Creative Characters – Details, episodes & analysis

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 monotype.com/podcast

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 places in meaningful ways.  

To see Joy's work, visit dnco.com.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast 

Get ready for an honest chat with Bryan Edmondson, the visionary force behind London-based SEA Design.

In this episode, Bryan shares his thoughtful approach to design and studio culture and explains why developing a simple design isn't as simple as it looks. From focusing on identities that tell a story to mentoring young creatives, Bryan shares wisdom from nearly 30 years of running an award-winning studio.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast
Check out Bryan's work at seadesign.com

We're ready for summer here at Creative Characters, so we decided to dig into the archives and explore the seasonal rhythms that influence art and life. From the ephemeral art of beach calligraphy by South Africa's Andrew van der Merwe, to photographer Tyler Haughey's striking portraits of off-season beach towns, to Justin Burns' reflections on the magic of the British seaside, this episode explores how the summer season shapes creativity, placemaking, and memory. Tune in and get ready for summer with this collection of stories that dive deep into the relationship between art and the ever-changing shoreline.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast

Revisit the full episodes below:
 Andrew van der Merwe: Ephemeral calligraphy from the beaches of South Africa.

Searching for signs of the British seaside with Justin Burns.

Tyler Haughey: Neon and nostalgia down on the unseen Jersey Shore.

From studying 19th-century sans serifs to expanding Gotham for the Obama Foundation, Sara Soskolne's career has helped define how the world reads today. In this episode, Doug Wilson sits down with his longtime friend and brilliant type designer, Sara Soskolne, for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about growing up curious, falling into typography, and Sara's experiences of coming into her own in a male-dominated field. It's an episode filled with humor, insights, and a touch of typographic magic. 

Check out Sara's work for the Obama Foundation here: obama.org/stories/building-on-the-past-looking-ahead

Take a deep dive into brand refresh for the Obama Foundation on Manual's website: https://manualcreative.com/work/obama-foundation

Hold onto your sketchpads! This week, Livia Halltari sits down with Jess Goldsmith, the one-woman-show behind Women of Type. Jess talks about her creative journey — from doodling graffiti-inspired letters as a kid to building a global community that amplifies lettering work from women and non-binary creatives around the world. As a self-taught designer, lettering artist, and author, Jess also shares her advice for aspiring creatives. 

Check out Jess's work on Instagram at @chickofalltrade, and see what Women of Type is up to at @womenoftype. 

Buy Jess's book, "Women of Type," here.  

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast 

In this week's episode, host Graham Sturt joins British designer and music producer Trevor Jackson in his Shoreditch studio. Surrounded by an impressive collection of music ephemera, they discuss Trevor's creative approach, how he got into designing record sleeves for early house and hip-hop artists, and why he doesn't believe in having a "house style."

Check out Trevor's work at trevor-jackson.com

Listen to Trevor's monthly show on NTS Radio

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast

On this week's episode, Sydney-based artist Kris Andrew Small shares his journey from frustrated graphic designer to global creative powerhouse. He spills on how he transformed personal passion into bold, high-energy artwork that breaks rules and speaks volumes. From collaborating with icons like artist M.I.A., to creating campaigns for Nike and Reebok, Kris dives into his process, his love for color and movement, and why staying true to yourself is everything. Packed with thought-provoking moments and refreshing honesty, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration to break the mold and trust their creative instincts. 

Check out Kris' work at krisandrewsmall.com.

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast

In this episode of Creative Characters, we dive into the whirlwind world of political design with Shar Biggers, the creative mind behind some of the most memorable campaign visuals in recent US politics.

Join us as we chat about Shar's unexpected journey into political campaign branding, from designing Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run to her most recent role as Deputy Creative Director for the Harris-Walz campaign. Shar takes us inside last-minute logo sprints, the art of balancing bold typography with the complexities of a major presidential campaign, and how these experiences have changed her as a creative.

Check out the case study for Shar's work on the Harris-Walz campaign at saleah.agency/harris-walz/ 

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast

Typography is more than just choosing cool fonts — it gives designers and brands the power to take action and spark change. This episode of Creative Characters is all about shaking things up in the design world with Monotype's Re:Vision, a transformative approach to our annual Type Trends report.

Host Carl Unger joins report creators, Phil Garnham and Charles Nix, along with design leader and futurist, Lisa Gralnek, to discuss how typography can impact big cultural topics like AI, climate change, and aging. Get insights on how brands can step up and stand out, and learn about our bimonthly activations (kicking off at SXSW!) that'll explore these ideas throughout the year.

Read the full report and sign up for the exclusive webinar at monotype.com/type-trends

You can find blog posts for this and all our past episodes at monotype.com/podcast