Calling all Creatives!

If you read CrewDesign regularly, you know how much we enjoy featuring interviews with other designers and artists. We want to know what you make, and what inspires you to make it! So If you are interested in being featured on our blog, or you know someone who might be, we would love to see some work and send you some questions. Just drop us an email at thecrewdesign@gmail.com and you will hear back from a Crew member lickity-split. ••••

An Interview with Niki Brown

The Crew is pleased to bring you an interview with Niki Brown, a designer and blogger over at Design O'Blog, who recently relocated to Boston from a small Midwestern city. Niki is a reader who responded to our call for creatives, and we couldn't be happier she did— her work is fun and fresh, and so are her ideas. Enjoy finding out more about Niki!

1. Who or what inspires you?
I just recently moved to Boston, so I've been inspired by how alive and diverse this city is. I'm constantly walking around, taking pictures and staring at strange things (and then getting lost!)

2. Do you have a favorite designer?
One of my favorite designers is an oldie but a goodie— (as in he's been dead for quite a while) El Lizzitsky - I've been obsessed with Russian Constructivism for quite a while. I can't seem to get enough of strong bold colors and dynamic diagonals.

3. One word to describe your design style:
Evolving.
4. What frustrates you most about design (or your biggest pet peeve)?
I get frustrated when the creativity just wont flow— this is when design gets really stressful for me. As i continue to mature as a designer I realize that sometimes you just need to walk away from a project for a bit and then come back to it with fresh eyes.

5. If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
I would go back to Switzerland. Land of organization and Helvetica!

6. What is your favorite website to visit daily? Why do you like it?
This is slightly boring, but gmail— they just released gmail themes! I also use igoogle as my homepage and have designed two themes (office mouse, space mouse)

7. If you could design or redesign anything, what would it be?
I would re-design the interface and organization of my banks online account section - it's horrible!

8. What’s the strangest request you’ve received from a client?
Not really strange, but I've been asked to flat out copy stuff or steal images— had to educate the client on why that was a HUGE no no!

9. Favorite font?
I'm diggin veer's candy script— I used it on the header of my website and business cards:

10. Where do you usually work on your projects?
I usually work on my projects at home at my desk:
My workspace is filled with things i love— from my rock paper scissors posters, to my lovely little banana painting (did i mention i love bananas?)

11. Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession?
I would tell newbies to read everything they can get their hands on. Blogs, books, videos— eat it up. Find tutorials, ask questions. Attend design lectures. Always be curious! These are the things that will keep your creativity fresh.

12. If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do?
I can't see myself doing something other than design. I've been doing it since I was a kid: making imaginary newspapers and then eventually learning how to make websites in highschool.

13. What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career?
I wish I would have been pushed to design faster. Design seems to happen at the speed of light once you get out in the real world.

14. Describe your favorite project and why.
My favorite print project so far has been the invites I made for a going away party. The theme of the party was Bring Your Own Meat. It was fun to make since I'm a vegetarian.
My favorite web project has been bananasandcoffee.com— another personal project to keep track of my potassium and caffeine consumption. I'm getting more and more obsessed with information design and this is my playground to experiment with it!15. Tell us three things about yourself that no one else knows.
1: I like to cook, but am horrible at it.
2: I love squirrels.
3: I hate papyrus with everything that is in me and want to scream at designers that use it.

To see more of Niki's work, please visit her website: nikibrown.com

[CrewDesign is always on the lookout for creative talent. If you, or someone you know, would like to be a featured artist please email us at thecrewdesign@gmail.com] ••••

An Interview with Seth Arp

The Crew is pleased to bring you an interview with Seth Arp, from Alameda, California. He is a Creative Director for Paglo, an IT Search Engine. Seth's talented wife, Lindy, passed his name onto us and we couldn't be more excited to showcase this new designer, who also happens to be an amazing cartoonist. (I have included a few of his fun characters throughout the interview). Enjoy!

1. Who or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by my Wife and my Grandfather. My Wife is endlessly creative and good at solving even the oddest problems. Plus she has the same weird sense of humor as me. My Grandfather was an honest, hard-working man who got along with everybody. He loved to tell stories too.


This cartoon, Bill the IT Guy, was created for Seth's current job at Paglo.

2. Do you have a favorite designer?
Ed Welburn, Chief Designer at GM. He does a great job of explaining his designs in a very sophisticated, interesting manner. He makes you want to go out and buy one his cars.

