Today we’d like to introduce you to Bode Robinson.
Hi Bode, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been drawn to creativity, but my path has never been a straight line. I started my career as a graphic designer, eventually founding Goodtype, an online typography community that grew into one of the largest design platforms in the world, and ultimately to authoring Goodtype: The Art of Lettering which was published by Rizzoli in 2018.
That journey led to collaborations with brands and artists across music, sports, and film — from Odell Beckham Jr. and Lizzo to F1 Academy and the team behind Netflix’s “jeen-yuhs.” Those experiences taught me how to build creative work that could scale beyond a single project.
As rewarding as those experiences were, they also pushed me to ask a bigger question: What kind of work feels most authentic to me? That question led me to create Saint Bode, a multidisciplinary creative studio where fine art, apparel, and storytelling intersect. Today, my work is less about fitting into a single creative discipline and more about exploring ideas through whatever medium best serves them. Looking back, every chapter—from design and branding to publishing and painting—has been preparing me for the work I’m doing now.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all — and I wouldn’t want it to be. I started my career right as the 2008 financial crash hit, which meant learning early that stability isn’t guaranteed and you have to build your own footing. I also had a Red Bull job offer on the table at one point and walked away from it, and later left a steady graphic design job at Tyler’s to go ride my bike from Canada to Mexico instead—which sounds impulsive, but it was really about listening to my intuition that something felt off, or too status quo, and trusting that feeling enough to act on it.
Building Goodtype came with years of uncertainty before anyone knew what it was, and along the way I also learned that not every business partnership is meant to last. Those experiences eventually led me to become a solo entrepreneur, where I’ve found the most freedom to create work that feels genuinely aligned with who I am.
The biggest lesson has been learning to trust my intuition, even when it leads away from stability or conventional success. In hindsight, every setback ended up redirecting me toward something that fit me better than the path I was originally on—closer to the kind of creative life I actually wanted—one built around freedom, intuition, and craft rather than someone else’s idea of what “should” come next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today I lead Saint Bode, a multidisciplinary creative studio where fine art, apparel, branding, and storytelling all intersect. I’ve always been less interested in choosing a medium than in choosing an idea. Sometimes that idea becomes a painting, sometimes a piece of clothing, sometimes a brand identity, or even a written story. For me, they’re all different ways of communicating the same thing.
People often know me as the founder of Goodtype, but I’m equally proud of having the courage to start over and listen to my heart. Building Saint Bode has allowed me to create work that feels more personal and more aligned with who I am today. It reflects my design philosophy: “More, more, more! But with restraint.” I love layering ideas, mediums, and stories into my work—creating richness through intention rather than excess. Whether I’m painting, designing apparel, or collaborating with a brand, my goal is always the same: to create work that feels complex without feeling chaotic.
I think what sets my work apart is that I don’t separate design from art or business from philosophy. I’m interested in creating things that people want to live with—objects, experiences, and ideas that invite them to slow down, reflect, and connect with something a little deeper. If someone walks away from my work feeling more present, more inspired, or more themselves, then I’ve done my job.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think it’s my willingness to listen to my intuition, even when it doesn’t make logical sense at the time—like walking away from a stable job to go ride my bike, or later choosing to build Saint Bode on my own terms. That instinct has never steered me wrong, even when it led somewhere uncomfortable first. It has pointed me toward a life that’s more authentic than the one I’ve carefully planned.
I think a lot of creative success comes down to being willing to listen to that voice before you have all the answers, and having the discipline to follow through once you do. It’s part of why I’m drawn to consciousness and self-reflection as much as I am to craft. The work is always better when it’s coming from an aligned, honest place rather than from what looks good on paper.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.boderobinson.com, www.saintbode.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bode.robinson/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/saintbode
