What keeps you creatively satisfied?
Making Type is a new series I’m kicking up in 2026, interviewing type designers on design, process, life, and creativity. I love reading the stories behind how things are created. I personally derive so much intrinsic value, motivation, and energy from making things and being creative. This is as you all likely know, a blessing and a curse 😅
I also fondly remember the early days of The Great Discontent and how I just loved that name. I guess I never really looked into the meaning behind it but for me it was that tension we have to be creatively fulfilled, and the challenge of chasing contentment through creating.
I’m aiming for the interviews to all follow this format: 7 questions, starting with the first spark which got them into type, and ending with what keeps them creatively satisfied.
You can read the first post here —
Jake Make Type Work
👋 Incase you are wondering, you’re receiving this email because at some point in the last 3 years you subscribed on the Make Type Work website. Yes, it has been 2 years since I sent a newsletter. Yes, it was originally called Fonts Monthly. No, that clearly didn’t work out as I had planned.
John Roshell is behind the many, many stellar comic book fonts of Comicraft, and also the California inspired Swell Type. I’ve had the pleasure of catching him in person at various conferences in the past year so he was top of mind to kick things off. Here’s a few snippets —
On getting into type:
... just after college, my first week working for some comic book letterer named Richard Starkings, he asked if I could figure out what was causing the holes in the number “8” in his font not to show up. Opening Fontographer for the first time was like opening the portal to another dimension… I could actually… MAKE fonts??
On creative satisfaction:
This year, my wife and I sold our tract house in the suburbs and moved to a little 100 year old Craftsman downtown. So that's meant several months of glorious house projects, from painting walls to wiring outlets, moving doors and vaulting ceilings. After a few hours of that, I start thinking about a font I want to work on, and the cycle begins anew.
As someone who also loves to juggle home renovation projects with everything else, this totally resonates with me!
Read the full post over on the website to hear more about John’s 30+ years in type.
I’d also love to hear what keeps you creatively satisfied. Hit reply to this email to let me know.
Happy fonting ✌️
Love,
Jake