Talk Paper Scissors
Join host, Diana Varma, as she explores the wonderful world of design and printing, typography and branding, books and publishing. Diana loves nothing more than getting creative with Creatives about all things creative. Ready to have some fun? Let's Talk Paper Scissors!
Type Up Your Life with Elliot Jay Stocks
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Elliot Jay Stocks is a designer and musician, known in typographic circles thanks to his time as Creative Director of Adobe Typekit, founder of typography magazine 8 Faces, and for his recent collaboration with Google that lead to the creation of Google Fonts Knowledge.Â
In this conversation, youâll hear about Elliotâs prolific career in type. We talk passion projects and opportunities to broaden skills sets and unique opportunities that can happen from following oneâs genuine interests. Elliot also shares his process for writing and designing my very fa...
I Wrote a Book!
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Welcome to 250th episode of Talk Paper Scissors where I celebrate YOU the listeners, chat about podcasting milestones and share info about the upcoming release of my book called Brave Creative Human: Reframe imposter syndrome, embrace failure and be unapologetically you, with the foreword written by the one and only Drag Artist & Creativity Professor, Guy Anabella!Â
Release date: September 28, 2025!
Hereâs to the celebrating the small successes that turn out to be not so little with time and consistency.
*Note: The Book above is not my book; itâ...
The Art of Direction with Vincent Wanga
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From actionable leadership strategies to creative direction to AI, this episode is for all of the creative change makers!Â
In this conversation, youâll hear from creative leader, Vince Wanga, author of "The Art of Directionâ with a distinguished two-decade career. He shares the benefits of long-term goal setting and he shares his next audacious goal. Youâll hear about his book and the important and deeply personal stories about creative leadership he shares in it.
Youâll hear why creative leadership isnât the only âp...
Playing Racquetball in the Bathroom with Artist Kara Dunne
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Have you ever dressed up as a life-sized paper doll, used a typewriter in a public bathroom or traveled to multiple continents to learn more about sheep? Meet Kara Dunne, who has done all of the above and more in the name of art.
In this conversation, youâll learn more about why and how many artistic modalities are part of Karaâs artistic practice, as well as about her most challenging project to date: a book called âShopping Cart Shepherdsâ and all of the serendipity leading to its crea...
A Rosie Life in Italy with Rosie Meleady
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Todayâs guest is Rosie Meleady, Irish author and my first cousin once removed!Â
 Rosie is currently having a fabulous midlife crisis in Italy, running womenâs writing retreats in Italy twice a year, and hosting women solo travellers and creatives in her Umbrian villa guest house. She writes humorous living memoir and humorous fiction.Â
Through this conversation, youâll better understand Rosieâs journey as both an independent and traditionally published author, her process for writing âliving memoirâ (or âreality TV in book formâ, as she calls it), and the advice she...
Snacky Sidebars with Magazine Designer Kyle Schruder
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This 3 part mini-series features 3 designers who bring different kinds of magazines to life. In this third and final episode, we have Creative Director and magazine designer, Kyle Scrhuder.
In this conversation, Kyle straddles the line between printed magazines and digital magazines. Youâll also hear about a project early in Kyleâs career that fundamentally changed the way he approached magazine design from that day forward. Kyle maps out a framework to balance readability and creativity, digging into actionable techniques to move through a magazine design process, including what...
Digital Tools for Magazine Creation with Alexandra Golubeva of Readymag
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This 3 part mini-series features 3 designers who bring different kinds of magazines to life. In this second episode, we have Alexandra Golubeva, Designer at Readymag!
In this conversation, Alexandra takes us through what Readymag is all about, as well as a series of projects that showcase the platformâs capabilities. Youâll better understand whatâs possible with digitally published magazines, as well as how Alexandra thinks about working with type on the web and lots of tips around accessibility for publication design on the web.
You...
Serving Up Magazines with Nicola Hamilton
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This 3 part mini-series features 3 designers who bring different kinds of magazines to life. First up we have Art Director and Issues Magazine Shop owner, Nicola Hamilton!Â
In this conversation, youâll hear Nicola share what it means to work on projects that manifest in print, as well as how she approaches the design of Serviette magazine to serve the content and audience, including working with a number of design constraints.Â
Nicola shares insights about how she believes current students keen on being part of the magazine industry can work on a...
Communities of Care with Patricia Ki
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This is the third and final episode in a 3-part mini series about exploring creative education, both as a noun and a verb; new ways of thinking about assessments, grading and ungrading with 3 brilliant educators who work and teach in the spaces of communication, design, creativity, art and art therapy.Â
In this episode, youâll hear from Art Therapist and Educator, Patricia Ki, who brings a rich understanding of therapeutic practice and educational pedagogy informed by her practice to this conversation. She discusses how traditional grading systems are in...
