German lettering artist and type designer Tobias Saul has built a career on craftsmanship, curiosity, and community. Starting with graffiti sketches in Düsseldorf, he evolved into a leading voice in typography, founding Heritage Type and Kittl to make creativity more accessible worldwide. His work blends history and innovation, proving that design’s soul lies in storytelling, precision, and evolution.
Can you tell us a little about your first few steps in your career. Was there a moment or experience when you realised this was what you'd do as a career?
My path started quite organically. I was always drawing as a kid, mostly graffiti and hand-lettered shapes before I even knew what “typography” really was. When I studied graphic design in Düsseldorf, I realised that letterforms themselves could be an art form, not just a vessel for text. That discovery completely changed my direction.
One pivotal moment was when I designed my first custom lettering piece for a client and saw how much emotion and personality type could convey. It wasn’t just decoration, it was communication with a soul. That was when I knew this was what I wanted to do.
After graduating, I worked as a freelance lettering artist and later began releasing my own fonts and design assets. Seeing designers around the world use those fonts in their projects made me realise that my passion for letters could grow into something much bigger. That naturally evolved into founding Heritage Type, and later Kittl, both born from the same desire to empower others to create with type and design.
What lessons from your career have most shaped your style and approach?
One of the biggest lessons I learn is that constraints fuel creativity. When I worked commercially as a lettering artist, there were always limitations, like time, briefs, brand guidelines. At first those felt restrictive, but eventually I realised they sharpen your ideas and force you to make smarter design decisions. It taught me discipline and pushed me to refine my style in a more intentional way.
I’ve also learned the power of listening to other designers. Whether through client feedback, community input, or simply observing trends, the dialogue around design has shaped my perspective. It’s why Kittl is so community-driven today. You grow faster when you stay curious and open.
And finally, a lesson that has shaped both my style and my philosophy: keep evolving. My work shifted from hand-lettering to type design to building tools for other creators. Reinvention has been a constant theme, and I’ve learned that staying adaptable and excited about new technologies, like AI, keeps the creative process alive and full of possibility.
Tell us about the core values or philosophies that guide your creative practice.
What needs to change, so emerging and under-represented creative professionals have more opportunity, are seen and heard?
I think the biggest shift we need is access, access to tools, education, visibility, and communities that help young creatives grow. Talent is everywhere, but opportunities often aren’t. When powerful creative tools are expensive, when learning resources are hard to reach, or when gatekeeping defines who gets a platform, entire groups of talented people are left behind.
Another important change is representation. When you see people who look like you, speak like you, or come from similar backgrounds succeeding in creative fields, it opens a door in your mind. It tells you that you belong there too. We need more diverse voices not just creating work, but shaping the conversations and the culture around design.
There’s also a need for better mentorship ecosystems. Early in my career, feedback from other designers shaped who I became. Not everyone has access to that. Creating spaces, online and offline, where emerging creatives can learn, collaborate, and receive constructive support can make an enormous difference.
And finally, we have to lower the barrier to sharing work. Platforms should celebrate experimentation, not just polished portfolios. When creators feel safe to show their process, their culture, their perspective, more voices emerge naturally. This is a big part of our mission with Kittl: making professional-grade design tools and workflows available to anyone, regardless of background or budget.
Ultimately, creativity thrives when more people are empowered to participate. The more we open doors, the richer and more diverse our creative world becomes.
How important is it that creative professionals find their unique voice?
I think it’s incredibly important, but not in the way people often imagine. Finding a unique voice isn’t about forcing originality or trying to stand out at all costs. It’s about discovering what feels authentic to you: the influences you naturally gravitate toward, the details you obsess over, the emotions you want your work to convey. When you follow that, your “voice” emerges almost naturally.
Early in my career, I spent a lot of time experimenting, copying, trying different styles, and I think that’s a valuable part of the journey. You don’t wake up one day with a fully formed signature; you build it through curiosity, discipline, and a lot of exploration.
