It all began with a simple question: “How can I do what I love and achieve professional fulfilment?”

This is what led Queensland College of Art and Design (QCAD) alumnus and sessional lecturer Aurelie Maron to build a thriving community and a highly successful creative design business.

Originally from New Caledonia, Ms Maron started her studies elsewhere before realising design was where her future would lie, and began her journey with Griffith University.

It was once she had started her course that Ms Maron discovered and fell in love with the art of typography.

“I’ve always been passionate about lettering,” she said.

“There is so much meaning that can be conveyed through lettering – it moves beyond just words to set a mood or tone and can add many layers to the story or text you’re reading.”

Such has been her success that Ms Maron was invited to give the keynote address at the recent ATypI international typography conference, hosted in Australia for the first time in its 67-year history.

Aurelie Maron
Aurelie Maron

Rounding out the lineup of almost 70 speakers, Ms Maron spoke about how her lifelong love for drawing and a dedication to mastering the art of typography helped her build a thriving community and fulfilling career.

Not only has she built her own business, she also aims to inspire and empower fellow designers, typographers and type enthusiasts to explore their creative passions.

With an Instagram following of more than 170,000, Ms Maron said there was a world of opportunity when it comes to building a career in the creative industries.

“In designing fonts and hand lettering, I feel there are so many possibilities and we will never run out of new ideas,” she said.

“There will always be the chance to create something new.

“Studying design at QCAD gave me everything I needed, all in one place, including not just theory and practical knowledge about design, but also the human aspect of meeting people and working in a real work environment.

“I’ve made connections I will cherish forever and am still in contact with all my friends, students and teachers and still often collaborate with them.

“It was just the best campus and had the best teachers and I learned so much there.”