Design as Creative Midwifery with Rupsha Mutsuddi
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This is the second episode in a 3-part mini series about exploring creative education, both as a noun and a verb; new ways of thinking about assessments, grading and ungrading with 3 brilliant educators who work and teach in the spaces of communication, design, creativity, art and art therapy.Â
In this episode, youâll hear from researcher, educator, designer and artist, Rupsha Mutsuddi, about her upbringing in a variety of school systems and the ways itâs led to her current path. Youâll hear about the unique interdisciplinary nature...
Success Through Failure with Dom Prevost
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This is the first episode in a 3-part mini series about exploring creative education, both as a noun and a verb; new ways of thinking about assessments, grading and ungrading with 3 brilliant educators who work and teach in the spaces of communication, design, creativity, art and art therapy.Â
First up is Dom Prevost, Group Creative Director at Resonance and also teaches at IDEA School of Design (Capilano University) and Miami Ad School. With a multi-disciplinary approach and years of international experience, Dom has created award-winning, fully-integrated campaigns for s...
Lora: An Incomplete History of Type
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From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type (Part 5!)
This episode is guest hosted by Natalie Annabelle.
Name: Lora
Release Date: 2022
Designers: Cyreal, (Type Designer) Alexei Vanyashin, (Photographer) Olga Karpushina
Classification: Serif font
Owned By: Open Source / SIL Open...
Eurostile: An Incomplete History of Type
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From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type (Part 5!)
This episode is guest hosted by Sam Weinberg.
Name: Eurostile
Release Date: 1962
Designer: Aldo Novarese
Classification: Geometric
Owned By: URW Type Foundry
Claim to Fame: Popular...
Abhaya Libre: An Incomplete History of Type
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From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type (Part 5!)
This episode is guest hosted by Joanne Liao.
Name: Abhaya LibreÂ
Release Date: 2015
Designer: Sol Matas
Classification: Serif
Owned By: The Abhaya Libre Project Authors
Claim to Fame: Itâs a r...
Lexend: An Incomplete History of Type
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From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type (Part 5!)
This episode is guest hosted by Matthew Karton.
Name: LexendÂ
Release Date: 2019
Designers: Bonnie Shaver-Troup, Linnea Lundquist, and later Thomas Jockin, Santiago Orozco, HĂ©ctor GĂłmez
Classification: Sans-Serif
Owned By: T...
Georgia: An Incomplete History of Type
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From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type (Part 5!)
This episode is guest hosted by Darrab Qureshi.
Name: Georgia
Release Date: 1996
Designer: Matthew Carter
Classification: Transitional Scotch Roman style
Owned By: Microsoft Corporation
Claim to Fame: <...
Looking Past the Brush with Koy Suntichotinun
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This is the fifth and final episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with design typography pros from across North America!
This episode features Koy Sun, a seasoned Thai American artist, whose decade-long journey through the realms of custom lettering and illustration has recently expanded into the vibrant territories of sign painting and mural work. In this episode, youâll hear Koy talk about his introduction to letterforms and using the painted medium to craft his work today. Koy speaks to why he be...
Baselines and Basslines with Jamie Chang of Manic Type
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This is the fourth episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with design typography pros from across North America!
This episode features Jamie Chang, founder of Manic Type in Toronto, Canada. Youâll hear Jamie draw parallels between brand identity design and type design, better understand his process and hear about ways that designing a typeface can get out of hand (in a both a good way and bad way). Youâll hear how Jamie decides what kind of type to design next, demy...
A Legacy in Lettering with Jessica Hische
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This is the third episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with design typography pros from across North America!
In this episode features the legendary, Jessica Hische. Youâll hear Jessicaâs origin story in graphic design and illustration, how she works with sources of inspiration and what her process looks like (yes, verbal brainstorming!). Youâll hear how and why technology has changed Jessicaâs process and how she thinks about the topic on so many creativesâ minds: AI. Finally, Jessica shares that itâs...
Lettering, Signs and Graphic Design with Chris Rouleau
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This is the second episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with design typography pros from across North America!
In this episode youâll hear about Chrisâ recent projects, the magic to be found in creative constraints, and helpful advice about where to find inspiration. Youâll hear about Chrisâ typical process, his thoughts on how many is too many typefaces and advice for muralists looking to scale up and transfer designs onto a wall. Lastly, youâll hear the role that failure plays in C...
Illustration and Brand Collaboration with Fiorella Granda
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This is the first episode in a 5-part guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography, speaking with design typography pros from across North America!
In this episode youâll hear design, illustrator and content creator, Fiorella Granda, discuss her relatively recent shift to full-time illustration, her creative process and the way passion projects fuel her work with big brands (including details about her project in Toronto with the WNBA). Youâll also learn about Fiorellaâs love/hate relationship with social media, tips for pricing and licensing your work...
