Christopher Rouleau

Give us the elevator pitch on what you do.

My name is Christopher Rouleau, and I am a freelance designer and lettering artist. I use traditional hand-lettering, calligraphy and sign painting for clients (logos, restaurants displays, commissions, etc.) as well as for my own personal art practice. I also teach lettering workshops with Ligatures, Toronto’s typography meet-up organization, which I co-founded in 2013.

What are some of your earliest creative memories and what lead you into design?

I was always the kid doodling in the margins. I loved shapes, colours, and in particular, the alphabet. I always had a fondness for my grandmother’s cursive handwriting – beautiful & rhythmic – scribed on notes, recipes and greeting cards. As a child, I can remember sitting at her kitchen table, writing the alphabet, my name, and names of the family over and over again on lined paper. I liked that anyone could write the same 26 forms on paper, but they would be slightly different. It wasn’t until about age 12 that I discovered the world of typography and fonts, and that’s when interest in design began.

Tell us a bit about yourself and the studio that you work for.

After graduating with a BFA from the University of Calgary in 2006, I started doing small graphic design projects alongside my day job at a stock photography company.  In 2012, I decided to take the leap and go full-time freelance, and have never been happier. In the spring of 2016, I opened my first studio in Toronto, where I was able to grow the retail side of my business, host workshops and events, but most importantly, have a place where I can focus on my craft and create work/life balance. I am so grateful for this space, and happy to share it with creators and collaborators in Toronto.

What does a typical working day include for you right now?

I have always been an early riser. On an average weekday, I am usually up before 7am so I can get emails out of the way and head to the studio. My best, most creative time is between 9am and 11am, so I like to reserve that time for lettering work, either personal projects, client work or commissions. I have a light lunch and then run to the gym for about an hour – it’s a perfect way to break up the day and get a boost of energy. In the afternoons, I either focus on computer work (digitizing, layouts, etc.), or allot time for meetings, errands, or deliveries of my prints (I like to hand-deliver all purchases within Toronto). In the evenings, I like to cook dinner and unwind, but often do a few bits on my computer before I go to bed around 10:30pm.