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9:00am DOORS OPEN
9:30am ABBY GOLDSTEIN, JOE NEWTON
Welcome
9:35am ZIPENG ZHU, LAUREN HOM
Introduction
Lauren and Zipeng will be your hosts throughout the day.
9:50am JOLENE DELISLE
Keynote: How Type Drives Commerce
The Crossroads of Creativity and Commerce
Conference Chair Jolene Delisle introduces her initiative behind the conference's intent: pinpointing the crossroads where creativity meets commerce through its most powerful narrative tool—type.
Background
Forbes Next 1000. Adweek Creative 100. Work recognized by TDC, Print, D&AD, and The One Show. Clients include Klarna, Zola, NYC Tourism, NYC Pride, Evian, and MassMutual.
10:30am FILM SHORT
International Characters Video Series: Indonesia
10:40am CHARLES NIX
The Typographic Ecosystem
The Hidden Systems Behind Typography's Business Impact
Typography drives commerce—but not always in the tidy, direct ways we tend to talk about it. In complex, global organizations, its impact is rarely linear, isolated, or purely aesthetic. In this session, Charles Nix draws on his work with brands-of-brands to unpack how typography actually functions at scale: as an ecosystem that spans design intent, font systems, governance, workflows, and long-term lifecycle management. Tracing the path from type design to real customer and business outcomes, he shows how meaning, resonance, and value are shaped—often invisibly—by the systems surrounding type, and why understanding that hidden journey is now essential for both designers and brand leaders.
Brief background
Lead designer for Helvetica Now. Custom typefaces for M&M's, Progressive Insurance, and the Google Noto project.
11:05am FILM SHORT
International Characters Video Series: South Korea
Hyunsun You
11:10am JEREMY MICKEL
Small Details for Big Brands
THE GAP BETWEEN DESIGN AND APPROVAL
In this talk, Jeremy shares how custom typography for global brands is shaped by story, relationships, and real business constraints, not just aesthetics. Through case studies and practical insights, he’ll show how ideas get approved inside large organizations, how projects actually move forward, and how a small studio ends up designing type for some of the biggest companies in the world. Along the way, he’ll talk about the feedback loop between custom work and retail releases, and what it takes to stay true to your own voice while doing both. Background Clients include Adidas, Uber, and the LA28 Olympics, through partnerships with Pentagram, Collins, and Wolff Olins. Also: Bon Appétit, The Atlantic, Sweetgreen, and MGM Studios.
11:35am JAMES EDMONDSON
Ordering Off the Secret Menu: A Look at Custom Type.
Creativity under-wraps
Drawing, spacing, Language support, OpenType features, kerning and metadata are all cool, but what is truly special is tricking corporations to fund your creative practice. This will be an honest look at pursuing excellence in the field of custom fonts as a small, independent type foundry
11:50am FILM SHORT
International Characters Video Series: Spain
Marta Cerdà Alimbau
12:00pm GROUP DISCUSSION
Real Talk About Type-Forward Design Work with Sunday Afternoon
BALANCING CLIENT NEEDS WITH CREATIVE CONVICTION
Sunday Afternoon’s Rich Tu (ECD + Partner), Audrie Poole (EP + Partner), and Tré Seals (of Vocal Type, and SA signed artist) discuss what it takes to stick out in today’s design landscape. They will share examples from the famed studio’s archives and provide insight into how they balance the needs of their clients with creative excellence. Additional Background Rich Tu: ADC Young Guns winner, Paul Manship Medallion recipient. Designed the FIFA World Cup poster. Previously at JKR, MTV, and Nike. Audrie Poole: Sunday Afternoon Executive Producer and Partner, Has worked with Nike, IBM, Microsoft, and Burton Snowboards. Tré Seals: Forbes 30 Under 30. Vocal Type foundry creates fonts inspired by progressive movements. Custom work for Spike Lee, Stacey Abrams, TIME Magazine, and the 2024 Harris-Walz campaign.
12:35pm Lunch
2:00pm JESSICA HISCHE
Creativity in the Age of AI
A point of view that no algorithm can shortcut
AI can generate images, set type, and mimic styles in seconds — so what's left for the human hand? Arguably…quite a lot. In this talk, Jessica explores why craftsmanship isn't just a nice-to-have but a form of resilience (and resistance), arguing that the deeper your relationship with your craft, the less threatened you are by tools that optimize for speed. When we root our work in intention, story, and the particularities of how something is made, we create value that efficiency alone can't replicate. Rather than racing against automation, investing in craft gives us something to stand on — a point of view that no algorithm can shortcut. Background Clients include Barack Obama, Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom titles), The Criterion Collection, NPR, Mailchimp, The United States Postal Service, Target, Hallmark, and Penguin Books. Forbes 30 Under 30. ADC Young Gun. NYT Best-selling author.
