Talk Paper Scissors

Listen in on TMU’s Magazine Production & Publishing class in Spring 2022…

In this conversation, we welcome Greg Davis, Publisher of Melanistic Magazine based in Edmonton, Alberta. He shares his story as “a Jamaican who found himself in Toronto who got lost in Tokyo”. He describes how communicating a consistent and authentic voice that speaks to the nature of the magazine is what’s most important (versus trying to please everyone). Greg explains what a publisher of a magazine is responsible for, describes typical and creative revenue models for both small and large publications, as well as why he believes the magazine industry is stronger now than it was before the pandemic. 

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In this final conversation in the mini series about big emotions in creative living, you will hear from children’s book author and illustrator, Lisa Anchin with her recently released work, The Paper Bird. Lisa sheds light on how book making is a hugely collaborative process and the way she works with her publishing team. She speaks to the role that self-doubt plays in her creative process and her approach to break out of the cycle of self-doubt (hint: make more stuff!). Lisa ends this episode by reading The Paper Bird and purely by coincidence, actual birds arrived as she began reciting her story and offered their sing-song gifts to the recording. Magical! 

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In this episode about big emotions in creative living, you’ll meet Jamie Roberts of Rock That Creative Job and learn how she helps support creative people in various stages of their journeys. We take a deep dive into imposter syndrome and Jamie shares an assessment she’s created to help individuals align themselves in the right environments that will enable them to thrive. We discuss the magic of low-stakes opportunities, practicing and getting comfortable with failure in the process. She speaks about moving yourself forward — iterating and innovating — and the only way to make that happen is through doing. Jamie provides sound advice for selling oneself in an authentic way even if you loathe self-promotion (hint: know your audience!). Finally, Jamie offers some excellent advice to recent graduates about how to differentiate themselves in a competitive hiring landscape, including doubling down on your personal story so that you’re a memorable candidate for the job.

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In this first episode in a mini series all about big emotions in creative living, you’ll hear what The Scaries is all about, how it evolved and the form it takes today. You’ll hear the voices behind The Scaries: Nicola Hamilton and LeeAndra Cianci. We talk about the emotional realities of creative living (including regular feelings of self doubt) and how the duo overcame burnout through their creative practice. We dive into imposter syndrome, fear and why giving our big feelings a voice is a huge step towards making them work for us and not against us! Finally, Diana announces the big super secret project she’s been working on.

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Welcome to the future… FONT FUTURES!

In this episode, we meet Toronto-based type designer, Kevin King, who is working to revitalize and preserve North American Indigenous languages in digital spaces. You’ll hear Kevin’s career origin story, the challenges that exist in digital spaces for minority language support, current barriers to access and the process involved in helping to remove these barriers. You’ll learn the process involved in taking on a project of this magnitude, including a research methodology that helped Kevin reach out to Indigenous communities and work with language keepers directly. Finally, Kevin provides excellent advice for up-and-coming type designers.

 Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

Welcome to the future… FONT FUTURES!

Today’s guest is the legendary Charles Nix, Creative Type Director at Monotype. In the following talk, you’ll hear the who, what, why, when, where and how of variable type technology, including some incredible examples of variable type that already exist in the world. You’ll hear about the technology behind variable type, as well as the creative solutions possible for both the digital and physical world when designers are able to play with type as a medium. Variable font technology allows creatives to move beyond the binary to space that’s fluid and dimensional, exploring a spectrum of type. This episode could be called ‘Variable Type 101’ and it’s jam-packed with insight! 

 Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

Welcome to the future… FONT FUTURES!

In this first of three episodes in the series, you’ll meet emerging typeface designers Nate Evangelista and Sarah Zahavi. You’ll learn about their original typeface designs (Aqua and Negative Space), as well as their process, sources of inspiration and their favourite glyphs. Nate’s original typeface is derived from feeling, while Sarah’s is derived from thinking. Nate’s is organic and natural, while Sarah’s was born on city streets. These two typefaces, their processes and their designers are incredibly different, but each is also incredibly successful in their interpretations of the creative brief.

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Welcome The Little Friends of Printmaking, JW and Melissa Buchanan! This silkscreening duo of printmakers, illustrators and designers from Pasadena, California produce work for clients like Disney, FX, Nike and Cartoon Network. In this conversation, the pair discuss The Little Friends of Printmaking’s origin story, the way printmaking bridges the gap between technical and creative pursuits, how the medium of print offers a wonderful constraint, the how-to of silk screening, as well as The Little Friends’ creative process. The duo shares the surprising physicality of the silk screen process, interesting techniques they like to explore (marbling, matte vs. gloss, etc.) and tips for getting started. Finally, Melissa and JW share what they’re working on now and what we can expect in the future. Let’s tap into our inner printing nerds!

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Welcome to an 11-part series exploring the intersection of listening and creativity. Why is listening so important? How can we become better listeners? How can listening make us more creative? 

In this final conversation, chiropractor and acupuncturist Dr. Christine Wozniak explains the intimate relationship between stretching our bodies and improving our ability to listen through a process of attunement. She explains ‘attunement’, how to achieve it through the act of stretching and how it can positively impact our ability to listen. Like our interconnected bodies themselves, this episode helps us understand the links that exist between mind, body and creativity.

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Welcome to an 11-part series exploring the intersection of listening and creativity. Why is listening so important? How can we become better listeners? How can listening make us more creative? 

In this conversation, creative strategist Douglas Davis, generously shares the way listening is critical to the dynamic of understanding communication gaps that can exist between various stakeholders in the creative process and how listening allows creatives to be more strategic, including the importance of listening for the questions behind the questions. He also shares how learning to control our emotions is necessary within the context of the creative process through listening to our own bodies, as well as his take on imposter syndrome, drawing parallels between today’s creative climate and that of the turn of the new millennium (in the early days of web design). Finally, Douglas reminds us that listening is required to allow creative people everywhere to remain on brand, on strategy and on message.

 Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)