In this episode of Type Speaks, host Rae sits down with Jarrett Fuller to talk for a wide-ranging conversation about process, teaching, and the philosophies behind design. We trace Jarrett’s earliest memories of being fascinated with letterforms, his winding path from “wannabe architect” to discovering graphic design, and how he sees creative work as slow, organic, and resistant to rigid formulas. Exploring his idea of design as “ideology made artifact,” the way branding and politics reveal belief systems, and why sameness in design might be more threatening than AI. Plus, we dive into teaching as practice, the dangers of Pinterest mood boards, and the importance of embracing weird, personal work that stands out.

Jarrett Fuller is an assistant professor of graphic design at North Carolina State University, director of the design and editorial studio twenty-six, and host of the podcast Scratching the Surface. He has co-edited four books, with writing featured in Fast Company, Eye Magazine, Design Observer, Design & Culture, and more. His design work has received recognition from Communication Arts and The Type Directors Club. Previously, he worked as an editor at Eye on Design and as a designer at Facebook, Warby Parker, and The Whitney Museum of American Art.