Please give details of what you do for a living.
I am a freelance typeface designer and a PhD researcher.
What sort of company do you work for, how many employees does it have etc?
As a freelance designer I work for myself. As a researcher I work with a University – my department counts about 30 staff and 120 students.
What part(s) of your job do you really enjoy?
I really enjoy the freedom of being responsible for my own time.
I enjoy drawing letters.
I enjoy carrying archive research and exchanging ideas with other researchers and students.
What part(s) of your job do you really dislike?
Sometimes working on my own and managing my own time can be difficult.
I don't enjoy doing admin, writing reports, etc.
What software/special language do you use?
I use Fontlab to design typefaces, Adobe inDesign for page layout, and Scrivener for research.
Who, within or outside the company, gives you tasks to do etc.?
My clients send me jobs to do. My PhD supervisors will sometimes give me tasks to do in relation to my research.
To whom do you report?
I report to my clients on type design projects, and to my PhD supervisors for the research.
With whom do you interact most often?
Staff at university and my fellow researchers.
How many phone calls you do you receive/make a week?
Very few work-related calls – maybe one or two a week.
How many emails do you receive/make a week?
I receive about 30 work-related emails, and write about as many.
How many meetings do you attend a week?About two.
What does excellence mean in your domain?
Being a talented type designer and produce successful typefaces.
Being a good writer and researcher, and communicate well your research to others.
What does incompetence mean in your domain?
Pretend that you are an expert when you are not. Being lazy.
Describe a tough day.
A tough day is an unproductive day. If I don't manage to write anything good, or if I design ugly letters.
Describe a good day.
A good day is a productive day! If I finally manage to write or design something good. A productive day doing archive research is also a good day. Or it can be like today, when I meet new people and exchange ideas about type design.
With whom do you have conflicts?
With myself.
What makes you happy in your work?
To collaborate with other people. To learn new things.
How are you evaluated?
Clients will evaluate my work by making comments (often by email) on the design I send them. In my research I am evaluated by my supervisors based on things I write and presentations I give.
How many years might a person do this job?
All their life.
How many years does one have to study to do this job?
To be a PhD researcher: four or five years.
To be a type designer: you can teach yourself, but usually between three and five years
What kind of training are you offered?
Exhibition curating, writing, oral presentations, interview techniques, etc.
What does your boss do?
I have no boss.
What do your subordinates do?
I have no subordinates.
What does it take to get fired from this job?
As a freelancer, if you produce bad typefaces or don't meet the deadlines you simply won't get any more work sent your way. As a researcher, if you don't work hard enough and don't meet deadlines you will lose your funding.
What do you have to do to get promoted from this job?
You don't get 'promoted' as such. But the harder you work the more successful you become.
What did you do before doing this job?
I was a full-time employee in a type design company.
What could you do after this job?
Teach, work in a museum, write books.
Could you do this job in other country?
Yes.
How do you dress for work?
Casual.
How many hours do you work a week?
Around 40 hours a week.
How often do you do overtime?
I am responsible for my own time so there is no overtime.
Do you go out to have lunch?
Sometimes.
Do you have lots of friends at work?
I work a lot from home so I am often on my own, but most of the people I collaborate with are good friends.
Are you happy with how much you earn?
It's ok.
What other job do you think you would love?
Working with kids – Primary school teacher or working in a kindergarten.
What would you change to make your job more beautiful?
Spend less time working from home and on a computer, and make it more sociable and more physically stimulating.
Would you recommend this job to your kids?
Not sure.
Are you happy with this job?
Yes.
