Ways Into Practice

Lizy Gershenzon and Travis Kochel share their journey navigating the niche world of type design — from co-founding Future Fonts (@futurefonts), a community-driven marketplace for experimental, in-progress typefaces, to learning how to grow individually while building something together. In this conversation, they reflect on nearly two decades of collaboration, offering two distinct perspectives on how they’ve defined their roles, stayed creatively aligned, and sustained a long-term partnership.Future Fonts & Vectro are led by Lizy Gershenzon and Travis Kochel. This duo have been partners for nearly two decades. They are also known for the innovative fonts Chartwell (a font that makes charts using OpenType) and Kablammo (a variable font for Google that explores technology and animation). They specialize in type design, digital product design, and branding.Lizy has worked with GitHub, Headspace, Instrument, Nike, and Google, adding in-house and agency design and management experience to the team. Travis taught Type Design at Portland State for over 10 years and brings deep expertise in typeface design and development.Together, they previously founded Scribble Tone, creatingplatforms and custom typefaces for Design Portland, XOXO Festival, and Marmoset Music. Both served as adjunct professors at Portland State University, and teach type and marketing workshops.…Ways Into Practice is a podcast about design by @bielkeyangFeaturing in-depth interviews with established professionals sharing their personal journeys into the field. Aiming to provide a holistic understanding of the design industry and empower aspiring designers to make informed decisions about their own professional paths.Photo by Sage Brown (@sagebrown)

How Do You Balance Ambition With a Critical Eye on the Systems You Work In? With Kaave Pour (21st Europe)In this episode, Jade and Estella talk with Kaave Pour — Co-Founder of Space 10 and Founder of the recently launched 21st Europe — about what it means to choose not just your craft, but your context. Kaave shares why he's dedicated his career to reimagining the home as a space for social and environmental change, and how he balances big-picture ambition with grounded, long-term goals.They explore how designers can work with integrity inside complex systems, the challenges and rewards of building with community, and what it takes to stay focused while pursuing bold ideas over time. Whether you're just starting out or redefining your path, this episode offers valuable insights into designing with purpose.…Ways Into Practice is a podcast about design by Bielke&YangFeaturing in-depth interviews with established professionals sharing their personal journeys into the field. Aiming to provide a holistic understanding of the design industry and empower aspiring designers to make informed decisions about their own professional paths.

In this episode, Jade and Estella sit down with Elliott Panam-Moody, founder of The Brand Identity, to explore what it means to build a creative career while still discovering what you’re best at.Elliott shares the story behind The Brand Identity — how it evolved from a meticulously curated Instagram feed into a, if not the, leading platform for the global graphic design community. Launched in 2015, it now serves over 1 million creatives worldwide, showcasing the top 1% of graphic design and offering a rich ecosystem that includes a digital store, job board, and editorial content. Constantly testing, failing, readjusting and learning along the way. This episode offers a candid look at the realities of creative entrepreneurship and what it takes to build something meaningful from the ground up.…Together, they discuss:• Monetisation, how it works and when to capitalise on it?• The power of platforms in shaping design standards• The importance of transparency in the design industry• Navigating criticism and the responsibility that comes with influence…Listen to the full episode now, link in bio.…Ways Into Practice is a podcast about design by @bielkeyangFeaturing in-depth interviews with established professionals sharing their personal journeys into the field. Aiming to provide a holistic understanding of the design industry and empower aspiring designers to make informed decisions about their own professional paths.Supported by Barne-, ungdoms- og familiedirektoratet (Bufdir).

In this episode, we dive into the complexities of transitioning from academic life to the professional world with our guest, Guro Røberg. Alongside hosts Rasmus and Kristine, we explore themes of belonging, power dynamics, and the importance of continuous learning in the workplace. Guro shares invaluable insights from her diverse background in music, economics, and design, offering guidance on navigating the early stages of one’s career. Guro is an experienced design leader and executive advisor with an international background. For the past 10 years, she has held leadership roles in four consultancies (ÆRA, EY Doberman, Designit and Netlife) and is currently a Product Coach at Telenor. As an economist from Copenhagen Business School, she specialised in managing creative processes and has driven transformation processes for clients with bold strategic ambitions worldwide. She is a professional facilitator and public speaker who contributes to conferences and podcasts on topics relating to design, innovation, leadership and organisation. She founded an interactive talk show that explores how we can live better lives at work, investigating topics like power, belonging, beauty, language, change, success and consciousness.

