CAPTN OffScript – Details, episodes & analysis

He's back. And this time we accidentally planned a Madrid book event live on air.

Elliot Jay Stocks is a designer, writer, editor, and the person behind Fine Specimens — a brand new book showcasing contemporary type design from 69 foundries, including three of mine. We talked about the book, the five-stop tour, joining Adobe after 18.5 years of freelancing, the love-hate relationship with Instagram every creative recognises, and why newsletters and human connection might be the most important things a creative can invest in right now.

What we cover:

• Fine Specimens — from failed Kickstarter to published book with 69 foundries
• How typefaces were curated and the challenge of classifying type
• The love-hate relationship with Instagram and why the algorithm is broken for creators
• Why he prefers newsletters — and the pop-up newsletter concept you need to know about
• Joining Adobe full-time after 18.5 years of freelancing
• The 5-stop book tour — and the accidental Madrid plan that happened live on air
• Music on hold, guitar is back, and a new book idea on the horizon
• Why human connection in creative industries matters more now than ever

Connect with Elliot Jay Stocks:

Website: https://elliotjaystocks.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotjaystocks/

Newsletter: https://elliotjaystocks.com/newsletter

Fine Specimens: https://elliotjaystocks.com/books#fine-specimens

Listen and subscribe:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

More from Captn OffScript:

Website: https://captnoffscript.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CAPTNOffScript

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captnoffscript

Newsletter: https://captn.myflodesk.com/newsletter

If you liked this episode, listen to: Jessica Hische (S02/E21) — on serial entrepreneurship, creative reinvention, and building a life entirely on your own terms.

Cover photo by Norman Posselt: https://normanposselt.com/

He started with die cuts and packaging catalogues at a print agency. He co-authored typography books with Slanted. He moved to Istanbul on a creative whim. And now he's the lead designer at Kittl — one of Europe's fastest-growing AI-powered design platforms. The through-line? A deep belief that no tool matters if you don't have the fundamentals first.

Philipp Louven on the journey from print to AI-first, what's actually changing in the design industry, and why the shift from execution to direction might be the most important move a designer can make right now.

What we cover:

• Starting in print — die cuts, packaging, catalogues, and editorial books with Slanted
• Moving to Istanbul just out of curiosity — and what it taught him about pace and creativity
• The hard switch to AI-first design at Kittl and how he worked through it
• Why fundamentals in composition, layout and typography matter more with AI, not less
• Typography trends in 2026 — human, imperfect, bold and loud
• Whether AI can ever be more creative than a human
• What Kittl does that no other design tool does
• Advice for young designers entering a shifting industry

Connect with Philipp Louven:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-louven-8a1251192/

Kittl: https://kittl.com

Listen and subscribe:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

More from Captn OffScript:

Website: https://captnoffscript.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CAPTNOffScript

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captnoffscript

Newsletter: https://captn.myflodesk.com/newsletter

If you liked this episode, listen to: Sergio del Puerto (S02/E23) — on AI, creative reinvention, and finding a new way of working after decades in the industry.

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Trochut for one of the most personal and reflective conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

We talk about creativity, identity, and what it really means to stay human in a world that constantly pushes optimization, speed, and output. Alex shares stories from growing up in Barcelona, discovering graphic design early, and being shaped by a family environment where creativity, culture, and craft were always present.

A particularly moving part of the conversation centers around Alex’s grandfather.

We also explore Alex’s decision to leave Spain, his years in New York and California, and what it means to build a creative life as an immigrant. Alex speaks openly about belonging, distance, and how moving away from home can sharpen your sense of identity rather than dilute it. We talk about cities as creative accelerators, but also about the personal cost of constantly adapting.

The conversation moves into creative evolution. Alex shares his honest resistance to new tools, the fear of change, and the moment he realized that repeating what already worked was quietly limiting him. Learning 3D later in his career became less about technology and more about breaking patterns, opening new creative doors, and reconnecting with curiosity.

We also talk about music, DJing, personal projects, and the importance of having creative spaces that exist outside commercial expectations. Alex reflects on freedom, experimentation, and why staying playful is not a luxury, but a necessity for a long creative life.

