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Tré Seals is a multi-disciplinary designer, typographer, and the founder of Vocal Type—a mission-driven type foundry dedicated to diversifying design by telling untold stories through letterforms. In this inspiring episode, Tré walks us through how surviving two childhood brain tumors shaped his identity, how a single article by Cheryl D. Miller shifted his career forever, and how he’s using typography to amplify culture, protest, and inclusion.
We explore his creative journey—from graffitiing names on index cards in elementary school to creating fonts used by Spike Lee, Nike, and countless grassroots movements. Tré shares his deep passion for research, cultural storytelling, and the power of design to preserve and honor the past while shaping a more inclusive future.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes design is more than aesthetics—it’s activism, identity, and voice.
✔️ You want to turn your personal story into purpose
✔️ You’re curious about typography, protest art, or cultural preservation
✔️ You’re ready to diversify the visual language of your work
✔️ You’re looking for career inspiration from a Black creative leader
✔️ You believe type and design can drive social change
Intro — Who is Tré Seals?
Childhood illness and art as therapy
Selling graffiti-style name cards in 5th grade
Discovering design through struggle and story
Launching Vocal Type and honoring protest movements
Creating Martin, the typeface inspired by MLK and Memphis
The role of Cheryl D. Miller’s “Missing in Action” article
Why type design is cultural storytelling
Creative process and research behind each typeface
Building Studio Seals on family land
How he landed collaborations with Spike Lee and Nike
Advice for young designers who feel unseen
The difference between diversity and inclusion
Quickfire: Fonts, protest signs, and design heroes
What’s next for Vocal Type
🌐 Website: https://www.treseals.com
🔤 Vocal Type: https://vocaltype.co
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/vocaltype.co
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/treseals
More Podcast Episodes:
🎧 https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast
Resources Mentioned:
– Cheryl D. Miller’s “Black Designers: Missing in Action”
– Vocal Type Foundry
– Studio Seals
– Fontself & Glyphs
– Protest Design Archives
#TreSeals #VocalType #BlackTypographer #TypographyDesign #DesignForChange #CreativeStorytelling #DesignActivism #DesignWithPurpose #StudioSeals #BlackDesigners #FontDesign #TypeFoundry #ProtestFonts #ArtSchoolGradPodcast #DiversityInDesign
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