The Interrogang Podcast

Where is that artistic feedback that we all so crave‽ It's time to go back to school, but don't worry, this week's episode is an easy A. Josh enrolls us all in Earth University and tries to find you the perfect minor to complement your graphic design major. Then the guys talk about all the feedback we used to receive about our design work, but can't seem to find much of these d...

Do you ever feel like you don't get enough credit for your type work‽ Josh and Kyle would like to give you the credit you deserve, seeing as attribution in the type world seems, well, to not really be a thing. Kyle seeks world peace through type and Josh thinks some recent fonts have let themselves go. But really, where is the zazz...? Font releases highlighted in this episode: Hex Franklin f...

Have you ever been worried about sacrificing your artistic principles for a job‽ Josh and Kyle tackle the idea of "selling out" in type and realize that it may simultaneously be inevitable and not really a problem in type. But first, Josh jumps to the defense of the type consumer and keeps the dream of superfamilies alive while Kyle yearns for a day when variable fonts are more universal...

Where can you turn when you don't know when to use a certain font‽ Let's Google it! Kyle runs through a bunch of new releases and turns to Josh (because there was no one else around) to help us all define what makes a font superfamily "super". Then the guys return to everyone's favorite search engine for font usage advice and find, shall we say, inconclusive results. At le...

Don't you think that with great fonts comes great responsibility‽ In the releases this week, we are transported to a California drum circle, take a look at something just slightly fancier than what you've seen before, and find a font that is a quirky neutral sans. Then, Josh wants to know how many fonts is too many fonts to use in a single design, and Kyle has some examples of "the...

Do you remember your earliest interaction with typography‽ While a love of typography may have crept its way into your heart over time, it probably was in spite of your time getting an education instead of because of it. Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced, or else! Josh and Kyle break down why we were so typographically boxed in in our youth and dream of a future that can provide some room for p...

What should happen to the fonts of days gone by‽ The guys first look to the stars and hope to find some answers from fonts named after their astrological signs. Finding no luck there, they decide it's time to hang it up and discuss font retirement. With all these new type releases, Kyle posits that it may be time to take some fonts off the market to make way. Josh worries that that might lead...

How big of a head do you need to make it as a type designer‽ It's Season Two, and Josh and Kyle kick it off with some early 2022 releases and dream about which typeface they would want to spend the rest of their lives with (don't tell their wives). Then, they attempt to check their egos at the door and explore how much self-confidence aids or hinders the design process. And as a PSA, rem...

What are your typography New Year's resolutions‽ The guys look back at the year that was 2021 and then ahead to the year that supposedly will be 2022 and make some predictions for the world of type. Along the way, Kyle makes up some words and Josh realizes that if you love mispronouncing font names, you have to let it go. Ah well, onward and upward!  Just as long as we all tone down the wispy...

What gift do you get for the typographer who has everything‽ It's the holiday season and Kyle is here to serve as elf and provide gift ideas.  Spotify tries to ruin our Christmas cheer, but the guys won't let that typography Grinch get them down. And Josh makes us all grateful that there aren't 13 days of Christmas... Font releases highlighted in this episode: Retail from Ohno Type...

Have you noticed the wave of new fonts recently‽ Josh and Kyle attempt to surf over the rash of new fonts that have been released over the past few weeks and wonder if we are able to adequately appreciate them all. There is also talk of jugglers and robots taking over type design, how to make your typefaces stand out in a crowd, and separating the wheat from the chaff, for some reason. And while J...

Can we find a unifying theory of typography if we all experience type differently‽ Spoiler alert: we don’t think so. But first there’s a petition for a “snark mark” on behalf of a loyal listener, Josh wants this conversation to be Dunzo, and Kyle brings the crinkle fries. Then the guys discuss colonialism, accessibility, and the different buckets we are in when we approach type design. But in the...

Our physical universe is ever expanding, but can the type universe keep up‽ Kyle steps up to the chalkboard and guides us through how we can better educate ourselves and the "yoots" in typography, and Josh overstates the greatest atrocity of our time, but all he really wants is a more expansive library of punctuation marks. Now, be honest, you really never got away with writing a paper i...

