304: Designing Systems of Type (Mistakes and All!) with James Edmondson of OH no Type Co.
- Diana Varma
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Welcome back - I’m so glad you’re here.
Today I’m serving up a brand new 4-part guest lecture series, featuring an incredible line up of type and design folks from across North America!
This first episode features highly sought-after type designer, James Edmondson. James is a type designer based in San Jose, California. He studied graphic design at California College of the Arts, and graduated from the Royal Academy of Art's TypeMedia program in The Hague, Netherlands. With his fabulous comrades at OH no Type Co., he creates custom and retail typefaces.
In this conversation you’ll hear James’ typography origin story (he’s still an 8-year-old at heart!), how he uses “Pen Logic” to help construct systems of type, and how he knows when a typeface is complete. You’ll hear some great questions from students asking for all the juicy details about mistakes in his work, as well as what James hates about the process.
Please check out the show notes here or on Instagram (or ohnotype.co) to see the visuals mentioned in this episode.
This episode was recorded as part of a guest lecture series in GCM 806 - Advanced Typography in winter 2026 at The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Let’s listen in…
About Our Guest:
James is a type designer based in San Jose, California. He studied graphic design at California College of the Arts, and graduated from the Royal Academy of Art's TypeMedia program in The Hague, Netherlands. With his fabulous comrades at OH no Type Co., he creates custom and retail typefaces.
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Music:
Bubbles ( Lofi , Bright , Relaxed ) by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.
Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle
