Maria Montes Studio

Maria Montes Studio With nineteen years professional experience, I specialise in identity design developing the means for brands to connect deeper with their audience.

Latin Two: Calligraphy MechanicsOn April 9th, I’ll be giving a guest lecture as part of the Latin Two .This lecture is d...
20/03/2026

Latin Two: Calligraphy Mechanics

On April 9th, I’ll be giving a guest lecture as part of the Latin Two .

This lecture is divided into two parts:

The first is a short 20-minute presentation, where I’ll focus on the benefits of practising calligraphy and how to apply them in the fields of type design, branding and visual communication.

The second part is a practical demo, where I’ll explain 9 principles to better understand alphabets, based on the construction of its letterforms with the writing tool.

The Latin Two Practica Program will guide you step by step through the process of turning one single font style into a type family. By the end of this online fifteen-week program, you’ll have:

→A type family in progress
→ A clear design system
→ A stronger typographic eye

Applications close this Sunday!


I’ll see you there.

This Saturday March 14th, I’m hosting a free online lecture titled “What It Actually Takes to Learn Calligraphy Properly...
10/03/2026

This Saturday March 14th, I’m hosting a free online lecture titled “What It Actually Takes to Learn Calligraphy Properly”

In this session, I’ll be speaking about:

→ The benefits of learning calligraphy for type & graphic designers 
→ The role of discipline and long-term consistency
→ How to train your eye (not just your hand)
→ What structured progression really looks like?
→ Calligraphy demo

This lecture is for those who are genuinely curious about studying calligraphy more seriously — whether you’re a committed beginner, a graphic or type designer wanting to learn more about letterforms, or someone who feels ready for more rigorous training.

At the end of the session, I’ll also share details about my upcoming 4-month calligraphy course (limited to 10 in-person students), which begins soon.

There is no obligation — simply an opportunity to learn, reflect, and see whether a deeper path in calligraphy is right for you.

WHEN
Saturday March 14 at 2pm AEDT via Zoom

If this resonates, you can register for free → link in bio.

“Feminism by definition is the believe that we ALL should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the p...
08/03/2026

“Feminism by definition is the believe that we ALL should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. There is no one country in the world where women can expect to receive equal rights. No country in the world can yet say that they have achieved gender equality” Emma Watson.

Rosa Luxemburg (1879-1919). Artwork above from 2023, still f**ck**ng relevant today.

After four years of travelling and working remotely, I’ll be returning to Australia this April to establish a base again...
25/02/2026

After four years of travelling and working remotely, I’ll be returning to Australia this April to establish a base again. It feels like a beautiful full-circle moment… and I’m so happy to share what’s coming next.

On May 2026, I will begin hosting an immersive 4-month calligraphy course in Naarm/Melbourne.

— May 2 – August 22, 2026
— 16 Saturdays | 10:00am – 2:30pm
— In-person in Melbourne + online access included

This is a long-format, in-depth program designed for dedicated students who truly want to refine their eye, discipline, and craft over time. It’s something I’ve been wanting to offer for years.

To make this course possible, I need a minimum of six students. Three beautiful humans have already enrolled (which I’m so grateful for!), and I would truly love to see this group come together.

If you would like to join, follow the link in profile to take advantage of the early-bird tickets ending on Feb 28th🔥

Know someone who might love this course? Please share it along! xx

graphicdesigners

I’m really happy to share with you that in May this year I’m hosting a 4-month in-person calligraphy course in Naarm/Mel...
11/02/2026

I’m really happy to share with you that in May this year I’m hosting a 4-month in-person calligraphy course in Naarm/Melbourne!

→ May 2 - August 22, 2026
→ 16 x Saturdays
→ From 10am - 2.30pm
→ In-person & online available

Using an attention to detail and in-depth approach, you’ll learn the foundations of six calligraphy styles: Roman Capitals, Modern Carolingian, Blackletter, Neuland, Italic, Copperplate & Script Brush Pen Calligraphy.

