I graduated in '84, so quite a time!
2. What do you think makes a good piece of design?
Big question. A combination of originality, fitness for purpose, skill in execution.
3. You have a wide range of work that sits in many different areas (type, illustration, design, logos), do you have a favourite kind of brief?
One that has enough room to manoeuvre, but some constraints that get the imagination working.
4. Do you use a sketchbook?
Yes. Got loads. Though my sketches are more like thumbnails. Not finished at all.
5. Do you think being creatively adaptable to different styles is important?
Yes, Fashions change, and you’ve got to innovate all the time.
6. Who is the most interesting person you have worked for?
DC Comics.
7. What has been your favourite brief to work on so far in your career?
My favourite job was a Batman: Black and White strip where the Bat-mobile I designed was made into a toy.
Yves Chaland. Serge Clerc. Peter Saville. Barney Bubbles. The Stenberg Bros.
9. Do you have any other interests outside of art/design?
Physics and science. I’m also an SF geek.
10. What advice would you give to someone (such as me), just starting out in the industry?
It’s a slow build. Be passionate, be dedicated, be original. You will meet wankers and saviours, people who rip you off and people who push you on to do your best work.
Learn to recognise them. They may even be the same person.
Take it all in your stride, as you learn as much from the jobs that go horribly wrong as the jobs that breeze through.
Stay interested by stepping outside your bubble to look in afresh on a regular basis.
Be professional. Meet deadlines. Read the brief. Listen to criticism. Don’t be a prima donna, but stick up for what you think is best for the job. Be articulate and engaged. Don’t forget to invoice.
I am very pleased with the response I got from Rian. He was such an interesting guy when I met him and I liked having the opportunity to learn more, my favourite part of the interview was the advice he gave to me. It have me laugh a lot, but also the point he made about stepping outside my bubble once in a while really resonated. I think it is healthy to do this, as it helps to see things from a different perspective.
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