From Studio Makgill to Weekend Type: rewriting a 25-year design career

After 15 years running Studio Makgill, Hamish Makgill made a decision that might seem counterintuitive: he shut it down. The catalyst wasn’t burnout or business failure, far from it – it was about re-aligning his creativity with his values. Makgill had released several typefaces through Colophon Foundry; however, when they sold to Monotype in 2024, he faced a choice: let his typefaces go with the sale or build something new. In our conversation, he discusses what it means to build something self-directed after decades of client service, and why type design offers a different ethical relationship than agency work. TBI: Hi Hamish! How are you doing? HM: I am doing well – thank you. I’m appreciating where I have got to in my design life and the balance I have.