Whether you’re a total beginner or looking to refine your skills, this course will ignite your creativity and strengthen your letterform foundation.

All materials provided — just bring your curiosity!

→ Link in bio with the full course announcement and to secure your spot! ✍️🤓

I’m very proud to have developed the new visual identity for (ICKI).After a first instalment held in 2019, the program ...
22/01/2026

I’m very proud to have developed the new visual identity for (ICKI).

After a first instalment held in 2019, the program once again champions calligraphy as an educational, artistic, therapeutic and social tool, while inviting reflection on our identity, learning, memory, health, and technology.

The initiative, led by designer and calligrapher  (Kö estudio), in collaboration with cultural, academic, and community organisations, will take place in Navarra (Spain) between January & August 2026. It combines workshops, lectures, labs, artistic interventions, and public events.

In a world dominated by screens, reclaiming calligraphy is almost an act of resistance. It is memory. It is identity. It is thought in motion.

This second edition grows with more voices and more questions. I hope you will join us!

[ES]

Estoy muy orgullosa de haber desarrollado la nueva identidad visual de Itinerarios de Caligrafia / Kaligrafia Ibilbideak (ICKI).

Tras una primera entrega celebrada en 2019, el programa vuelve a reivindicar la letra manuscrita como herramienta educativa, artística, terapéutica y social, a la vez que propone una reflexión sobre nuestra identidad, el aprendizaje, la memoria, la salud y la tecnología. 

La iniciativa, impulsada por la diseñadora y calígrafa  (Kö estudio), en colaboración con entidades culturales, académicas y comunitarias, se desarrollará entre enero y agosto de 2026 en Navarra, combinando talleres, conferencias, laboratorios, intervenciones artísticas y actividades abiertas al público.

En un mundo dominado por pantallas, recuperar la escritura a mano es casi un acto de resistencia. Es memoria. Es identidad. Es pensamiento en movimiento.

Esta segunda edición crece con más voces y más preguntas. Espero que nos acompañéis!

Message to my younger self: “Montes, in 2026 — eight years after presenting your first font in front of 700 people at .d...
16/01/2026

Message to my younger self: “Montes, in 2026 — eight years after presenting your first font in front of 700 people at .design.conference — will be released on Adobe Fonts, and you’ll laugh at all those months going to the physio and asking yourself why on earth you were doing this”.

Thanks to for making this possible 💚💙

Kanat Latin keeps growing wings! My latest display font is a finalist in this year’s Magazine awards. Feeling incredibl...
09/12/2025

Kanat Latin keeps growing wings!

My latest display font is a finalist in this year’s Magazine awards. Feeling incredibly proud of this project and the positive response so far.

Test-drive and grab this bold, juicy beauty at and

30/11/2025

Sharing My Design Process: Roundhand Lettering Variations.

This is the fourth video of my new series called ‘Behind The Scenes’ where I’m sharing the ins and outs of a design project, from the initial briefing, to the tools I used, and the rationale behind it.

In this one, I’m sharing a self-initiated lettering project called ‘Ants In My Pants’ which I designed as part of my in-person course called ‘Script Alphabets: Grow, Branch Out & Flourish!’, delivered at .tipo.g Typography School of Barcelona.

Tools used on this project:

— Mechanical pencil
— Precision eraser
— 100% recycled A4 copy paper
— Ultra-light portable lightbox
— Illustrator, Acrobat & Scan App
—

Full video on my YT channel.

I would love to share some good news with all of you: Kanat Latin Ultra has made it as a finalist in the recent Design ...
28/11/2025

I would love to share some good news with all of you: Kanat Latin Ultra has made it as a finalist in the recent Design Awards. It has only taken me seven years to publish my second display font, so being a finalist feels pretty much as big as winning to me.

You can test-drive and purchase this bold and juicy font from and .

No special discounts for Black Friday, sorry but not really!

Custom signature design for a badass friend of mine and the co-founder of , a great initiative to help you find the best...
25/08/2025

Custom signature design for a badass friend of mine and the co-founder of , a great initiative to help you find the best deals in town!

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