Meet John Dowd: Graphic Designer & Lettering Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Dowd and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Though I tend to go off the rails when discussing the subjects, I’ve always been good at conveying my passion for art and design. I’m a big believer that loving your craft is an incredibly gravitational force, regardless of industry.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My focus since high school has been typography, starting with doodling bubble letters and working my way up to typeface design. Being self-taught, one of my biggest drives is the feeling I get when figuring how to do something new, like leveling up in a real-life video game. Having a knack for typography also helped out tremendously when learning other disciplines on the job, like layout, web, print, and product design.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Downtown Clematis is always a solid choice if you’re looking for lots of dining options. American Craft Aleworks brews some of the best craft beer in town, and Sassafrass has Cajun-style cuisine that will knock your socks off. For a good culture fix, the Norton Museum of Art is never short on world-class art exhibits. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Creative South, the design conference based in Columbus, GA, was one of the most influential experiences of my early career. Aside from being stacked with talented speakers and attendees, it convinced me that being my own boss was an eventual possibility. The Art of Hand Lettering by Helm Wotzkow was a huge learning resource for me when I began learning calligraphy and lettering—I still reference it regularly.

Website: atypicalbranding.co
Instagram: @atypicalbrandingco