Margo is joined by calligraphy artist and educator Shinah Chang. Shinah spent her life following the “proper” path: attending an Ivy League college, graduating from a prestigious law school, and working tirelessly at a top international law firm. However, after countless uninspiring days and sleepless nights under her desk, she decided to reclaim her life. Shinah left her legal career and explored various creative outlets—knitting, woodworking, drawing, and graphic design—until she fell in love with calligraphy.
Over the past nine years, she built Crooked Calligraphy into a million-dollar business, only to intentionally scale it back to create a simpler, more spacious life. Shinah has collaborated with brands like Disney, Anthropologie, and Johnson & Johnson and taught thousands of students how to master calligraphy and launch their own creative ventures.
In this episode, Margo and Shinah discuss:
- Shinah’s journey from corporate law to founding Crooked Calligraphy.
- How burnout shaped her decision to leave a high-powered legal career.
- The structured yet expressive nature of calligraphy as an art form.
- Tools she used to challenge societal expectations and reclaim her joy.
- Her innovative teaching philosophy, which prioritizes strategic creativity over technical perfection.
- The pressures of scaling a creative business and why she chose to simplify.
- The importance of mindfulness, self-kindness, and collaboration in personal and professional growth.
- Lessons on balancing practicality with creativity and the power of authentic connections.
Connect with Shinah:
Website: https://www.crookedcalligraphy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crookedcalligraphy
Free “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Workshop: https://crookedcalligraphy.lpages.co/register/
People Inspiring Shinah:
Glennon Doyle
Chappell Roan
Andrea Gibson