In this episode of Ways into Practice, we dive into the multifaceted concept of diversity in the design world with guest Sun Helen Isdahl Kalvenes. From her experiences across different countries and cultures, Sun Helen discusses the various dimensions of diversity, the importance of representation, and how to address biases in creative spaces. She shares her insights on the role of empathy, the significance of diverse leadership, and how we can make design truly inclusive.

In Episode One of Season Two, Kristine and Rasmus talk to Erik Berger Vaage, co-founder of the design studio Walk of Thought. Erik shares his fascinating journey from his roots in Oslo to his experiences in the early days of Collins in San Francisco and setting up his own practice in Paris. The discussion delves into the influence of place on design processes and outcomes, particularly universal design, the challenges of building a cohesive brand across different markets, and the importance of maintaining the small studio ethos in larger corporate settings. …… WIP is a podcast about design by Bielke&Yang. Featuring in-depth interviews with established professionals sharing their personal journeys into the field. Aiming to provide a holistic understanding of the design industry and empower aspiring designers to make informed decisions about their own professional paths.

Ida Louise Andersen is a Senior Designer continuously searching to find new ways to bend, stretch, feed and grow new ideas. Currently working at Scandinavian Design Group (SDG). She takes us on her journey from studying in Oslo and Milan to how she started in the industry. Ida shares her experiences in branding the nation branding of Norway, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the challenges of designing for a diverse international audience. Ida talks us through the concept behind her personal project, "Ida's Space," a digital haven where she finds artistic freedom and inspiration beyond the crowded social media landscape. We explore the importance of maintaining a work-life balance and how creativity flourishes when designers step outside the design bubble. Ida's passion for design shines through as she discusses the impact of her playful mindset on her recent project, Mash, a lifestyle brand focused on wellness and embracing life's highs and lows. Join us for an engaging conversation with Ida as she shares her design philosophy, her approach to nation branding, and the magic that comes from finding joy in creativity. …… Ways Into Practice (WIP) is a resource created and produced as part of Bielke&Yang’s internship programme. …… A project initiated by @bielkeyang with the support of a grant from @grafill Interviews, identity and design by @linn.linn.linh & @kristoffer.design Illustrations by @linn.linn.linh Photography by @bowoslo Episodes mastered by Simen Stokke Typeface STK Bureau Sans & Serif by @smuss.studio …… waysintopractice.no #design #students #process #design #branding #careerdevelopment #graphicdesign #interview #podcast #independent #designer #creativity #freelance #entrepreneurship

Juliane Stensrud, the co-founder of Mos, is an experienced Art Director whose work centres around human insight, connecting target audiences to brands and making them relevant in people's lives. She believes in the power of visual expression and storytelling, emphasising that both disciplines are vital for creating standout brands with a strong impact. In this episode, Juliane discusses her journey in the field of art direction and the inspiration she gained from collaborating with others. She shares how she transitioned from being an art director in larger agencies to starting her own business with Mos, highlighting the pros and cons of entrepreneurship. Delving into the core values and working principles of Mos, emphasising the importance of honesty, communication, and craft in their creative process. She explains how the challenge of being self-reliant and finding answers themselves pushed them to define their beliefs and processes as a studio. Leaving the safety of a stable environment was a daunting experience, but Juliane expresses gratitude for the sense of freedom that comes with running her own business. She also elaborates on the significance of establishing trusting relationships with clients. Highlights the value of challenging and questioning each other, leading to better outcomes and decision-making for clients. Juliane compares this relationship to a loving one, where the work environment and mutual trust greatly impact the success of the collaboration. Throughout the episode, Juliane's passion for visual expression, storytelling, and creating standout brands shines through, offering valuable insights into her journey as an art director and entrepreneur. mososlo.no @mososlo …… Ways Into Practice (WIP) is a resource created and produced as part of Bielke&Yang’s internship programme taking the form of a podcast to provide students and young designers valuable insights when starting their journey into the design industry. …… A project initiated by @bielkeyang with the support of a grant from @grafill Interviews, identity and design by @linn.linn.linh & @kristoffer.design Illustrations by @linn.linn.linh Photography by @bowoslo Episodes mastered by Simen Stokke Typeface STK Bureau Sans & Serif by @smuss.studio …… waysintopractice.no #design #students #process #artdirection #careerdevelopment #graphicdesign #interview #podcast #independent #designer #creativity #freelance #entrepreneurship