Creative director and co-founder at ATYPICAL. Based between London and New York.
Adobe's first UK Creative Resident between 2018-2019.
Previous experience living and working with agencies in the UK, USA and Scandinavia.
I specialise in working at the intersection of design and language; visualising concepts and bringing them to life in a way which is tactile and interactive. Specialising in artist installations, product collections, photo-essays and giving talks about the relationship between art, ideas and language. Collaboration is at the core of my practice, and I seek to work with like-minded individuals and brands on personal and commercial projects.
As Creative Director at ATYPICAL, I action this through strategic visual identities, typography, design and art direction for brands. Underpinned by research and cultural insight, I work with clients across a range of media to develop unique, effective solutions for their creative needs.
Projects
- Philosophy ClocksThe Philosophy Clocks are a collection of objects visualising philosophical timezones. The first clocks in the collection are the optimist clock with an extra hour in the day, and the nihilist clock where time is meaningless. The clocks are available to purchase as poducts and were commissioned large scale as an artist installation at 100% Design at London Design Festival.
- Visual Grammar (aka Dancing Fonts)Visual Grammar is an ongoing set of experiments exploring the potential of variable fonts to more accurately and expressively represent and respond to language in real time. The experiments have been featured at ATYPI Antwerp, been installed as an interactive installation in London for Adobe and went viral on twitter.
- HOLBECK - TypefaceHOLBECK is a work in progress display typeface based on 20th century industrial British signage, particularly that found around Leeds and the North of England. HOLBECK re-interprets these 19th and 20th century ghost signs in a modern context, whilst retaining classic british proportions and the character of 'The North'.
- KOLEDAA full brand system, brand book, film and set of key visuals were created to help launch heating innovation company Koleda and their debut product SOLUS+ into the market. Based on the name of a baltic winter god who brings the sun, the brand used kinetic typography where the 'O' mirrors the rising sun. The visual concept of rising light is also used across the direction for the film indents and photography to reflect the idea of bringing warmth into the home.
Work history
Creative DirectorATYPICAL
London, United KingdomFull Time
ATYPICAL is a full service creative studio run by Isabel Lea and Jacob James, specialising in dynamic, visual concepts across art direction, photography & film, brand identity, design typography and more.
I
I
DesignerIsabel Lea
- London, United KingdomFreelance
+ Show more
Skills
- Graphic Design
- Editorial Design
- Creative Typography
- Creative Art Direction
- French
- Web Design
- Photography
- Film Direction
- Photography Direction
- Branding
Education
BA (Hons) Graphic Communication & Design (Ind)University of Leeds
Leeds, United Kingdom
Bachelor of graphic communication and design. Completed the optional self-directed industry year at design studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Advanced Photography Short CourseLeeds Arts University
- Leeds, United Kingdom
Short courses in advanced photography and advanced bookbinding undertaken at LCA.
+ Show more
Awards
E
E
'Adapt or Die' Design Competition WinnerElmwood Design
Winner of 2026: Adapt or Die Design competition set to different universities by Elmwood.P
P
Print Futures Award WinnerPrint Futures Award
Winner of a grant to pursue a design project based on merit and talent for graphic design.+ Show more