Behind the Scenes with Mufasa (Oren Williamson on Creativity, Collaboration and Comedy)
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On the heels of his debut as Mufasa in Mirvishâs The Lion King last Friday night, Oren Williamson is here to chat all things creativity, collaboration and comedy!Â
In this episode, youâll hear Orenâs origin story moving through his non-linear creative journey. Youâll hear him explain the process to play a role in The Lion Kingâs production, as well as a moment-by-moment account of what was going on in his mind on stage as Mufasa for the first time.
We talk all of my favourite t...
Creating as a Designer AND an Artist with Zach Litoff
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Have you ever found yourself straddling the world of art and the world of design, not sure if you should commit fully to one or the other?Â
Enter Zach Litoff, a multi-media artist AND designer whose work blends art and design to create visually compelling narratives. Heâs here to chat about existing in both worlds and the benefits heâs found in living in multiple creative spaces.Â
In this conversation youâll hear about Zachâs multi passionate interests in art, science and athletics...
Branding Trends and Trending Brands with Amelia Nash
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Weâre talking about brands with multi award winning designer Amelia Nash, Brand & Marketing Manager for the School of Visual Arts Masters in Branding program and Senior Staff Writer for PRINT Magazine.
In this conversation, youâll hear about Ameliaâs predictions in branding through 2025 related to strategy, design and emerging practices.She shares her excitement about typographic revival in brand identity design and sustainable practices in packaging.Â
Youâll hear about the way branding is an ecosystem, balancing trendiness with timelessness and the influence...
Portfolio Advice You Need to Hear with Robert Smith
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Letâs talk portfolios!
Meet Robert Smith, a seasoned creative leader, branding strategist, and published author with over 30 years of experience in the design and marketing industry. He is the architect/creative director of the beloved Farm Boy brand. With a reputation for blending creativity with business acumen, Robert has been recognized with more than 100 industry awards for excellence in design and branding.
In this conversation full of rich insights, youâll hear why even bad internships are successful in developing self-awareness, excellent advice for...
Career Breaks and World Travel with Eden Kim
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In this episode, youâll meet one of Diana's best friends, Eden Kim, who talks about her recent career break travelling around the world and the lessons sheâs learned along the way. Eden considers herself a global citizen, with home being wherever her heart happens to be visiting at any given time. Over the years, sheâs transformed from a 21-year-old from South Korea who didnât speak English to someone who moved to Canada alone, built a cross-border career, and became a fearless networker.
This conversation is anchored around an event...
Little Canada, Big Team Effort
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Back your bags, weâre going on a trip!Â
Today I am speaking with Mark Domanski, Director of Destinations, who oversees the build and expansion of the immersive miniature exhibits at Little Canada.Â
In this conversation, youâll hear about the design and creative collaboration within Little Canada, as well as the attractionâs origin story. Youâll learn about the interdisciplinary nature of the build team, and materials and techniques used to create the models.
Youâll hear how storytelling...
The Signs That Define Toronto with Kurt Kraler
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Today we are talking about signs that define Toronto! Featured today is Kurt Kraler, a registered Architect (OAA) and project manager at ERA Architects and co-creator of the book âThe Signs That Define Torontoâ.
In this episode youâll better understand how and why signs can tell us so much about the changing culture of a city, including iconic signs like Honest Edâs, Tip Top Tailors and Zanzibar (and why the latter is particularly unique). Youâll learn how signs can shape community identities, Queer signage in Toronto, a...
Delicious Web Typography with Oliver Schöndorfer of Pimp My Type
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This final episode of 2024 features Austrian interface and app designer and fellow type geek, Oliver Schöndorfer. In this episode, youâll learn LOTS about web typography, specifically:
How Oliver defines web typographyWeb font hierarchy The ins and outs of choosing a typeface for the webThe difference between âweb fontsâ and âweb safe fontsâA brief history of web typographyThe crossovers between typography for print and typography for the webThe way that screen size plays a...Mindfully Creative with Radim Malinic
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This episode features Radim Malinic, the creative director and designer at the helm of award-winning branding and creative studio Brand Nu Studio and the independent publishing firm Brand Nu Books. In this episode, youâll hear about Radimâs journey and evolution with mindfulness techniques, why Radim is a self-described âEternally Curious Idiotâ, what his unbalanced existence used to look like versus what his more balanced existence looks like now. We chat about failure, opportunity and fear. Finally, youâll hear about Radimâs 7th, forthcoming book, including the book he decided not to write...