This episode isn’t about trends, tools, or success metrics. It’s about roots, evolution, vulnerability, and designing a creative career that stays emotionally honest over time. If you’ve ever questioned your direction, felt stuck in repetition, or wondered how to grow without losing yourself, this conversation will resonate.

Cat How is the co-founder of How&How and one of the most thoughtful voices in purpose-driven branding today.

In this episode, we talk about her journey from journalism into design, founding and growing a global branding agency during the COVID pandemic, and what it takes to build a business that reflects your values in practice, not just in theory.

Cat shares how storytelling shaped her approach to branding, why she believes creativity carries responsibility, and how her studio committed to climate-focused and impact-driven work early on. We discuss leadership, growth, working with a partner, burnout, and the realities behind values-led decision-making.

We also talk about AI and creativity, why Cat sees emerging tools as an opportunity rather than a threat, and why human intuition and conviction remain essential.

This is an honest conversation about purpose-driven branding, long-term thinking, and building a creative business with integrity.

Michael Flarup is a designer, creative entrepreneur, and co-founder of Northplay. His career spans icon design, self-published books, and independent game development, shaped by curiosity rather than a fixed plan.

In this conversation, we talk about growing up not fitting into traditional systems, discovering creativity through making, and building long-term projects that take years to mature. Michael shares insights into self-publishing the App Icon books, designing games, and why trusting long timelines became a defining part of his approach to work.

We also discuss switching between different creative disciplines, avoiding burnout, and how following what feels genuinely fun often leads to more meaningful and sustainable creative work. Michael opens up about fatherhood, balance, self-doubt, and the idea of healthy self-delusion as a creative strategy.

This is an honest conversation about patience, curiosity, and designing a creative life that lasts.

Kieron Anthony Lewis is an editorial designer, speaker, educator, and Adobe Live host whose work is deeply rooted in culture, community, and meaning. In this conversation, we go far beyond design portfolios and talk about the life experiences that shaped how he works and why he creates.

We discuss the monumental Lagos publication, designing books as cultural artifacts, and how Kieron’s love for magazines and editorial structure began long before he knew design was a career. He shares his journey through agencies, freelancing during COVID, and the unexpected chain of events that led to working with Adobe and major publishers.

The episode opens up into fatherhood, grief, identity, and perspective. Kieron reflects on becoming one of the Design for Planet Trailblazers on the same day he lost his grandfather, and how that moment reshaped his understanding of success, ambition, and what truly matters.

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about creative purpose, humility, and building a life that aligns with your values, not just your output.

🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons.

Welcome to CAPTN OffScript.

—

🔗 Full show notes and episode transcript:

https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e11-james-barnard-on-creativity-speed-and-designing-a-life-you-love

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript

✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week, where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.

James Barnard is one of the most recognizable logo designers working today, but this conversation goes far beyond logos. We talk about how he entered design at 25, why he left agency life, and how freelancing became the turning point that gave him freedom and clarity in his work.

James shares how a single TikTok changed everything, why he only presents one concept to clients, and how he built a process that now gets projects signed off with no amends. We get into speed, systems, taste, experience, and how his Illustrator mastery became a core part of his career. He also explains how Allan Peters’ brand noun method helped him rebuild his entire approach to discovery and direction.

We talk about momentum, visibility, imposter feelings, and the pressure creators feel to always keep up. James opens up about burnout, family life in Australia, raising kids, wildlife encounters, and the real tradeoffs behind the lifestyle he intentionally (and unintentionally) designed.

There are stories from Adobe Max, embarrassing Allan Peters on stage, building the Designers Community, and how teaching, connection, and sharing knowledge became a huge part of why he shows up online.

If you’re a designer, freelancer, or creative navigating uncertainty, growth, or overwhelm, this episode offers clear, grounded insight into building a career that feels good and actually works.

🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons.

Welcome to CAPTN OffScript.

—

🔗 Full show notes and episode transcript:

https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e11-james-barnard-on-creativity-speed-and-designing-a-life-you-love

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript

✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week, where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.

In this episode of CAPTN OffScript, I sit down with UK based designer, creative director, and community builder Angela Lyons for a grounded and deeply honest conversation about the creative life. Angela has worked in the industry for more than 20 years across branding, editorial design, magazine design, web design, and podcasting. She is also the co creator of Freelancer Magazine and the host of Creatives Like Us.

