Our guest is Barry Deck, graphic designer and typographer known for creating Template Gothic and serving as the final art director of Ray Gun Magazine.
In this episode, Barry speaks with host Christian Solorzano about his unexpected journey from theater student to design icon, beginning with his discovery of graphic design while wandering the dorms at Northern Illinois University. He shares insights about his transformative years at CalArts under Ed Fella's mentorship and how vernacular inspiration led to the creation of Template Gothic—one of the most influential typefaces of the 1990s.
Barry discusses his role reshaping Ray Gun magazine's visual identity, his collaboration with Thirst Type, and the experimental typography movement that defined an era. He opens up about how meditation and yoga have profoundly shaped his creative practice, offering candid perspectives on confidence, imposter syndrome, and what he calls his "easy knowingness."
The conversation explores Barry's thoughts on AI as a creative tool, his experience teaching design students in suburban Florida, and why he believes designers need to venture beyond comfortable environments to develop their visual vocabulary. Barry also reflects on Chicago's influence on his work, his recent website redesign, and his philosophy that embracing all parts of yourself creates a more compelling creative package.
Music by the band Eighties Slang.