About

I’m a third-generation letterpress printer, an artist and designer, an educator, and a typographic historian. I grew up in my family’s Wisconsin print shop, where I first learned to see type not just as language, but as a creative system – something you could build, shape and bring to life. Before spawning the LetterFish concept, my playful typographic LetterBugs prints debuted in 1999 at the Saint Paul Art Crawl in Minnesota and have since traveled the globe in exhibitions and collections across the U.S. and Europe.
As with all my work, these letterpress prints blend traditional techniques and type from the 19th century with 21st century digital tools and creative experimentation. My build-your-own LetterBugs and LetterFish online games encourage others to have fun interacting with type.

For much of my career, I’ve focused on preserving and advancing the craft of letterpress printing. In addition to my artwork and professional design work, I teach typography and the history of the alphabet at the University of Minnesota’s College of Design, and co-founded TipoItalia’s study-abroad program in Cornuda, Italy.
I served as Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum’s artistic director (2009-2021), helping expand the museum’s archive and elevate its recognition as the world’s largest collection of wood type

Through decades of studying and teaching typography, I’m thankful not just for the knowledge and inspiration I’ve gained, but also for the connections forged with other artists, printers and cultural institutions around the world. I feel equally at home in the American Midwest as I feel welcomed in Italy and the Vatican.  

•  Artist: LetterBugs.net‍ ‍
•  Professor: U of M College of Design‍ ‍
•  Co-founder: TipoItalia.net‍ ‍
•  Artistic director emeritus: Hamilton Wood Type Museum‍ ‍
•  Archive: Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography‍ ‍