We explore the themes that shaped Angela’s recent years, including visibility, intention, and her commitment to showing up even when it feels uncomfortable. Angela shares her perspective on social media pressure, the challenges of staying consistent, and the internal battles that many creatives never talk about publicly.

We also dive into community, mental health, and identity. Angela opens up about her experiences as a woman of colour in the design industry, the biases she encountered early on, and how much the landscape has changed. She talks about the power of community through Freelancer Magazine and Black Women on Wheels, a London based cycling group where she found connection, movement, and joy.

This conversation also touches on anxiety, imposter syndrome, parenting, and the importance of stepping away from the desk to find clarity. Angela shares how she uses yearly vision boards to stay intentional and how she has learned to trust herself more with each passing year.

If you are navigating your own creative journey, this episode with Angela Lyons offers perspective, encouragement, and a reminder that none of us figure this out alone.

🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons.

Welcome to CAPTN OffScript.

—

🔗 Full show notes and episode transcript:

https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e10-the-creative-life-of-angela-lyons-visibility-intent-and-showing-up

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript

✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week, where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.

In this episode of CAPTN OffScript I sit down with David Airey, a designer whose books, thinking, and calm perspective have shaped how countless creatives approach identity design. But we go far beyond the craft in this conversation and explore the human side of a long creative life.

David talks openly about growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, finding his way through early jobs, and how traveling across Asia shifted his understanding of the world. He shares the story of building a twenty year independent career, how he learned to slow down, and why he chooses a life defined by intention instead of speed.

A big part of this episode focuses on comparison, self doubt, and the quiet pressure that follows every creative who works in public. David explains why comparing yourself to other designers is never healthy and why the only comparison that matters is the one with your past self. He talks about fatherhood, family, burnout, balance, the need to disconnect, and the small moments that bring meaning back into your days.

We also dive into the third edition of Logo Design Love. David walks through what it feels like to revisit and rewrite work more than a decade later, how much of the book has changed, and why designing for yourself is always harder than designing for others.

This is a calm, thoughtful, and deeply human conversation about creativity, life, focus, and the choices that shape who we become. If you are a designer, freelancer, or someone trying to build a creative career without losing yourself in the noise, this episode will resonate on a different level.

Tune in for one of the most grounding conversations of the season.

🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons.

Welcome to CAPTN OffScript.

—

🔗 Full show notes and episode transcript:

https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e09-david-airey-on-creativity-calm-and-a-life-built-with-intention

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript

✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week, where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.

In this episode of CAPTN OffScript I sit down with Mat Voyce, the designer known for his expressive type animation work and his instantly recognizable visual language. We go far beyond the craft in this conversation and dive into the emotional and personal side of being a creative today.

Mat talks openly about growing up as an introverted kid, finding his way through graphic design and agency life, and slowly developing a unique style in type and motion. He shares stories from his early days, the moment he realized animation could become his thing, and how it felt to work with global clients like Disney, Nike, and Pepsi.

A big part of this episode focuses on anxiety and mental health. Mat discusses the sudden spike in anxiety that changed his daily life, his experience with therapy and hypnotherapy, and the moment he decided to start medication to soften the constant noise inside his mind. We talk about overthinking, sleepless nights, worry loops, and what it really feels like to freelance when you spend most of your time inside your own head.

We also explore parenthood, loneliness, the pressures of creative work, and the grounding power of simple routines. Mat shares what helps him, what he is still learning, and why he believes honesty and community can make such a difference for creatives who feel alone with their struggles.

This is a warm, human, and very real conversation about creativity, fear, growth, and the quiet work of becoming yourself. If you are a designer, animator, illustrator, or someone navigating anxiety while building a creative career, this episode will resonate deeply.

Tune in for one of the most personal and grounding conversations of the season.

🎧 Real creatives. Real stories. Real lessons.

Welcome to CAPTN OffScript.

—

🔗 Full show notes & episode transcript:

https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e08-mat-voyce-on-anxiety-creativity-and-finding-your-thing

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@captnoffscript

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/captnoffscript

✨ Subscribe for new episodes every week — where bold creatives share real stories, honest lessons, and unexpected paths to success.