Kyle Letendre
This, That, and the Othered: Queer as Verb
Queer communication has historically been left to the margins, relying on subversive messaging, hidden-in-plain-sight visual languages, and clandestine signals. With more recent mainstream representation comes more fervent backlash, and with it, the question of how one can use queerness as an active, transformative tool to navigate an often hostile world. How can a binary thing like type embrace a more fluid, inclusive, and authentic model prioritizing expression, community, and inclusivity? And how many rhinestones are too many?
About Kyle Letendre
Kyle Letendre is a freelance designer based in Portland, Oregon, specializing in lettering, type design and illustration. Like a rhinestoned Swiss Army Knife, their work blurs the lines between type and image and has attracted collaborations with clients such as Target, Penguin Random House, Mercedes-Benz, New Belgium Beer, and Sports Illustrated. Beyond the bureau, Kyle’s love of sharp lines and exaggerated shapes turn into their drag persona, Tomboy, an androgynous fashion sketchbook come to life.