Cyrus Highsmith

Raising awareness on Global Recycling Day 2024 with episode 18 of The Board and Paper Talks. Paper and board was the most recycled packaging material in Europe in 2020, comparing to metal, glass and plastic. Overall, the recycling rate of paper and board was 70,5% in 2022 (source: Monitoring Report 2022, European Paper Recycling Council). Listen to Elin Bergman's comments on this and much more on this episode dedicated to circular economy. While the podcast doesn't stand up for any industry or business, it's important to inform that pulp and paper industry use specific species in their process, and not rainforest wood. It's also relevant to share CEPI's (Confedereation of European Paper Industry) circular economy website (https://sustainability.cepi.org/policy-blocks/circular-economy/), where it is possible to check the industry's sustainability vision, 2050 outlook, good practices and policy (forest, bioeconomy, energy and climate, environment). Elin Bergman, the ”Circular Economy Queen of Sweden”, is a sustainability expert with over 16 years of experience. With a background in organizations such as WWF and sustainability consultancies, she currently serves as the COO, Vice Chair, and spokesperson for Cradlenet, Sweden's leading business network for circular economy. Elin advises various initiatives and is part of the reference group for the Swedish Delegation for circular economy and the Circular Economy Coalition. In 2018, she co-founded the Nordic Circular Hotspot, a platform that connects and showcases circular economy actors and initiatives in the Nordic region and beyond. Today, the organization has managing partner organizations in all Nordic countries. Elin's expertise has earned her recognition as a LinkedIn top Green Voice, being a keynote speaker on circular economy topics. Elin Bergman’s website: https://www.cradlenet.se Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com

I am excited to have David Pearson sharing his insights and experience with us on this episode. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, David Pearson has had an illustrious career in print and text design. After working for Penguin Books, he established his own studio in 2007, specialising in print design where typography is the principle form of expression. His design work has been recognised by the Guardian, who listed him as one of Britain’s Top 50 Designers, and by Debrett’s, who named him one of Britain’s 500 most influential people. In 2015, David was appointed Royal Designer for Industry, a testament to his outstanding contributions to the field of design.  David Pearson’s website: http://www.typeasimage.com Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com  

Erik Simpson is an analog and digital humanist. Erik is currently Professor of Humanities and Professor of English at Grinnell College. Erik just created and taught for the first time the course The History and Future of the Book, that we explore on this episode, along with paper as a medium and AI. Erik Simpson’s website: https://eriksimpson.net Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com

Lotta Maija is an illustrator and visual designer from Finland. Her background in textile design has sparked a love of flat-color surfaces and simple shapes, often prominent in her work. Inspired by all things organic and cute, her characteristic aesthetic comes to life in playful fruit and flora illustrations and patterns. Her signature colour palette plays a significant role in her work. Lotta has clients as Petit Pli, Marimekko and Pure Waste. On this episode we talk about Lotta’s creative process, pattern design, fast fashion and much more.  Lotta Maija’s website: https://lottamaija.com Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com

Allison Parrish is a computer programmer, poet, and game designer. Allison’s teaching and practice address the unusual phenomena that blossom when language and computers meet. She is an Assistant Arts Professor at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. Allison was named “Best Maker of Poetry Bots” by the Village Voice in 2016, and her zine of computer-generated poems called “Compasses” received an honorary mention in the 2021 Prix Ars Electronica.   Allison Parrish’s website: https://www.decontextualize.com Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com

Matthias Brown is an artist focused on animation—TraceLoops is an animation experiment centered around hand-drawn, physical animations and experiments with the creation and perception of motion. Matthias has been working with numerous brands as Converse, NBC, Hyundai, MTV, Purina, Trolli, AXE, Olay, Perrier, A&E, Warby Parker, CNN, The Tate Modern, Sony Music, Ghostly International, Samsung, Infinite Objects, Adidas and others. TraceLoops’ website: https://www.traceloops.com Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com

Chris Piascik is an illustrator by accident, as a result of a daily drawing project that spanned 14 years. Throughout his career he has worked with major clients like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Microsoft, Facebook, and more.   Chris Piascik’s website: https://www.chrispiascik.com Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com

Julian Montague is an artist/graphic designer/illustrator/photographer based in Buffalo, New York. His art work spans a wide range of mediums and approaches, from multi-year conceptual projects to abstract paintings. Julian’s Instagram account was considered one of the 5 art accounts to follow by The New York Times in 2020. Julian Montague’s portfolio: http://www.montagueprojects.com Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com

Cyrus Highsmith is a multi-talented creative who is a letter drawer, teacher, author, and graphic artist. He teaches type design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and is the author and illustrator of the acclaimed primer Inside Paragraphs: Typographic Fundamentals. He has been recognized with the prestigious Gerrit Noordzij Prize in 2015 for his extraordinary contributions to the fields of type design, typography, and type education. Cyrus founded Occupant Fonts in 2015 and joined Morisawa in 2017 to be the Japanese type company’s Latin alphabet counterpart, becoming Creative Director for Latin Type Development at Morisawa USA.   Occupant Font’s website: https://occupantfonts.com/ Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com

Marc David Spengler is a freelance designer, illustrator, and artist based in Stuttgart, Germany. His sketchbooks feature mesmerizing compositions of abstract shapes with bright colors, fake shadows, and optical illusions. From illustration to animation, Marc's work reflects his unique style.   Marc David Spengler’s portfolio: https://marcdavid.studio Podcast created, recorded and edited by Cristina Lopes: https://cristinalopesdesign.com