3. One word to describe your design style:
A little all over the place. I like anything old-fashioned looking, so I gravitate towards old colors and old fonts and graphics. But I also like experimenting with styles that I’m not initially comfortable with. More recently at my current job ( www.paglo.com) the desired result was to design the brand, site, and product to have a fresh Web 2.0 style treatment, which was a style I wasn’t familiar with how to replicate. It was a challenge to get that look right, but ultimately rewarding to learn a few new tricks.

4. What frustrates you most about design (or your biggest pet peeve)?
Trying to visualize a complete project when there’s nothing to see. I get a little frazzled when I start a totally new project, have an ideal look I want to accomplish, yet can’t totally replicate it on the screen.

5. If you could design or redesign anything, what would it be?
California roads and freeways. Not sure where you all are from, but if you ever visit, drive in Berkeley. I’m not sure who designed their grid, but its designed to make getting around there about as difficult as humanly possible ( which is one of the reasons I moved to another Bay Area city) The freeways don’t make sense either. I’m originally from TN and if you got off the freeway, you could get right back on. Not out here. The entrance might be 2-3 miles down a two lane street or who knows where. When I first moved here almost 9 years ago, I got lost every single day.


6. What’s the strangest request you’ve received from a client?
I had to make an animated cartoon for cell phones that was all about a crazy pigeon with a speech impediment who also happened to like French fries. “Sadly”, the project was scrapped after one episode.

7. Favorite color?
Used to be orange, now probably blue.

8. Favorite font?
Boring ole’ Verdana. At least today because my job has me designing lots of UI, and Verdana seems to always look great even if it is aliased and tiny.

9. East coast or West coast?
I’ve lived on both coasts. West coast for sure for none other than the weather.

10. Name one product/gadget can you not live without?
Gas engines. I love tinkering with small engines, so for me, having one around gives me something to fix. I got into lawn mower racing a few years ago, which has been a great creative outlet for me. When I’m not working, I gravitate towards things that are far removed from design. I guess racing garden tractors is as about as extreme in the opposite end as it gets.

11. Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession?
I’d say that these days you kind of have to be a jack of all trades kind of person. Learn as much as possible in regards to design, current trends, and programs. Pay attention to what other companies do- particularly companies that are competitors to whatever company you’re working for. See what works for them. Make your own spin, or design something that works better. Remember that more often than not, consumers will be buying products that you design for. So always look at it from a consumer perspective… even if the design to get it done is actually kind of fugly. Sometimes function is far more attractive than design.

12. If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do?
Not exactly sure. I’d love to have a small repair shop of some sort repairing, mechanical objects, toasters, mowers, vacuum cleaners, etc. But the problem is that things like that are so cheap to buy, people probably just throw them away versus having them fixed. Then again, I had no idea I’d be doing graphic design for a living, so perhaps anything is possible.

13. What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career?
That more often then not, you’re designing for the client and not yourself. I now appreciate what the client wants and to listen to what they are envisioning. But in the beginning… boy it was a bit rocky! You have to be a good communicator and at first, I wasn’t that good at collaborating with other people.

14. Tell us three things about yourself that no one else knows.
That's a hard one since my Wife probably knows all these anyway.

1: I was scared of night lights as a kid. I think it was because mine was blue, and since I was also scared to death of pools and swimming until I was 7 years old, the color reminded me of pools.

2: When I was also a small child, I saw a can of tomato juice sitting in the downstairs of our house. I loved tomato juice and immediately drank it… which turned out to be my Dad’s friend’s chewing tobacco can. I get sick just typing that!

3: I secretly like French pop rap and pop music. I actively listen to alternative country and Americana like bluegrass and western swing, but for some reason get a kick out of some of the overly hooky French stuff.

To see more of Seth's work visit his website: www.nomadtoons.com

[CrewDesign is always on the lookout for creative talent. If you, or someone you know, would like to be a featured artist please email us at thecrewdesign@gmail.com] ••••

Calling all Creatives!

