Interview with Leonardo Betti – Where 3D, Skate, Sound, and Empathy Meet

Leonardo Betti, also known as Leonardoworx, is a digital artist based in Florence, Italy. His practice focuses on abstract 3D compositions and typographic artworks, where form, color, and language merge into expressive visual narratives. Throughout his career, Betti has contributed to global advertising campaigns and editorial projects, collaborating with internationally recognized clients such as Adobe, Microsoft, Wired, and Apple, among many others. Alongside commercial work, he has been commissioned for both solo and collective exhibitions in art galleries worldwide, affirming his role within the contemporary digital art scene.

Low Your Mind, Be Kind - Leonardo Betti's submission for FFK 2023

In 2023, Leonardo Betti kindly joined the Fight for Kindness campaign as a guest with his poster titled “Blow Your Mind, Be Kind.” The artwork stands out as a powerful and joyful visual statement, celebrating kindness not only toward others but also toward our own minds and hearts.

In addition to the visual contribution, Leonardoworx is also the author of the original audio track featured in the official videoreel of the 2023 edition, further shaping the emotional and narrative identity of the project.

His contribution is deeply representative of the global community of digital creators — artists who master complex digital tools on a daily basis while remaining grounded in a fundamental purpose: to stay human, to care, and to nurture empathy through creativity.

We asked Leonardo a few questions about the process behind his creative life —moving effortlessly between bold 3D artworks, a skate trick in motion, and his remarkable talent in the music field.

How would you describe your design philosophy today?

Has it evolved through the projects you’ve chosen or the

messages you’ve wanted to express?

When I first started my journey in the world of design, I used to create super intricate and complex compositions. As my main tool has always been 3D software, I was really drawn to creating abstract and dark compositions with fluids, trails, and particles. The results were visually stunning, but the message I wanted to convey was a bit too simple for some people to grasp. So, over the years, I’ve shifted my focus to simpler compositions and shapes. I’ve been really interested in balancing colors, forms, and materials, and I’ve even added “human errors” to my 3D artworks (like applying handmade textures) to make the message I wanted to express more impactful and personal.

When creating typographic work, how do you balance concept, readability, and emotional resonance?

I like to imagine how the words of the typographic work look when I see them. That’s why the main part is the concept. In my case, it pushes me to be more spontaneous and original.I don’t use fonts, but I “sculpt” each letter to check if it’s easy to read and if it has an emotional impact. So, it has to be impactful also without colors or materials. The final step is working on colors and materials that are just as important as the previous steps. I’m looking for the “slight imperfect balance” but perfectly human, in terms of perception, of the final deliverable.

"Kindness is super important to me in every artwork I create, whether it’s for a client or just for fun. It’s a way for me to say, “Hey, let’s not just judge people based on how many likes or views they get on social media.” You know, we live in this crazy world where our ‘digital life’ is the main thing we do, and people feel like they’re always competing against each other. They’re ready to do anything to feel good for a few minutes on a social platform."

What role do values like kindness or empathy play in your design practice today?

Kindness is super important to me in every artwork I create, whether it’s for a client or just for fun. It’s a way for me to say, “Hey, let’s not just judge people based on how many likes or views they get on social media.” You know, we live in this crazy world where our ‘digital life’ is the main thing we do, and people feel like they’re always competing against each other. They’re ready to do anything to feel good for a few minutes on a social platform. This lack of empathy and acceptance of others who are different from us is really sad. Without empathy, the acceptance of all different lifeforms, cultures, and point of views... we can’t move forward, especially in creative fields like typography and design.

"ACRYLIC is an artwork series, a typographic concept but also the title of my recent album made with

my synthesizers"

Your work sits at the crossroads of skateboarding culture, electronic music, and digital art, giving you a unique perspective on visual storytelling. How does your creative process help you explore, challenge, and reinterpret the values of kindness within these cultural spaces?

I do street skateboarding since I was 8 Years old. Skateboarding helped me to enhance and evolve my fantasy, like watching a curb or a ledge in the corner of a street and visualize what kind of trick I could try and land. Also the concept to be unique, building up your style of skateboarding, making stronger your identity. But most of all the sense of community, like the happiness and joy you share with a friend, that after tons of tries, lands on bolts a switch hardflip backtail on a Jersey. My ambient music tunes and what I do in digital art share the same manifesto. Sometimes these passions cross each other, in terms of inspiration and sense of communication when you feel to share a little piece of your life with others.This is the best way I’ve found to be kind, respectful, open minded and also to be myself.

Leonardoworx is part of the 2023 edition of the Fight for Kindness project.

See more on the 2023 annual, available for free download

And also the 2025 Fight for Kindness annual - Visual Voices for Change

is now available

ORDER NOW

A project by Typecampus / Sponsored by Zetafonts