Type Faces: Meet Manoj Lodhi.
Spotlights
Spotlights
Type Faces: Meet Manoj Lodhi.
Welcome to our Type Faces series, where we’ll be sharing the stories of some of the fabulous people behind the type here at Monotype. From all around the globe and across the organization, our Monotype colleagues truly prove that, like Charles Nix, Global Head of Creative Strategy at Monotype, always says, “We are ALL creative.”
For Manoj Lodhi, creativity doesn’t start with design — it starts with people. As a senior project manager based in Ghaziabad, India, Manoj brings a calm, thoughtful approach to everything he does, whether that’s guiding cross-functional teams at Monotype or navigating everyday life with his family. Grounded in simplicity, patience, and deep respect for others, he sees creativity as the quiet art of solving problems, building connections, and making life a little easier for those around him.
Read on to learn more about Manoj.
Portrait of Manoj in the Maldives.
Tell me about your role at Monotype and what you enjoy most about it.
I’m a senior project manager at Monotype and have been at Monotype for almost four years now. It’s been an incredible journey so far. I work very closely with cross-functional teams — designers, animators, writers, product specialists, and marketing partners — to make sure projects are delivered on time, seamlessly, and with good quality.
What I love most is the human side of this role: understanding people, aligning their goals, and helping them visualize the bigger picture. I always compare project management with life. It’s kind of like a relationship: it depends on how strong you want to build it. It’s not about the tools or processes but about how you connect.
You compared project management to relationships — how does that shape the way you approach your work and life?
For me, the most important things are connection and mutual respect. If you have that, everything else becomes easier.
I also believe strongly in simplicity. I don’t like to make things complicated — not for myself, not for others, not in work, or in my personal life. Complexity rarely provides clarity. Sometimes people think simplicity means less effort, but actually it’s the opposite. It’s the art of removing unnecessary things so that everything becomes easier to understand.
What does that mindset look like in your life outside of work?
I live in Ghaziabad, which is part of Delhi National Capital Territory (NCR). It’s a metro city where you can get almost everything very quickly — groceries, medicine, anything within minutes.
A collage that Manoj made from his photos around Ghaziabad.
In my daily life, I try to keep things simple. I’m an extreme tea lover, and I start every single day by making tea. I enjoy that a lot. I make different kinds, like black tea, masala chai, even rose tea sometimes. Whenever we visit friends or relatives, I’m the one making tea for everyone.
Manoj loves making tea, especially for friends and family.
I also like cooking breakfast with my wife, Priyanka. I prepare things like poha, upma, or chilla — simple things, but I enjoy adding my own touch to them.
Manoj and his wife’s impressive cooking, from top left to right: spring potato, vegetarian taco, and idli shakshuka.
Another way that I keep things simple is by keeping my personal life private. I use social media only occasionally for entertainment, but I don’t like to share much about my life there. I feel that some things are better kept with yourself.
Tell us about your family. How do those relationships influence who you are?
Priyanka and I are quite opposite in nature. I tend to be calm and patient, while she is more energetic and expressive. In situations like planning a trip, she comes up with many ideas, and I help bring clarity. I usually listen first, understand the situation, and then try to guide the decision.
I get a lot of inspiration from my family, especially Priyanka and my son, Kiyansh. My wife manages her work, our home, and our child all at once, and that really inspires me.
Manoj with his wife Priyanka and their son Kiyansh.
My son is still only two years old, but I learn a lot from him. He has this “try again” attitude. If something doesn’t work, he keeps trying until he gets it. That’s something I try to apply in my own life — just keep going until you find a solution.
I also stay close to my parents. They are quieter than me, but we share a strong bond.
It sounds like a lot of what you do is helping people navigate decisions. Do you think of that as a form of creativity?
Yes, definitely. For me, creativity is not just about design or art — it’s about problem solving.
Whether it’s in my personal life or at work, I always try to find better ways to solve problems and make things easier for others. That’s something I naturally enjoy doing.
What else do you enjoy doing?
I’ve recently started using AI to generate music. I started with Hindi cinematic mythological music & spiritual storytelling but have been experimenting with other genres too. I publish them all on my own AI music channel, NoSleep FM, and Instagram page at NoSleep FM.
I enjoy watching science fiction web series. Shows like La Brea or Black Mirror really inspire me. They make you think beyond the normal and expected, exploring different possibilities. It opens your mind to solving problems in new ways. I try to take that mindset into my work, thinking differently and exploring alternative solutions.
I’m also a huge cricket fan.
What draws you to the sport of cricket?
I’ve loved it since I was around 11 years old. I used to play a lot when I was a teenager, and I was very passionate about it. In fact, I once broke a finger while playing, but that didn’t stop me from getting back on the field. That’s how much I loved the game.
Manoj at a 2023 IPL match between the Delhi Capitals and the Gujrat Titans in New Delhi.
These days I don’t get much time to play, but I still watch it regularly. I especially love Test cricket, the traditional five-day format of the game. It requires patience, resilience, and focus to watch a game unfold that slowly. For me, it’s almost meditative. It matches my personality — I enjoy the calmness and the process. I can literally watch it ball by ball.
My favorite player is Virat Kohli. I really admire how he transformed the fitness culture in Indian cricket. His discipline, intensity, and dedication make him a truly world-class athlete, someone I’d put in the same league as greats like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of professionalism and commitment.
What have you come to appreciate about typography since joining Monotype?
Typography is very powerful. It’s everywhere in work and in daily life, and it can really influence how you feel.
Before joining Monotype, I wasn’t very aware of it. But now I see how it can change mood and help convey meaning more clearly. My favorite font is Helvetica because it represents clarity and simplicity — two things that are very important to me.
Helvetica’s simplicity and clarity are qualities that make it Manoj’s favorite font.
What might surprise your colleagues about you?
At work, I’m usually quiet and reserved. I speak only when necessary.
But outside of work, I’m much more vocal, especially with my friends and family. I enjoy discussions, even arguments sometimes. And although I seem reserved, I’ve had moments of true spontaneity, like how I proposed to my wife.
Manoj and his wife Priyanka from back when they were dating.
How did you meet and propose to your wife?
Our story actually started years before the proposal. We worked at the same company, but I was very shy and never had the courage to talk to her, so it remained a one-sided admiration.
Later, I left that company and moved on. But in 2018, I received a call from an unknown number — and it was her. She was joining the same company and even the same team.
As we started working together, we became friends. Then one day, completely spontaneously, I tried to propose to her using a French fry. I was very nervous, and she didn’t understand what I was doing at first and just laughed.
A few days later, she asked me if I really meant it. I said yes — and that’s when she accepted. It remains one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
Just a couple of months later, COVID happened and everything went into lockdown. She had to go back to her hometown, and for almost two years we barely met in person. But despite the distance, our bond only grew stronger. We finally married in January 2023. Looking back, it still feels surreal that that French fry proposal turned into the life we share together.
Manoj and Priyanka on their honeymoon in the Maldives.
Senior Project Manager
Manoj Lodhi.
Manoj Lodhi is a Senior Project Manager who guides designers in creating materials at Monotype.