If you read CrewDesign regularly, you know how much we enjoy featuring interviews with other designers and artists. We want to know what you make, and what inspires you to make it! So If you are interested in being featured on our blog, or you know someone who might be, we would love to see some work and send you some questions. Just drop us an email at thecrewdesign@gmail.com and you will hear back from a Crew member lickity-split. ••••

An Interview with Julie Burke

The Crew is pleased to bring you an interview with Julie Burke, an Industrial Designer from Chicago, Illinois. Julie has been a good friend of mine since Freshman year of high school in Cincinnati, Ohio. I love featuring Julie, not only because she is a friend of mine but because I am excited to feature a new kind of designer. While all the girls of The Crew are Graphic Designers, there are so many other directions design can take people. Julie is a fantastic artist and great talent. Enjoy the interview!

1. Who or what inspires you?
I enjoy simple things with just a hint of wit, i.e., things that make me laugh. I like products that surprise you and allow themselves to be discovered. I love looking at patterns and illustrations for inspiration for form. Places -- I love traveling. I think there is so much to be learned from the different ways different cultures approach things.

2. Do you have a favorite designer?
Right now I really admire Naoto Fukasawa. His work is all about an object being simple and natural in its environment. His attention to detail and awareness of human instinct is extraordinary. I love his work with Muji and ±0.

"Design means observing objectively.
It means being aware of our living
nature, a simple element in
the larger environment.
I like when a
project doesn't sell my name or my characteristic,
when it is just an object
that happens to be there,
...no, not anonymous, just natural.”
-Naoto Fukasawa

3.One word to describe your design style:
That’s hard to say. I’m a young designer; I feel as if I am still working that one out. Also, as an industrial designer in a consultancy, I feel as if my style changes with each product, client, or problem that comes my way, and they all tend to be radically different.

4.What frustrates you most about design (or your biggest pet peeve)?
Clients are so often afraid to make a departure from what they know even when the market is already full of similar products and bad ideas. I hate to see them shy away from new formats and ideas -- which would significantly improve the product -- in favor of traditional formats and features which already saturate the market. We call that “cherry picking.” You still end up with a better product, but one that often blends in with the rest.

5.If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
In the last two months, I’ve been to South America and China; I feel like Europe should be the next stop on the map. I’d like to go to Prague before it switches to the euro.

6.If you could design or redesign anything, what would it be?
At some point in my life, I’m going to have to do some sort of sporting goods (to those who know me, that shouldn’t be shocking). However, on a less materialistic level, I would love to work on making sustainable products that are more accessible to the everyday consumer. People are looking for a way to be green; designers need to help create an easy avenue.

7.What’s the strangest request you’ve received from a client?
I was asked to rotate a sketch in 3D. Hmmm…. we’re not magical.

8.Favorite color?
Oh, I can never make up my mind. Right now it’s green. I just bought some green shoes. They’re fantastic.

9.Favorite font?
Probably Futura. I tend toward a sans serif font. Arial is the office font-of-choice.

10.East coast or West coast?
East.

11.Name one product/gadget can you not live without?
A Wacom tablet. I wish I could say I have a Cintiq, or an iPhone, but I don’t.

12.Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession?
Just because you are a designer, it doesn’t give you an excuse to act in an unprofessional manner. There is definitely more freedom as a “creative,” but you still need to be presentable. Additionally, you’re not expected to know everything coming out of school; you’re expected to learn.

13.If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do?
Oooh, maybe be a lawyer, but I don’t think that would last. I think I would end up right back in a creative field: maybe interior or graphic design.

14.Tell us three things about yourself that no one else knows.
1. Give me beer or give me bourbon. I would rather have either over a sweet cocktail.
2. I could be entirely happy on a farm with a horse.
3. I hate having to choose what I am going to order in a restaurant. I’d rather try everything. In China they eat family style and order 10+ dishes for the entire table. I loved it.

[If you, or someone you know, would like to be a featured artist on CrewDesign, email us at thecrewdesign@gmail.com] ••••

An Interview with Blythe Russo

CrewDesign is pleased to bring you an interview with Blythe Russo, a Graphic Designer and Illustrator from Waltham, Massachusetts. Blythe is a good friend and a coworker of mine, whose work in the field of publishing and beyond never ceases to impress me. Enjoy reading more about Blythe, and when you're finished, you can view more of her work on her website: www.blythedesign.net