2:35pm FILM SHORT
International Characters Video Series: Puerto Rico
Carlos Oliveras
3:05pm FILM SHORT
International Characters Video Series: Lebanon
Nadine Chahine
3:15pm PANEL DISCUSSION
The Law of the Letter
THE RULES OF TYPE — AND THE CASE FOR REFORM
Type licensing is complicated, often misunderstood, and full of landmines. This panel unpacks the limitations and opportunities of font licenses, how they shape design decisions, and whether a "right to repair" movement for digital typefaces is overdue.
4:05pm TEDDY BLANKS
How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Licensing and Draw My Own Type
Barbie. Severance. Wuthering Heights. All Custom. Here's Why.
Broadcast and cinema licensing fees and policies vary wildly from foundry to foundry, while movie studios have become increasingly concerned with clearing any font they don’t already have the right to use. As a film title designer, Teddy Blanks has turned avoiding licensing complexity into a creative strategy. He will discuss this shift in his practice and the process behind his custom fonts for films including Barbie, Severance, Wuthering Heights, and Jay Kelly. He will also discuss designing fonts as a graphic designer — rather than a type designer — for one-time use in specific projects. Without the need to anticipate every possible context or user before a font goes to market, the barrier to entry is significantly lower. Finally, the session considers the difference between how type functions inside a film and how it functions in marketing one.
4:30pm FILM SHORT
International Characters Video Series: Thailand
Anuthin Wongsunkakon
4:35pm MIN LEW
Courage for the future: Design as a Future Building Engine for Brands
Change is hard. When a brand needs to evolve, design and typography can drive meaningful transformation. Min explores how house type, customized systems, and bespoke typefaces can shape brand perception, drive relevance, and establish cultural authority.
5:15pm Closing Remarks
5:30pm Afterparty
Meet Attendees and Speakers
Drinks and snacks will be provided
Jessica Hische
Lettering Artist, Speaker, Founder, & NYT Best-selling Author
Creativity in the Age of AI: A point of view that no algorithm can shortcut
Phil Carey-Bergren
VP Global Licensing & Strategy; Monotype
The Law of the Letter: THE RULES OF TYPE — AND THE CASE FOR REFORM
Chris Nott
Co-founder & Type Director; Studio DRAMA
The Law of the Letter: THE RULES OF TYPE — AND THE CASE FOR REFORM
Christine Bateup
Counsel/Director of Business and Licensing; Frere-Jones
The Law of the Letter: THE RULES OF TYPE — AND THE CASE FOR REFORM
Jessica Hische
Charles Nix
Senior Executive Creative Director; Monotype
The Typographic Ecosystem: The Hidden Systems Behind Typography's Business Impact
Jolene Delisle
Founder; The Working Assembly
Keynote: How Type Drives Commerce: The Crossroads of Creativity and Commerce
Min Lew
Managing Partner & Executive Creative Director; BASE
Courage for the future: Design as a Future Building Engine for Brands
Tré Seals
Founder & Type Conductor; Vocal Type
Real Talk About Type-Forward Design Work with Sunday Afternoon: BALANCING CLIENT NEEDS WITH CREATIVE CONVICTION
Rich Tu
Executive Creative Director & Partner; Sunday Afternoon
Real Talk About Type-Forward Design Work with Sunday Afternoon: BALANCING CLIENT NEEDS WITH CREATIVE CONVICTION
James Edmondson
Founder & CEO; OH no Type Company
Ordering Off the Secret Menu: A Look at Custom Type.: Creativity under-wraps
Lauren Hom
Designer & Lettering Artist; Hom Sweet Hom
Introduction
John Kudos
Managing Partner; KUDOS Design Collaboratory
International Characters Video Series: Indonesia: John Kudos
Jeremy Mickel
Type Designer; MCKL
Small Details for Big Brands: THE GAP BETWEEN DESIGN AND APPROVAL
Gary Fogelson
Partner; Other Means
The Law of the Letter: THE RULES OF TYPE — AND THE CASE FOR REFORM
