Todd Oldham

Todd Oldham is one of my favorite designers. What I like most about him is his sense of fun that he brings to everything he does and his fearlessness with color. It was amazing that he took the time out of his busy schedule to be interviewed. This interview occured in October 2005.

JESS: I really enjoyed your special on HGTV Handmade Modern that aired in September (2005) and I was wondering if you were planning on doing more or is that it for Handmade Modern?

TODD: I had so much fun doing Handmade Modern TV. My schedule doesn’t allow the huge amount of time it takes to do a full time show, so I was happy to do it as a series of specials. I think the next series might be Handmade Modern Garden, as I am a plant nut. I‘m glad you liked it.

JESS: Being a type designer and a big fan of yours I was excited to see the typeface you designed and used in your book Handmade Modern. Have you designed any other typefaces? Do you have plans to design more? What was that like? What techniques did you use, hand drawn or computer drawn?

TODD: The font I designed for the book was called ERASE, as it was hand cut out of pink erasers and scanned into the computer. It has been very useful and its serif free, chunky forms have blended well with all sorts of other fonts, like the House Industries font called NEUTRAFACE that we also used in the book. We have designed many fonts at my studio. One of my very favourites is called PINDOT. We punched the entire font into cardboard using a straight pin and scanned from there. I prefer to make or draw our fonts by hand because to me, in our entirely automated world it brings me joy to see a human hand present.

JESS: You seem to be into designing everything lately: photography, interior, graphic, tv, etc. Do you ever feel stretched in a million directions? How do you keep it up?

TODD: I am very blessed to be able to design all kinds of stuff and I would suffocate if I had to do only one thing. I have managed to sculpt a career out of a very short attention span and I encourage everyone with a wandering mind to do the same. We are a nation of specialists and that can be very boring.

JESS: Are you still designing clothes? If not, will you ever again? I noticed that category was absent on your website: toddoldhamstudio.com and that’s what your most known for.

Hand Made Modern

TODD: I designed clothes for a very long time and had a great go at it. It is a privilege to make things for other people to enjoy, but there came a time when it was no longer in my heart to design clothes. I take this privilege seriously and would never wish to produce anything that is not fueled by the heart. So never say never, but I have no plans, nor anything to say with clothes. I do get to make stuff for my friends.

JESS: What’s it like having Amy Sedaris as a friend? How did you meet her? Do you make crafts and cheese balls together?

TODD: I love Amy. I met her when I was photographing her for a magazine and we became instant friends. She is a constant source of inspiration to me and millions of others, because of her fearless joy. We have made loads of stuff together but never a chese ball. Amy has the nicest manners of just about anyone I know and is a lovely host and friend. She is just finishing a craft/hospitality book called I LIKE YOU. It is so funny and great looking. Coming out next Spring.

JESS: Can you recommend any books, music, websites or tv programs that you find interesting lately?

TODD: I just finished reading KURT VONNEGUT’S A MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY and it is just so great. Defining words from a wise, mature and insightful national treasure. Read this for a sanity break. Also check out THE WEEK, CONTENT, TOPIC and MARTHA STEWART LIVING.
For music check out DEVENDRA BANHART’S new record, odd and great… I can’t take off new WHITE STRIPES, BECK’S GUERO, JONI MITCHELL ANYTHING, and TOMMY GUERRERO’S entire works. On TV, I loved the COMEBACK (although I am one of 3 who did), ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, SEALAB 2021, MXC, and STRANGERS WITH CANDY RERUNS.

JESS: Is there anything that you haven’t done that you see yourself doing in the future?

TODD: There are loads of things I’ve not done and everyday I get to learn something new so you never know where that’s going to take you.

JESS: Thanks so much for the interview Todd!

To see all the amazing things that Todd Oldham does, visit his website:  Todd Oldham Studios!

ALL PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION, © TODD OLDHAM STUDIOS