1. Who or what inspires you?
I find inspiration walking around Boston and taking photographs; flipping through design magazines; visiting galleries and museums; shopping in thrift stores and collecting vintage house wares; collaging and scrap booking; enjoying the amazing work that House Industries produces; getting turned on to new music; checking out cover designs on older albums, as well as book covers from the 50s/60s; studying decaying or distressed textures and surfaces; del.icio.us bookmarks; images posted on Ffffound and Drawn. I’m mostly a shut-in, and get a lot of joy spending time at home with my boyfriend. His constant support and dedication to his songwriting and recording keeps me focused, and our goofball cats are the source material for an animated project that’s in the works.
2. Do you have a favorite designer/artist?
Neville Brody – I’m very drawn to his design sensibility. He’s a British designer and typographer who started his career designing magazines and record covers in the early 80s. His layouts and typefaces have always been very radical and experimental. The Macromedia logo is probably his most recognizable work. I love the angles and shapes he creates with the placement of his type – lots of layered elements and bold colors.

3. What frustrates you most about design (or your biggest pet peeve)?
People with unrealistic expectations. I often look for freelance jobs on Web sites like craigslist to help build my portfolio. It’s difficult to not only find a decent job and client, but to get them to accept a reasonable quote. I learned early on not to low ball myself or get taken advantage of by people who ask for excess design changes they don’t want to pay for. I remember quoting a low $500 for a full identity package design and Web site creation a few years ago, only to hear back “Ohhh, wow … that’s MUCH higher than I anticipated. I’ve got several other designers who gave me lower prices. I will get back to you…” Total headache. The problem is that too many young professionals under price themselves, creating lower paying entry level positions which leads to a more competitive industry, but only in the negative sense of the word. Out of desperation, many designers end up devaluing the design process itself. Some clients think they shouldn’t just get professional services for under $100, but also feel that they can be overly demanding because they’re paying.

4. What is your favorite website to visit daily? Why do you like it?
I discovered The Consumerist about a year ago and visit several times a day. It’s a consumer affairs blog that posts reader-submitted tips and complaints about companies and corporations. I can stay informed, avoid scams, share my experiences, and occasionally find shopping deals and discounts. After reading that a customer found a metal machine bolt in their package of Perdue chicken breast, it boggles my mind why people choose to buy their produce at Wal-Mart. Yeck.
5. If you could design or redesign anything, what would it be?
The streets of Boston – traveling in town makes me crazy mad sometimes. The roads are all a giant mess of one-way loops, the Mass turnpike’s city exits get backed up for miles, and the commuter subway has the most inefficient, outdated system imaginable. I appreciate the colonial history of the city, but the street layout causes so much traffic everyday. It would be ideal to have Tokyo’s lightning fast on-time train systems combined with Chicago’s easy exit highways.

Also, I really like supermarket shopping – I think it would be interesting to redesign the layout and interior of one to see how it affects shoppers’ behavior.

6. What's the strangest request you've received from a client?
I’ve had a few bad experiences with clients that either ask for too many adjustments, or have no idea what they want from the beginning. The most annoying experience I had was with this woman who found me through craigslist. We signed a contract and I agreed to redesign a logo for her husband’s wedding photography business. She went on and on about how amazingly creative his vision was ... however the only proof of his supposed design brilliance was a desperately ugly black & white 8-ball (made up of two circles) with his initials in the middle. Again, this wasn’t for a pool-hall, it was a wedding photography business. Not a promising start.

Anyway, the visionary’s wife was disappointed with my initial designs, claiming that they “look like every other wedding logo out there – he wants something that stands out!” She even had the nerve to suggest that my work “couldn’t possibly have taken me as long as I had billed her for.” The fonts I used were “very typical and boring,” and my mock-ups were not far off from her husband’s existing logo. On top of that, it turned out that the logo redesign was to be a surprise birthday gift for her husband The Genius… so my instructions were based on what she thought he’d like!

I agreed to call her husband to discuss his ‘vision.’ I remember the night I had planned to, I got in from work late and decided to shoot him an email explaining so and that I’d be able to chat tomorrow. He wrote back, “Hehe … party girl!” Gross – I don’t even know this man! Amazingly, he was just as vague and directionless as his wife. He was sure to mention how accomplished he was in Photoshop, and how impressed he was by his own lame 8-ball. I agreed that it was ‘unique’ and served a purpose (certainly not a positive purpose), but he couldn’t seem to grasp that an 8-ball had nothing to do with weddings. Instead, he agreed with his wife - my logos were too cliché and ordinary. And goody for me, he had designed more 8-ball logo variations that night, which he proposed I modify free of charge since his wife had already paid for my first round of ‘unusable’ mock-ups. It was obvious that no matter what I designed, this guy would be unhappy if it was too similar to his logo, and disappointed if it was too different. To avoid further hassle, I emailed his wife to say that I would not be able to help. Luckily we had a contract, and she paid the kill fee built into it. Always have a contract!