If time makes fools of us all, what can we learn from fonts gone by‽ Back from TypeCon, Josh and Kyle ponder the arrow of time in type and think it’s high time for us to be more playful, which is what we all want anyway, admit it. Josh wants us to enjoy each other’s failures more than we currently do and Kyle has a recommendation for your next tattoo. We’ll just see what the arrow of time does to...

Weren't you just thinking that you were ready for some bonus typography hot takes‽ Josh and Kyle were busy at TypeCon 2021 this week, so we've prepared a bonus episode, in which you'll hear the first ever pass at an Interrogang recording as well as a few more typographic hot takes. It may be a short episode, but the soul of typography is at stake! And finally, the scourge of typogra...

How can we escape being paralyzed by the burden of choice‽ Josh and Kyle weigh all their options and eventually decide to discuss how having more choices doesn’t always make us better. Kyle deals with duality in this week’s releases and Josh continues to wish we didn’t have to subject ourselves to Twitter. Then the guys wonder why the advent of digital type hasn’t led to a whole new type landscape...

Can anyone truly be a "Jack-of-all-trades"‽ Josh and Kyle come to terms with the fact that there will always be things they are bad at, but that's ok, there is plenty of other stuff they're good at, like juggling. Kyle strategically seeks out new skills and Josh compares a certain aspect of type design to getting a colonoscopy. And despite the example set by our hosts, remember...

Are you ready for some typography hot takes‽ There are a bunch of new releases this week, but Kyle takes time to bring up some of type’s hottest takes and Josh unveils which side he comes down on (most of the time). Tempers flare over how revolutionary Helvetica could possibly be, Kyle wants to stop pitting sans vs. serif, and Josh would have you pay by the pixel. We have hot takes on hot takes an...

Aren't we all a snob about something‽ Josh and Kyle look down their respective noses for a little while and reveal what they are snobs about. Josh thinks you should read more books and Kyle rejects your red solo cup, but hopefully they aren't being too obnoxious. Should we be bigger snobs about typography? Can we help it? Let's see what happens when you add those extraneous serifs.....

Can we turn to Google to adequately answer our font questions‽ Kyle drops some names, picks them up, then invites them to a dinner party, and Josh does the minimum amount of work to quiz Kyle on how Google guides our font needs. Most importantly, the best advice this podcast has to offer is dispensed for the next time you need to quit your job... Editor's Note: Kyle cheated a bit during the D...

Isn’t it all just fun and games until somebody loses an “i”‽ Josh and Kyle find their playful side and wonder if there’s enough fun in their creative processes. Then they discuss the limitations you put on yourself that might keep you from finding this sense of play within your work, especially when you seek perfection. Kyle feels like he is “shoulding” himself too much, which isn’t as upsetting a...

Are emojis typography‽ Josh and Kyle throw down over whether or not emojis are under the typography umbrella and discuss when it is inappropriate to use emojis in everyday life. Along the way, you may even get some beatboxing advice... It was the best of emojis, it was the worst of emojis. Make sure to follow us on Twitter at @proof_and_co for follow up on this episode! Join us every week for a sh...

How many stars does a sensible serif deserve anyway‽ Josh and Kyle rate and review the idea of a rate and review process for new type releases. Would this be a benefit to designers or just supply a new venue for unnecessary, opinionated vitriol? Plus, Josh rejects “postmodern” as a descriptor and attempts to coin its replacement, ever forward into the supernow! Join us every week for a shot of typ...

Have you seen the Wizard about some courage‽ Josh and Kyle close their eyes, take a leap, and jump into discussing what kind of bravery it takes to make it in a creative field. Can you play it safe and still succeed, or do you need to engage in some risky behavior to get on people's radar? How is creative courage different in type? We narrowly escape discussing Yentl and explain how risk-taki...

How can I quit when I’ve put so much time into this‽ Josh and Kyle sink into the Sunk Cost Fallacy and want you all to know it’s ok to be a quitter. We also look for inspiration via dog defecation. And sorry Iceland, you’re no longer in the universe… Join us every week for a shot of type news and engaging conversation among friends on topics that range from typography, graphic design, branding, ar...