What matters most is developing a voice that feels honest. In the world of typography and lettering, that might mean the way you approach shapes, textures, or composition. In software design, it might show up in how you solve problems or simplify workflows. Your voice becomes a kind of compass, guiding your decisions and helping you stay grounded even as trends come and go.
At the same time, I believe your voice should remain flexible. Creativity evolves. Your influences shift. New technologies like AI introduce whole new possibilities. Letting your voice grow with you keeps your work alive and relevant.
So yes, finding your voice matters, but nurturing it, questioning it, and allowing it to change is just as important.
Looking ahead, what do you think are the key factors that will influence change for creative professionals?
I think a few forces will shape the future of creative work. First, AI will become a true creative partner, speeding up ideation and removing technical barriers. Creatives who embrace it will be able to explore more ideas, faster.
Second, the increasing accessibility of high-quality tools will open the industry to a much broader and more diverse group of designers. Talent won’t be limited by budget or geography.
And finally, community and collaboration will matter more than ever. The creatives who learn from each other, share work openly, and adapt across different disciplines will move the fastest.
Overall, the future will reward creators who stay curious, flexible, and open to new ways of working.
How much does your city influence your work?
My environment definitely shapes my creativity, but not always in direct or obvious ways. Living in a city gives me constant exposure to typography, on signs, storefronts, architecture, and I naturally absorb those visual cues. But I also find myself influenced by the rhythm of the city: its energy, its culture, its mix of old and new.
That said, I’ve never relied solely on my location for inspiration. With the internet and global creative communities, ideas come from everywhere. So I’d say my city influences me, but it’s just one piece of a much bigger creative ecosystem that I draw from.
How much does your culture influence your work?
My culture influences my work in subtle but meaningful ways. I’ve always been drawn to the craftsmanship and typographic traditions that are deeply rooted in European design, classic letterforms, historic signage, and the precision of old printing techniques. Those references often find their way into my lettering and type design, even when the final result feels modern.
At the same time, my work is shaped by a more global creative culture. I’m constantly inspired by designers, artists, and visual languages from all over the world. So while my background gives me a foundation, my style is ultimately a blend of those roots and the broader creative influences I’ve embraced along the way.
Tell us some of your favourite, creative professionals and inspiring places in your city!
Düsseldorf has a surprisingly vibrant creative scene, and it played a huge role in shaping my early career. There are many talented designers and illustrators here who combine craftsmanship with a strong sense of style, and I’ve always appreciated that balance in the local design culture.
Some of my favourite places for inspiration are the areas around Flingern and Bilk, both have a great mix of studios, small galleries, and cafés where you constantly bump into creative people. The Kunstakademie Düsseldorf has also been a big source of inspiration; just being in that environment, surrounded by young artists experimenting and pushing boundaries, always energized me.
And of course, the city itself has a unique contrast: modern architecture along the MedienHafen, historic signage in the older districts, and the calm, almost meditative atmosphere of the Rhein. A simple walk along the riverside has sparked more ideas than I can count.
Düsseldorf isn’t loud about its creativity, but it has a quiet depth that really stays with you, and that atmosphere has definitely influenced my work.
What should emerging creative professionals keep in mind as they begin their design career?
I think the most important thing is to stay curious and patient with yourself. Early in your career, you’re experimenting, absorbing influences, and figuring out what feels authentic to you, and that exploration is essential. Don’t rush the process of finding your style or your place in the industry.
Also, focus on craft and consistency. Trends come and go, but solid fundamentals, composition, typography, colour, form, will support you throughout your entire career. If you build a strong foundation, everything else becomes easier.
Another key point: share your work, even when it feels imperfect. Visibility creates opportunities, and the feedback you receive will help you grow faster than working in isolation.
And finally, stay adaptable. Tools, technologies, and workflows evolve quickly, especially now with AI becoming part of the creative process. Embrace these changes rather than resisting them. Being open to learning new things will give you a huge advantage as you build your career.
