Rephonic
Artwork for Creative Characters

Creative Characters

Monotype
Typography
Design
Graphic Design
Monotype
Type Design
Font Licensing
Adobe Max
Branding
Creativity
Climate Change
Adobe MAX 2024
2025 Type Trends Report
Sustainability
EULA
Miami
Creative Process
Signal Type
Design Education
New York City
Design Community

We live in a world awash in typography - whether we realize it or not. From the road signs that lead us home to the phones in our pockets, typography is front and center in nearly every waking moment of our day. Come meet the people and hear the stories behind the letters that shape our world.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes115Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DesignVisual ArtsArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Creative Characters

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we enter the world of serial tinkerer, Matt Holmes. A world where printing presses are rebuilt with 3D-printed parts and the finer points of typography are mastered through the trial and error of making physical type. Tune in for a c... more

This week, Graham Sturt sits down with legendary British designer Ben Kelly to explore the ideas, collaborations, and creative philosophy behind a career that has shaped British design culture. From the iconic Hacienda nightclub to museums, exhibitio... more

What if design tools helped you make smarter design decisions? This week, Dan Rhatigan talks with Typogram co-founders Hua Shu and Wenting Zhang about typography, side projects, AI, and the thrill of building tools for other creatives.

Hua and Went... more

In this episode, Tom Foley speaks with Pentagram Partner Hugh Miller about creativity, collaboration, and the experiences that shape a design career.

From music and typography to sketchbooks, record sleeves, and creative partnerships, Hugh reflect... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Design Better
Design BetterThe Curiosity Department
Inside Trump's Head
Inside Trump's HeadThe Daily Beast, Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles

Recent Guests

Ben Kelly
Designer known for the Hacienda and interiors
Ben Kelly Design
Episode: Ben Kelly on designing spaces that shape culture.
Hua Shu
Co-founder and product designer at Typogram
Typogram
Episode: Typography, AI, and the future of design tools with Typogram.
Wenting Zhang
Co-founder of Typogram; former Adobe Fonts designer
Typogram
Episode: Typography, AI, and the future of design tools with Typogram.
Hugh Miller
Graphic designer, art director and partner at Pentagram
Pentagram
Episode: Crafting thoughtful designs with Hugh Miller of Pentagram.
Marta Cerdà Alimbau
Barcelona-based designer exploring typography and illustration
Independent designer
Episode: Marta Cerdà Alimbau on why design needs time.
Declan Stone
Co-founder of The Stone Twins
The Stone Twins, Amsterdam-based branding consultancy
Episode: The Stone Twins on craft, conflict, and creative chemistry.
Garech Stone
Co-founder of The Stone Twins
The Stone Twins, Amsterdam-based branding consultancy
Episode: The Stone Twins on craft, conflict, and creative chemistry.
Sofie Beier
Professor of design focusing on legibility and accessibility; head of the Center for Visibility Design
Royal Danish Academy; TIIP
Episode: Sofie Beier breaks down legibility for designers.
Ilana Griffo
Co-founder of Goodtype
Goodtype
Episode: Finding your creative voice with Goodtype.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 69 ratings
  • The Dawn of Adobe?

    Just listened to the Draplin episode. This guys says that year 2000 was the “Dawn of Adobe”… These kids… please do some research before making bold statements. Designers over the age of 50 have been using Adobe products most likely since before you were born. Just because many universities had invested in other brands like Macromedia or Corel, doesn’t mean that professional designers were using those as well.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mookstock
    United States3 years ago
  • Highly recommend!

    Creative Characters has quickly become a favorite in my feed! I’m consistently impressed by the engaging conversations, insightful content, and actionable ideas. I truly learn something every time I listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mvelasco07
    United States3 years ago
  • Cozy and creative podcast

    Doesn’t matter if you have design experience or not, this podcast is just so fun and interesting to listen to. I really appreciate the variety of guests. Also, the hosts are hilarious.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Justarandomlisteneronawalk
    United States4 years ago
  • WOW

    That John Norman episode was amazing!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    workingit
    United States5 years ago
  • Now that’s entertaining...

    Cannot wait for more episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KshitijK9
    India5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are described as insightful and the discussions are creative and inspiring.
Some episodes spark strong opinions from listeners about accuracy and depth of topics.
Episodes are fun and informative, with strong host camaraderie.
Listeners praise engaging conversations and the variety of guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#239
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#62
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#154
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#103
Germany/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#147
Italy/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#246
Australia/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ben Kelly on designing spaces that shape culture.
Q: How did Ben's approach to color and material choices contribute to the identity of spaces like the hairdressing salon Smile and the Hacienda?
He describes using unexpected color strategies (notably orange) and robust industrial materials to build a space with a lasting, archetypal feel rather than fleeting fashion.
Ben Kelly on designing spaces that shape culture.
Q: What was the balance between the client brief and Ben's own creative engine when designing the Hacienda?
Ben emphasizes naivety and freedom as key drivers initially, with Factory Records' ethos allowing him to experiment and shape a space that could evolve beyond the original brief.
Ben Kelly on designing spaces that shape culture.
Q: Hi, Graham. So tell me how your conversation with Ben was.
The conversation covered Ben's early environment, the Hacienda's creation and its lasting impact, and how his work bridged music, fashion, and interior spaces with a focus on longevity and cultural resonance.
Typography, AI, and the future of design tools with Typogram.
Q: What's the philosophy behind Typogram for non-designers and designers?
Typogram aims to guide users through branding with an approach similar to TurboTax, providing learning content and a clear workflow so non-designers can craft solid brand identities without needing expert-level design knowledge.
Typography, AI, and the future of design tools with Typogram.
Q: How did you two meet and start Typogram?
We met at Cooper Union in New York City during a lecture and, after collaborating on smaller projects, decided to pursue typography tooling as a larger collaboration, eventually launching Typogram and Typogram Studio.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Creative Characters

What is Creative Characters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A design-forward show that centers typography, branding, and visual communication through conversations with leading designers, type designers, and brand strategists. Episodes frequently explore craft, craft processes, and the role of typography in culture, signage, and digital media, often mixing practical design guidance with personal career stories. Notable throughlines include the relationship between slow, thoughtful design and fast-moving tech, a willingness to challenge conventions, and a collaborative, studio-centered approach to branding. This mix of high-profile guests and hands-on discussions makes it a strong pick for designers, educators, branding pros, and creative leaders seeking inspiration, case studies, and practical insig... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Creative Characters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Creative Characters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Creative Characters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Creative Characters get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Creative Characters, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Creative Characters?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Creative Characters, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Creative Characters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Creative Characters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Creative Characters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Creative Characters:

1. Design Matters with Debbie Millman
2. Design Better
3. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
4. Inside Trump's Head
5. Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin

How many episodes of Creative Characters are there?

Creative Characters launched 5 years ago and published 115 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Creative Characters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Creative Characters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Creative Characters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Creative Characters?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Creative Characters. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Creative Characters?

Recent guests on Creative Characters include:

1. Ben Kelly
2. Hua Shu
3. Wenting Zhang
4. Hugh Miller
5. Marta Cerdà Alimbau
6. Declan Stone
7. Garech Stone
8. Sofie Beier

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days