In this episode of Type Speaks, host Rae sits down with designer and independent creative Will Dove to explore the realities, risks, and rewards of building a self-directed design practice. From juggling the intensity of Auburn’s swim team with the rigors of design school to eventually walking away from agency life to go fully freelance, Will shares how constraint, burnout, and curiosity all shaped his path toward independence. He and Rae unpack the evolving culture of freelance work, the power of human connection and referrals, and why having agency over your time and creative decisions can fundamentally change your relationship to design.

Will Dove is a designer based in New York City whose independent studio practice centers typography, identity systems, and image-making across art, film, and music. A graduate of Auburn University’s graphic design program, his creative direction and design have supported clients including PepsiCo, the Golden State Warriors, and The Washington Post. Rooted in craft and driven by relationships, his work merges precision with instinct, proving that independence isn’t the absence of structure, but the freedom to build your own.