Design Can’t Rely on Logic: Troy Leinster on Type Design and Human Perception

Design Notes

In this episode, I reconnect with my former instructor, type designer and design coach Troy Leinster. Troy shares his journey from graphic design to type design, and explains why learning to make letters makes you a better designer.

We also dig into the importance of trusting the human eye over geometry, the productive friction of sketching by hand, and how understanding calligraphy builds a stronger perspective on type design.

Troy discusses why, in the age of AI, the most important thing a designer can do is put their personal touch on the work.