Creative Figures

He's back. And this time we accidentally planned a Madrid book event live on air.

Elliot Jay Stocks is a designer, writer, editor, and the person behind Fine Specimens — a brand new book showcasing contemporary type design from 69 foundries, including three of mine. We talked about the book, the five-stop tour, joining Adobe after 18.5 years of freelancing, the love-hate relationship with Instagram every creative recognises, and why newsletters and human connection might be the most important things a creative can invest in right now.

What we cover:

• Fine Specimens — from failed Kickstarter to published book with 69 foundries
• How typefaces were curated and the challenge of classifying type
• The love-hate relationship with Instagram and why the algorithm is broken for creators
• Why he prefers newsletters — and the pop-up newsletter concept you need to know about
• Joining Adobe full-time after 18.5 years of freelancing
• The 5-stop book tour — and the accidental Madrid plan that happened live on air
• Music on hold, guitar is back, and a new book idea on the horizon
• Why human connection in creative industries matters more now than ever

Connect with Elliot Jay Stocks:

Website: https://elliotjaystocks.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotjaystocks/

Newsletter: https://elliotjaystocks.com/newsletter

Fine Specimens: https://elliotjaystocks.com/books#fine-specimens

Listen and subscribe:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

More from Captn OffScript:

Website: https://captnoffscript.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CAPTNOffScript

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captnoffscript

Newsletter: https://captn.myflodesk.com/newsletter

If you liked this episode, listen to: Jessica Hische (S02/E21) — on serial entrepreneurship, creative reinvention, and building a life entirely on your own terms.

Cover photo by Norman Posselt: https://normanposselt.com/

He founded Serial Cut in Madrid in 1999. For nearly 30 years it became one of the most recognised creative studios in the world. And then he let it go — not because he failed, but because something new had already taken hold of him completely.

Sergio del Puerto is an art director, image maker, and one of the most influential creatives in the Spanish design industry. This is the story of Serial Cut, ZAGALE, AI, and what it feels like to be 30 years into a career and wake up genuinely excited again.

What we cover:

• Growing up in Toledo and arriving in Madrid as a club kid in 1999
• Building Serial Cut across five techniques over nearly three decades
• Why he dissolved the studio — and why it felt liberating
• Training custom AI models on his own work with LORA
• ZAGALE — the new alter ego, the covered face, and the custom helmet
• Why AI is the best creative companion when you feel stuck
• Action figures, composition, and why his childhood is always in his work
• His advice for young designers on portfolios and exploring new mediums

Connect with Sergio del Puerto:

Instagram (ZAGALE): https://www.instagram.com/_zagale_/

Serial Cut: https://serialcut.com

Listen and subscribe:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

More from Captn OffScript:

Website: https://captnoffscript.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CAPTNOffScript

nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/captnoffscript

Newsletter: https://captn.myflodesk.com/newsletter

If you liked this episode, listen to: Jessica Hische (S02/E21) — on serial entrepreneurship, creative reinvention, and building a life entirely on your own terms.

She learned Photoshop at 12 on multiple 30-day trials. She got into five art schools and couldn't afford a single one. She moved to New York with no job, no safety net, and no plan B. And then her artwork went around the world on a UPS box.

Sophia Yeshi is a New York-based illustrator whose bold, colourful, inclusive work has appeared in campaigns for Google, Spotify, Adobe, Instagram, and UPS. But this conversation is about the person behind all of it — the mixed-race kid from Baltimore who grew up too fast, taught herself everything, and built a career entirely on her own terms.

What we cover:

• Growing up across multiple identities and being othered from birth
• Teaching herself Photoshop at 12 on repeated 30-day free trials
• Getting into five art schools and not being able to afford any of them
• Moving to New York with no freelance safety net — and figuring it out anyway
• The UPS box campaign that went around the world
• Why she's calling this year "rejection therapy"
• Advice for young illustrators in a shifting industry
• What she'd write in a letter to her eight-year-old self

Connect with Sophia Yeshi:

Website: https://www.yeshidesigns.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiayeshi/

Listen and subscribe:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

More from Captn OffScript:

Website: https://captnoffscript.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CAPTNOffScript

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captnoffscript

Newsletter: https://captn.myflodesk.com/newsletter

Lettering legend Jessica Hische sat in a room full of ultra-successful entrepreneurs — and realised they all dreamed of doing exactly what she was already doing. Drums, stained glass, creative hobbies, time with their kids, work they actually love. Her life, right now.

In this episode, we go well beyond the portfolio. Jessica opens up about imposter syndrome, building a creative life entirely on her own terms, co-founding StudioWorks, running two retail stores, writing children's books, and why "happy to be here" might be the most powerful career philosophy there is.

What we cover:

• The kindergarten coloring contest that started it all
• Meeting her husband on Match.com before it was socially acceptable
• How she became the Fairy Font Mother at Canva Create
• Drums, stained glass, and giving strangers tattoos from her studio
• Why she released free tools this week — and why you should care
• Imposter syndrome at every stage of success (and why to worry about people who don't have it)
• Parenting as curling — the most accurate analogy we've ever heard
• The one thing she'd tell her younger self

Connect with Jessica Hische:

Website: https://jessicahische.is

StudioWorks: https://studiowork.app

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicahische/

Listen and subscribe:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captn-offscript/id1837469433

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nJ5dKTP2dQN5OwICKjTY5

More from Captn OffScript:

Website: https://captnoffscript.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CAPTNOffScript

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captnoffscript

Newsletter: https://captn.myflodesk.com/newsletter

Jacob Cass started a blog in 2007 as a design student in Sydney, documenting his learning journey. That simple act of sharing imperfect work caught the attention of a New York agency and launched a career designing for Disney, Nike, and Red Bull. Nearly 20 years later, Jacob has traveled to 88 countries as a digital nomad, hosted the Just Branding podcast for six years, and founded Brand Builders Alliance — a thriving membership community serving brand builders across 29 countries.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How a student blog documenting imperfect design work landed Jacob a dream job in New York
• The visa rollercoaster: getting denied in Canada, kicked out of the country, and learning never to get comfortable
• Traveling to 88 countries while working four hours a day as a fully booked visual identity designer
• Why South Africa's private game reserves were the top travel experience
• How losing 90% of his blog traffic became the catalyst for building Brand Builders Alliance
• Why he'd give student Jacob the same advice today: keep sharing where you're at, even when work isn't polished
• Taming the "advice monster" and why asking questions beats giving answers
• Running a global community with four young children: work-life integration and boundaries
• Pivotal moments: getting fired, discovering brand strategy, major setbacks, and adapting
• Why sharing process matters more than polished outcomes
• How podcasting gets easier after doing the reps

Jacob's core philosophy: share your process, not just your final work. Don't wait for impressive results before building an online presence. Share the journey of learning itself and let opportunities find you.

ABOUT JACOB CASS: Jacob is an Australian brand designer, community builder, and founder of Brand Builders Alliance. He started his career with a student blog in 2007 that led to designing for major brands in New York. After several years as a digital nomad traveling to 88 countries, he now co-hosts the Just Branding podcast and leads a membership community focused on helping brand builders master branding and build thriving creative businesses.

CONNECT WITH JACOB:

Brand Builders Alliance: https://joinbba.com

Website: https://justcreative.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justcreative/

Just Branding Podcast: https://justcreative.com/podcast/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jacobcass

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CAPTNOffScript

MORE FROM CAPTN OFFSCRIPT:

Website: https://captnoffscript.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captnoffscript

Newsletter: https://captn.myflodesk.com/newsletter

What do you want to be known for in five years? Austrian brand designer Geri Kriechbaum asks himself this question constantly — and it's transformed how he builds Stroncton, his brand design studio. In this episode, Geri shares his journey from technical engineer to self-taught designer, the trademark setback that led to Stroncton's creation, and why putting your work out there (even when it's imperfect) is the most important thing you can do.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Geri left his engineering job after realizing the nine-to-five mindset didn't align with his creative calling
• The story behind Stroncton's name and the anchor-lighthouse symbolism that drives his brand
• Why he spent nearly 10 years building apparel brands before offering design services to clients
• Overcoming imposter syndrome as a self-taught designer without a formal degree
• The difference between intrinsic motivation (genuine passion) and extrinsic motivation (money, status)
• How to define your designer identity instead of constantly comparing yourself to others on social media
• Why sharing imperfect work creates opportunities — and how you can put yourself out there so "luck" can happen
• Burnout lessons: Why sustainable daily progress beats unsustainable all-night work sessions

Geri's core advice to young designers: Stop waiting for your portfolio to be perfect. Start by designing for yourself, share your work publicly, and regularly ask yourself "What do I want to be known for in five years?" This question will clarify your identity, focus your efforts, and help you build a creative career on your own terms.

