Type Speaks

02.22 // Into the Beautiful Mess // Courtney Windham & Margaret Fletcher

In last episode of season 2, Rae sits down with award-winning designer and professor Courtney Windham and design publisher and author Margaret Fletcher for a conversation about what it actually takes to document the undocumentable, creative process itself. Together, they unpack the origin story of their book Discovering Design Process: Into the Beautiful Mess, from a seed grant idea born out of a hallway conversation to five years of interviews, cross-country travel, and thousands of printed, hand-cut, and carefully collaged strips of paper taped to walls. They explore what it means to find the "beautiful weirdos" of design, why the mess around a designer's workspace is a map of their thinking, and how true process can't be fully captured until you've actually lived through it. Along the way, they touch on working across disciplines, graphic design and architecture finding unexpected common ground . the surprising analog method behind a heavily cross-referenced book, and why the most important thing they want readers to walk away with is simple:: start. You won't learn your process by studying it,you will learn it by beginning. Video available on Youtube. Links // rae's instragram https://www.instagram.com/raenyday.psd/ [https://www.instagram.com/raenyday.psd/] type speaks https://www.instagram.com/typespeakspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/typespeakspod/] wegl https://www.weglfm.com/ [https://www.weglfm.com/]

02.21 // The Dignity of Discarded Things // Martin Venezky

In this episode of Type Speaks, Rae sits down with artist, photographer, and designer Martin Venezky for a wide-ranging conversation about what it truly means to let your materials lead. From his signature practice of giving discarded objects their moment in the spotlight, scratches, stains, and all, to his deep resistance to sketching, Martin and Rae explore why the most interesting work happens when you stop trying to predict the outcome. They dig into how cross-disciplinary thinking keeps creativity alive and why disruption and beauty aren't opposites but collaborators. What it means to design for the viewer as a participant rather than a passive observer. Along the way, they touch on the filmmaker's eye Martin brings to still imagery, his love of Robert Altman's Nashville, the strange freedom of working without a plan, and why language, once learned, might be the greatest limit on how we see.  Video available on Youtube. Links // rae's instragram https://www.instagram.com/raenyday.psd/  type speaks https://www.instagram.com/typespeakspod/  wegl https://www.weglfm.com/

02.20 // Mechanics That Mean Something // James D’Amato & Dillin Apelyan

In this episode of Type Speaks, Rae sits down with tabletop RPG designers and performers James D'Amato and Dillin Apelyan for a thoughtful conversation about what makes game design truly work. Together, they explore the idea that good tabletop design isn’t just about clever mechanics, it’s about empowering players to express something meaningful. From emotion-first design philosophies and the careful use of randomness to the tension-building power of physical mechanics like birthday candles and tumbling block towers, James and Dillin unpack how rules shape feeling at the table. They compare sprawling lore-heavy systems to tightly focused narrative games to examining how different systems either support or burden the players who engage with them. The conversation also turns practical, offering advice for aspiring designers: start small, join a game jam, finish what you begin, and treat design as an act of intentional communication. Whether you’re a seasoned dungeon master or simply curious about how mechanics create emotion, this episode is a compelling look at how tabletop games are designed bring people together through structure and shared storytelling.

02.19 // Designing Play // Meguey Baker

In this episode of Type Speaks, Rae sits down with tabletop game designer, publisher, and textile conservation specialist Meguey Baker for a thoughtful conversation about community gaming in times of turmoil, and why play is never “extra,” but a vital part of staying human. From the deep history of games as tools for resilience to the modern realities of chronic stress, Meguey and Rae explore how role-playing spaces can foster empathy, connection, and care, even when the world feels like it’s on fire. They dig into how games let us “try on” different ways of being, why compassion is foundational to survival, and how community play can function like mutual aid: a place to come back to, warm up, laugh, and feel ready to face the week again. Along the way, they touch on the shifting shape of online play, the appeal of low-pressure multiplayer games like Lethal Company and Repo, and what it means to design frameworks that support both joy and meaning. Video available on Youtube.

02.18 // Critiquing Play with Quinns // Quinns Smith

In this episode of Type Speaks, Rae sits down with writer, YouTuber, and longtime games critic Quintin Smith (Quinns) for a wide-ranging conversation about play, culture, criticism, and the wonderfully weird worlds we build through games. From the shifting norms of reviewing video games, board games, and TTRPGs to the evolution of horror games, game-lore obsession, and the influence of streaming culture, Rae and Quinns explore how players engage with design, and how critics navigate communities that are passionate, protective, and sometimes a little spicy. They dig into why role-playing games feel so personal, how “made-for-Twitch” jump-scare horror shapes the market, the strange state of children’s games and platforms like Roblox, and why educational design deserves as much aesthetic care as any entertainment medium. They even manage to discuss Auburn’s beloved Aubie, TikTok algorithms, Jim Henson, and which mermaid powers best reflect one’s creative soul.