A Hurting World | Newsletter
This bi-monthly newsletter arrives a few days delayed. Not because I have just finished my first in-person course in Barcelona. Not because I moved continents again. Not because my jet lag doesn’t allow me to be fully functional until lunchtime. But because the last thirty days have been emotionally charged by the Australian referendum results; by many innocent Israeli civilians’ lives taken on October 7; and by the horrendous occupation and genocide going on in Gaza. Please, contact your local MP and ask them for a #CeasefireNOW.
In the middle of this helplessness and sickening situation, I question once again our humanity, and the role of design in all of it. I question our design associations and their leadership. I witness my own privilege, and question if I have something valuable to say.
In a couple of months, I’m reaching ten years as an independent creative business of one. During the last decade, I have asked myself many questions. Some days, I think I have the answers, but other days I feel like I don’t:
What is the reason why you are designing?
What are the impacts of your work?
What is the legacy you want to leave behind in this visual culture?
What responsibility do we, in the design sector, have?
I would like to know your answers to the questions above. And I would love to know if you have a list of your own questions that guide you as a compass in your journey.
During this month, I’m spending time educating myself about the Palestinian liberation movement collected by the talented Lanning Sally, and the Resources on Palestine from Hello Departures.
My friends Lauren and Filipe Vilitati have just had a beautiful baby boy, and I would like to extend Lauren’s wish for their newborn, to the rest of the world: “May you be a peacemaker in this hurting world.”
Standing in solidarity with all dispossessed and marginalised people around the globe.
Below, you’ll find a podcast interview with Martina Flor; a calligraphic editorial that has won a CA typographic award; my Typism Book Nine artworks and a Foundational Hand expressions-of-interest course.
On the last section of this newsletter, you’ll find a great interview with Jade Purple Brown; a 2015 transcript by Maurice Cherry; and a great conversation with Dr. D’Wayne Edwards. Additionally, last week I watched “What black is this, you say?” which I highly recommend.
Much love, Maria xx
In August this year —while working remotely from Berlin— the talented Martina Flor invited me to have a conversation at her studio, as part of their Leap Now couching program. We talked about my last sixteen years in Australia, finding what you want, and thriving as an immigrant* artist.
This chat feels like one of the most intimate and honest conversations I have ever had about being a creative business of one. I hope you’ll find some value in it.
* Ten years as an immigrant have given me a much wider, clearer and richer perspective, and I am very proud of it. Since 2017, I am no longer an immigrant, as I obtained my second citizenship and full rights as an Australian citizen. Since then, I am living life with an immigrant heart.
Simone Keane | Graced by Leaves Album
Recently, I have collaborated with WA singer and songwriter Simone Keane designing her latest project called “Graced by Leaves”. The album has just been released on Oct 26, so go to her site and support a talented independent Australian artist.
Client: Simone Keane (AU)
Produced, mixed, mastered by: Lee Buddle
Recorded by: Lee Buddle and Kim Lofts
Photography: Warren Lilford
Art direction and graphic design: Maria Montes
Calligraphic Editorial | CA 2024 Winner
A couple of months ago, I submitted my Midd Mag calligraphic editorial to Typism Book Nine in Australia. They recently emailed me letting me know that the piece been selected to be part of their upcoming book!
Three weeks ago, Communications Arts (CA) Magazine informed me that the calligraphic editorial has won an award in the calligraphy/hand lettering category, yay!!!
Calligrapher and designer: Maria Montes
Creative director: DJ Stout
Design lead and art director: Stu Taylor
Design firm: Pentagram (US)
Editor: Matthew Jennings
Client: Middlebury Magazine (US)
The video above shows my entire process and the final result.
Typism Book 9 | Featured Artworks
I would like to celebrate with you that a couple of my artworks have been selected for the upcoming Typism Book 9. The first one is a self-generated piece for this year’s International Women’s Day, which is very close to my heart.
The lettering piece above features a highly expressive Blackletter. The original sketches were created with paper and ink. Then, I vectorised its letterforms. Finally, I used Procreate to add texture. The condensed font in use is Univers Thin Ultra Condensed. The humanistic sans serif font is my own typeface design called MarchTwentyTwo Sans.
The inspiration behind the design is this article from February 26, 2019 with the same title: Rose Luxemburg, “For a world where we are socially equal, humanly different and totally free”.
Head over to the Typism site to order your own copy of their latest book, you’ll looooove it!
Expressions of Interest | Foundational Hand Course
For quite some time, I’ve been thinking about teaching again a Foundational Hand (or Modern Carolingian) Course, setting up a strong foundation for the study, design and creation of Humanistic type. You can watch an example here.
I would love to know how many of you would be up for it! Reply to this email and say Hola.
Jade Purple Brown, artist and illustrator | Women At Work
Jade Purple Brown about optimism, representation and millennial grey.
Most certainly, knowing what you want to be from a very young age can be a blessing. Sometimes, it can be a burden. In Jade Purple Brown’s case, it was the certification that determination, mixed with talent, a strong love for colour, bold images, a unique style and a voice full of conscience, was her winning leap of faith. Her work is a happy song that changes the world with a vintage touch.
“Where are the black designers?” Maurice Cherry | Open Transcripts
Cheryl D. Miller was a very prominent designer in the 70s and the 80s. And in 1985 she wrote this searing eighty-nine page thesis when she was a graduate student at Pratt Institute titled “Transcending the Problems of the Black Graphic Designer to Success in the Marketplace.”
Maurice Cherry’s 2015 transcript SXSW Documentary “Where Are The Black Designers?” Is the seminal data documentary that moved the needle of the Black designers advocacy forward. I remember like it was yesterday— he found me from the card catalog to interview me about my legacy article and advocacy for the design community. He brought my work forward.
Dr. D’Wayne Edwards | Design Matters
Over the course of his storied career as a designer and educator, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards has created more than 500 footwear styles for premier entertainers such as Tupac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, and Notorious B.I.G. His designs have been worn in six Olympics and graced all MLB, NFL, and NBA stadiums. He joins Design Matters with Debbie Millman to talk about his remarkable career and current role as President of Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design.
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