Design Icons

Phil Garnham & Damien Collot, Creative Directors at Monotype, on Why Fonts Really Matter (Plus, Icons for Peace & Conflict)

In this episode, we speak with Phil Garnham and Damien Collot, both Executive Creative Directors at Monotype, the global leader of fonts including Helvetica, Futura, Ariel, and Gotham. Their collaborative work involves exploring how typography, font, and graphic design reflect our shifting culture and how type serves as a brand’s essential visual voice in real-life contexts. Phil and Damien share what makes font and design culturally relevant, how designers impact and reflect social perception, and the ways design can make the world better. We also discuss Monotypte's new Peace and Conflict project—an open-source collection of icons created to provide a universal code for communicating hope, empathy, and humanity in times of increasing conflict, which is available to the public domain at Noun Project.

Eric Wittman, CEO of VSCO, on the Future of Photography in the Era of AI

In this episode, we chat with Eric Wittman, CEO of VSCO, a platform that gives photographers the tools, community, and exposure they need to expand creatively and professionally. VSCO offers products to capture, edit, display, and share visual content with a global community of creatives and brands. Eric’s career has centered on building technology products that help people be more creative, and includes leadership roles at Adobe, Atlassian, and Figma. Eric explains how AI is a paradigm shift that’s changing the entire creative process rather than simply introducing new tools like past photography disruptions. With AI capable of generating photorealistic imagery, we discuss the unique advantage of the human photographer and how soul, intention, and style cannot be replaced. Eric shares how photographers are using technology to speed up business tasks like invoicing, marketing, creative exploration, and post-production editing. He offers essential advice on the most valuable skillsets for photographers to double down on—storytelling, empathy, and relationship building.

Khyati Trehan, Designer at Google Creative Lab, on Why Curiosity and Play are the Keys to Mastering Emerging Tech

In this episode, we chat with Khyati Trehan, an internationally awarded designer who currently works at Google Creative Lab developing visual systems and experimental tools. Khyati has built a career that illuminates the intersection of design, creativity, and technology. She's worked with major global brands, including Apple, Instagram, Snapchat, Adobe, Samsung, Vogue, and the Oscars. Many creatives feel uncertain about the future of the industry, particularly concerning the impact of emerging technology like AI. Khyati shares an optimistic perspective on the bright side of these new tools, explaining that designers are essential for adding human value, empathy, and context to these systems. She explains how she is embracing new methods of creation, like vibe coding, which allows her design to become more malleable. Ultimately, Khyati reminds us that the key to preparing for the future is focusing on novelty over efficiency, and embracing play to make experiences that we couldn't before.

Mary Kate McDevitt, Professional Illustrator, on How To Create An Independent Design Career You Actually Love (And Get Hired By Big Brands Doing It)

In this episode, we speak with professional illustrator and lettering artist Mary Kate McDevitt on how she's built a fulfilling career stemming from personal design projects that snowballed into dream clients. She’s worked with major brands like Target, Nike, Panera, New York Times, Johnson & Johnson, and AT&T (to name a few). Many creatives feel like they struggle with getting a foot in the door in the industry, especially in an era ruled by the pressure of algorithms and chaotic news cycles. Mary Kate shares why returning to analog methods can reignite artistic joy that translates to paid work and how freelancers can confidently price their illustrations to win new business. From her Vermont barn studio, she reminds us that creativity thrives where curiosity and real-world making meet.

Tom Froese, Professional Illustrator and Skillshare Teacher, on Building a Career as a Commercial Freelance Illustrator

We’re chatting with Tom Froese, an Award-Winning Illustrator, Top Teacher on Skillshare [https://www.skillshare.com/en/user/tomfroese?srsltid=AfmBOor5UKk0aDIqkTpFZekCWrZ0yO_1yRSYrynDaNIZJYTljZ9Q_igC] who has led over 120,000 students, and the host of the podcast Thoughts on Illustration [https://open.spotify.com/show/4JlJsix0wbtiUXkYeNLWih]. Tom has illustrated for clients like Yahoo!, Airbnb, GQ, and The Wall Street Journal. He’s best known for his brightly colored maps and illustration work made with expressive shapes and printmaking-inspired textures. In this episode, we cover finding a unique career path as an illustrator in a crowded space, how to develop a signature style, and ways to increase visibility towards getting more work. Tom shares how he deals with burnout, leans in on what comes naturally to maximize his talent, and shares ideas for young illustrators to get a foot in the door.