Breaking the (Printing) Mold with Alec Vivier-Reynaud
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This episode features Alec Vivier-Reynaud, a french bio-designer and graphic designer. At the intersection of biology and graphic design, his biodesign researches propose a new paradigm where images become living entities. Youâll hear about Alecâs love of printmaking and how Alecâs proprietary process works. If you think combining cyan, magenta, yellow and black is cool, youâll be fascinated by what happens when you combine bio inks (think beyond colour to texture, volume, shine and more). Finally, youâll hear what happens to type when Alec prints letterforms.
...
Women of Type with Jess Goldsmith
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This episode features Jess Goldsmith, founder of Women of Type!
In this episode, youâll hear about Jessâ role in the world of type, including the community sheâs created, uplifting and amplifying the work of women and non-binary artists in the typography and lettering industry.Â
You'll also hear about recent features that Jess is jazzed about and ways to get featured on the women of Type page.
Finally, Jess shares great advice for creative professionals everywh...
Expanding Raleway to Support Accessible Tech with Michael Young
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This episode features a conversation with Toronto-based designer, developer and accessibility specialist, Michael Young. His graduate level research involves making technology more accessible, specifically through the expansion of Raleway; an open source Google font used in communications by the Ontario Government.
In this episode youâll hear more about Michaelâs gateway into this work, hear about the Syllabic writing system, and what Unicode is in plain language. Youâll hear what it was like for Michael to embark on a journey of font creation for the first time...
Live From DesignThinkers Toronto with Carl Shura!
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This episode features an in-person conversation at Canadaâs largest graphic design conference with type aficionado, Carl Shura!Â
In this episode youâll hear LOTS of excellent type geekery, such as:Â
The history of the typeface Cooper Black and the ways itâs connected to Carl as a personThe idea that letterforms are just âblobs with defectsâHow Carl worked backwards from a few letters to reconstruct an iconic Toronto building signHow to approach the development of a revival ty...Designing in the Beauty Industry featuring Ali DuHart of Benefit Cosmetics
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In todayâs episode, I have Ali DuHart, a Senior Graphic Designer at Benefit Cosmetics where sheâs worked for the last 8 years. Youâll hear about Aliâs role at Benefit Cosmetics including visual merchandising: what it is and how it comes together.
We get into some specifics around prototyping for print, the importance of understanding different audiences in different situations/events, and we talk about balancing brand identity with trendiness, and specifically how Benefit Cosmetics achieves this.Â
Ali talks about her career path gett...
Barns, Gumbo and Scriptoriums with Type Designer, Matthijs Herzberg
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The Herzberg Design Co is a New Orleans based studio specializing in type design, brand identity, art direction, and everything related to letters; itâs a one-man operation founded by Dutchman Matthijs Herzberg. He focuses on unconventional and exuberant work, but always with a sharp eye for detail, quality, and purpose (as such, combining the best of New Orleans with the best of The Netherlands).
In this episode, youâll hear why Matthijs loves letters, an analogy about type designers that fundamentally changes the way...
Collecting & Collaging with Eric Bargenda
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This episode is all about collage! Eric Bargenda is seasoned design director who has taken his love for graphic design, ephemera and all things vintage and applied it to the art of analog collage.Â
In this episode, youâll better understand the ways in which collage is a natural extension of graphic design, youâll hear Eric describe his collage process and learn about the surprising way community and collaboration has popped into Ericâs artistic work.
We talk about the power of getting feedbac...
Sprinting Through Setbacks with Olympian Micha Powell
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In this episode, youâll hear world-class Canadian Olympic sprinter and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Micha Powell, share the process for writing and publishing her book, Sprinting Through Setbacks, and the important lessons sheâs learned in the process.
Youâll hear her inspiring story that changed the trajectory of her track career. Micha speaks about self doubt and imposter syndrome, the ways in which theyâve shown up in her athletic journey. How writing can be a time machine and we get into why relying on AI as a wri...
Cultivating Collective Effervescence with Jeff Newberry of Mirvishâs The Lion King in Toronto
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This episode features a conversation with Jeff Newberry, a music director, composer, arranger, sound designer, and educator working in theatre, concert, and community spaces. For Mirvish, Jeff is the associate music director of Disneyâs The Lion King in Toronto. (Opening night is November 2!)
In this conversation, Jeff describes his vision of strong creative leadership â a leader who isnât afraid to feel stuck, can embrace silence and scrap a plan when needed. We talk about the importance of learning names as a gateway to making others feel seen a...
Type Talk with Peter Ha
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Itâs Peter! Peter Ha is a designer, artist and educator. He is a co-founder of Equal Parts Studio, a Toronto-based contemporary graphic design practice, whose process is founded on curiosity and finding the joy and playfulness in every project.Â
In this conversation, you'll hear why Peter loves type, including some different professional and passion projects that put type in the spotlight. Peter seamlessly transitions from coding to working with wood on type and back again, using a variety of digital and analog tools in experimental ways. Youâll al...
