. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This is the fourth episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 - Advanced Typography, speaking with type professionals all over the world. Next stop Toronto, Canada! In this episode you’ll hear designer and artist, Andrea Cataro, share many, many tips and tricks for creating typographic chalk murals, including tools and strategies for transferring your design to the wall. If you’ve ever considered dabbling in chalk mural creation, this episode is for you! I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This is the third episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with type professionals all over the world. Next stop: Lagos, Nigeria! In this episode (No.176: Nigerian Type Perspectives with Jordan Belonwu) you’ll hear designer and creative director, Jordan Belonwu, discuss what differentiates Nigerian typography from Eurocentric typographic standards, including its tendency to focus on expressiveness. Jordan highlights a project that takes type from the archives and makes it functional, which can introduce new opportunities and meaning in art and design. You’ll also hear the process for creating a typeface for Sporting Lagos, as well as Jordan’s great advice for taking on projects that help you learn and grow as a creative. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This is the second episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with type professionals all over the world. Next stop: Toronto, Canada! In this episode you’ll hear graphic designer, letterer and instructor, Chris Rouleau, discuss his professional lettering journey, hear about his large-scale type mural projects, the magic behind Chris’ Alphabet 100 practice and tips for drawing cohesive alphabets. You’ll also hear about the contents of Chris’ pencil case (and how he uses each tool), as well as his ideas for delightful new alphabets! I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This episode is the first in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 - Advanced Typography, speaking with type professionals all over the world. First stop: Athens, Greece! In this episode, you’ll hear Chris Ellinas (designer for huge brands like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon) discuss what it’s like recreating design assets for the entertainment industry, including the tools he relies on across multiple languages (4000 assets and counting!). You’ll also learn about Chris’ digitally nomadic lifestyle, the favourite places he’s lived and worked, as well as a rapid fire Q&A from students. The episode ends with a beautiful story and important lesson that all creatives should hear about passion projects turning into something bigger than themselves. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

Ryan Kough is an assistant professor of Integrated Media Arts at Juniata College who believes in design as a community-building tool creating partnerships between community members and student designers to create sustainable, long-term design solutions. In this conversation, you’ll hear about Ryan’s gallery exhibition called Under Pressure (opening reception happens this week!) and how she uses experimentation in the classroom, specifically revealing the transformative power of the ‘Problems Exercise’. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

This episode features Montréal-based illustrator, artist, and best-selling author, Raymond Biesinger! In this conversation, you’ll hear about the ways that storytelling is baked into Raymond editorial, commercial and personal projects. We do a deep dive into one of Raymond’s poster projects that took him 20 working days to complete through ‘chasing the density dragon’. You’ll also hear Raymond’s creative process and the tools he uses, the way imperfections play a vital role in the spirit of his work, and ultimately how layers of narrative make Raymond’s work clever, complex and consistently exciting. I'm all about interesting projects with interesting people! Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)