31. From Surf Life to Type Boss: Creative Hustle & Font Fame w/ Tom Cunningham

2025-04-04

In this inspiring and laid-back conversation, I sit down with Tom Cunningham, the founder of Tropical Type, to talk about his seven-year journey from surf-loving freelancer to building one of the most recognizable font foundries on the internet. We explore how Tom’s “fast font” philosophy democratized high-impact typography for everyday designers, why he ditched clients for creative freedom, and how he stays grounded in a rapidly evolving design world.Tom shares personal stories about launc...

In this inspiring and laid-back conversation, I sit down with Tom Cunningham, the founder of Tropical Type, to talk about his seven-year journey from surf-loving freelancer to building one of the most recognizable font foundries on the internet. We explore how Tom’s “fast font” philosophy democratized high-impact typography for everyday designers, why he ditched clients for creative freedom, and how he stays grounded in a rapidly evolving design world.

Tom shares personal stories about launching his business with zero formal training, watching his fonts end up in Billie Eilish & Ed Sheeran videos, designing a typeface with his 5-year-old son, and how he’s navigating the rise of AI. If you’re a creative tired of design elitism or just someone trying to balance creativity with life, this one’s for you.

Find more about Tom and Tropical Type:
Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/tropical_type/
Website: https://tropicaltype.com/

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