Unfortunately this guy has repeatedly sent me friend requests on Facebook and his mini-feeds fill up my home page. I’m sure he’ll find this post at some point, but for the sake of comedy and to top off a lengthy story, I have to post this image. Douche chills.
7. Favorite font?
Futura – and any sleek/thin font like Avant Garde

8. Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession?
Purchase this book: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines. Published by the Graphic Artists Guild, this is an essential reference book for people in the design and illustration field. It definitely helped me start my freelancing business. I love that it has standard invoice, contract and legal letter templates in the back that anyone can use with their clients. Most importantly, never sell yourself short - don’t underestimate the value and quality of your services. And always use contracts, no matter what the job is!
9. If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do?
A musician. I love to sing and want to get back into playing guitar.

10. Tell us three things about yourself that no one else knows.
I’m pretty open and share everything with my partner. I’ve wracked my brain and anything personal I’m keeping to myself. Sorry Crew!
Oh wait … I heart 8-balls.

[If you, or someone you know, would like to be a featured artist on CrewDesign, email us at thecrewdesign@gmail.com] ••••

An Interview with Tai Snaith

CrewDesign is proud to present our very first featured artist: Tai Snaith. Australian artist Tai Snaith has an extensive portfolio ranging in performance art, installation and illustration. Her wide range of work is imaginative, playful, and truly original. Please read our interview with Tai Snaith and visit her website at www.taisnaith.com for more information. Enjoy!


1. Who are you? (name, occupation, and city you live in)
My name is Tai Snaith and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I work as an artist/ producer/designer. I like to draw, design objects, make large installations and paint walls. I also work as a visual arts producer for an arts festival here in Melbourne called ‘Next Wave’.

2. Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by a range of weird influences; for example I love finding images of animals dressed up in costumes and other visual anecdotes on the Internet. I tend to just search random combinations to do with animals and then use those ideas as the basis for some drawings. I also collect all sorts of old black and white books about animals and plants. I also spend a lot of time rummaging through op shops and markets looking for old postcards, music sheets, pianola rolls, packaging and bones. I am also inspired by abandoned spaces.

3. Do you have a favorite designer/artist?
That’s a hard one. I really love the work of another Melbourne artist Ghostpatrol (www.ghostpatrol.net) at the moment. I also love the installation work of US artist Phoebe Washburn and the drawings and installation of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara ( I was lucky enough to meet him last year too). That’s just to name a few.

4. One word to describe your style:
Playful

5. What frustrates you most about design (or your biggest pet peeve)?
Computers and money

6. If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
I’d really love to go to Spain, it’s next on my list for sure.

7. What is your favorite website to visit daily? Why do you like it?
I don’t visit one website daily. I tend to shop around… I often check the weather, but that’s practical boring. Lately I have been reading www.somethingawful.com - a very funny look into how retarded the internet can be, especially the weekend web page. I also like Wooster www.woostercollective.com to keep in touch with what's going on on the streets.

8. If you could design or redesign anything, what would it be?
I would love to design a new breed of animals. Half horse, half giraffe.

9. What is the strangest request you’ve received from a client?
To design a collar made from plastic spoons.

10. Favorite color?
The crispy brown/cream colour of faded pages of old books.

11. Favorite font?
I have an old 1940’s Tippa typewriter that actually has a running script font, it’s unusual and beautiful.

12. East Coast or West Coast?
In Melbourne its more Northside or Southside and I am definitely more a fan of Northside.

13. Name one product/gadget you cannot live without?
Size zero brush.

14. Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession?
Don’t make things for money, make them for love.

15. If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do?
I think I would work with animals or as a gardener.

16. What is one thing you wish you knew when you started your career?
How to write about what I do and also that you have to document every single thing you do, well.

17. Tell us three things about yourself that no one else knows.
1. When I was a kid I used to write letters to the moon in the sand every time I went to the beach.
2. This morning I stole a lemon from my neighbor’s tree.
3. Yesterday I wasn’t actually sick...

[CrewDesign is always on the lookout for creative talent. If you, or someone you know, would like to be a featured artist please email us at thecrewdesign@gmail.com] ••••