ABOUT GERI KRIECHBAUM: Geri is an Austrian brand designer and founder of Stroncton, a brand design studio specializing in visual identity, logo design, and brand strategy. Originally from a technical engineering background, he's completely self-taught in design and spent years building personal apparel brands inspired by skateboard culture before transitioning to client-focused brand work.

CONNECT WITH GERI:

Website: https://www.stroncton.com/en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stroncton/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geri-kriechbaum-9a1233169

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CAPTNOffScript

MORE FROM CAPTN OFFSCRIPT:

Website: https://captnoffscript.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captnoffscript

Newsletter: https://captn.myflodesk.com/newsletter

In this episode, I sit down with Scott Fuller to talk about what it truly means to succeed as an independent designer.

We move beyond surface-level advice and dig into the realities of building a sustainable design career. Scott shares how consistency, reliability, and long-term thinking have shaped his path, and why independence requires more than just talent.

A large part of our conversation focuses on client relationships. How do you win trust? How do you maintain it? And how do you position yourself as dependable in a competitive industry?

We also talk about creative discipline, comparison, imposter syndrome, and the emotional weight of working independently. Scott speaks honestly about competing with himself rather than chasing trends, and why focusing on steady growth often beats short bursts of attention.

This is a grounded conversation about creative independence, responsibility, and playing the long game in design.

In this episode, I talk with Armin Vit and Bryony Gomez-Palacio about building a creative life together and what that really looks like behind the scenes.

We discuss their path into design writing, publishing, and criticism, the origins and evolution of Brand New, and the choices that led them away from traditional career structures toward independence. This conversation explores how creative identity forms over time, and why staying curious and opinionated matters more than chasing relevance.

A large part of the episode focuses on partnership – how two strong creative voices coexist, how decisions are made, and how trust becomes the foundation for long-term work. Armin and Bryony speak candidly about risk, responsibility, and the emotional realities of running something influential while remaining grounded.

We also talk about defining success, protecting creative energy, and what it takes to build a life around creativity rather than fitting creativity into life.

An honest, thoughtful conversation about creativity as a practice, a profession, and a way of living.

In this episode, I sit down with Paul and Jan, founders of Hyperfocus, to talk about building a design studio with intention in an industry that constantly pulls your attention in a hundred different directions.

We discuss how Hyperfocus was founded during a moment of uncertainty, and how that experience shaped their approach to work, culture, and decision-making. From the influence of skateboarding and street culture to working with international clients, they share how personal background often becomes the invisible foundation of strong creative systems.

A big part of the conversation centers on focus – not as a productivity trick, but as a philosophy. We talk about why brand and product should never be disconnected, how clarity improves collaboration, and why doing fewer things well often leads to better outcomes than chasing everything at once.

Paul and Jan also open up about imposter syndrome, leadership, and the emotional realities of running a studio. We explore how creative confidence evolves over time, how doubt never fully disappears, and why building healthy boundaries is just as important as building strong work.

The episode closes with reflections on AI, craft, and the future of design. Rather than replacing creativity, new tools are forcing designers to be more intentional, more thoughtful, and more human.

A grounded, honest conversation about focus, culture, and building a studio that lasts.

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Trochut for one of the most personal and reflective conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

We talk about creativity, identity, and what it really means to stay human in a world that constantly pushes optimization, speed, and output. Alex shares stories from growing up in Barcelona, discovering graphic design early, and being shaped by a family environment where creativity, culture, and craft were always present.

A particularly moving part of the conversation centers around Alex’s grandfather.

We also explore Alex’s decision to leave Spain, his years in New York and California, and what it means to build a creative life as an immigrant. Alex speaks openly about belonging, distance, and how moving away from home can sharpen your sense of identity rather than dilute it. We talk about cities as creative accelerators, but also about the personal cost of constantly adapting.

The conversation moves into creative evolution. Alex shares his honest resistance to new tools, the fear of change, and the moment he realized that repeating what already worked was quietly limiting him. Learning 3D later in his career became less about technology and more about breaking patterns, opening new creative doors, and reconnecting with curiosity.

We also talk about music, DJing, personal projects, and the importance of having creative spaces that exist outside commercial expectations. Alex reflects on freedom, experimentation, and why staying playful is not a luxury, but a necessity for a long creative life.

This episode isn’t about trends, tools, or success metrics. It’s about roots, evolution, vulnerability, and designing a creative career that stays emotionally honest over time. If you’ve ever questioned your direction, felt stuck in repetition, or wondered how to grow without losing yourself, this conversation will resonate.