Initial research (designers)
As part of the initial research for the 502 personal practice module, I wanted to gather images of designers that I admire that will guide me in the right direction for the creative report. Initially, I want to look at 10 different designers, in order to have a wide range of options. Further down the line I will narrow these down to the top 3 designers I like, based on whether they align with my aspirations as a designer.
Joel Kirschenbaum
What do they do?
Illustrative design and they run a T-shirt brand
Why are you interested in them?
I like how playful their illustrations are, as their work as a fun sense of voice. I also admire their T-shirt brand as it links to my interest in building self branding.
Where are they based?
Based in Oakland, and they run their studio/ business in a garage.
What do you want to find out?
How to set up a brand and how to create a strong visual identity/ instagram presence. Also advice into freelancing.
I really love the illustrative style Joel Kirschenbaum uses within his designs; his work has a very fun and playful sense of voice, which I feel like aligns with the kind of atmosphere I portray within my own work. I find illustration something I really enjoy, and its interesting to look at designers like Joel to see how illustrations can be translated into a stand alone and impactful design. As well as this, his work is very orientated around positivity and creating a positive brand image; although simplistic, his designs have a sort of nostalgic positivity that I find really fun and energetic. Again, this aligns with my values as a designer, as a lot of my own work conveys messages in a positive way; using bright and nostalgic colours to reinforce this. As well as this, Joel also has set up a T-shirt brand called IWANTMYHONEY.TV, that reimagines his illustrations onto apparel; this is something that I really enjoy doing as it allows designers to extend their brand to something people can wear. This relates to what I want to do in the future as a designer, as having worked with brands like Everpress, clothing is a really fun way to get your designs out in a tangible product - unlike print, T-shirts will always exist for people to wear.
3 reasons why I chose them:
I really like their illustration style, I respect how they collaborate on projects and I'm interested in building my own brand.
Maria Vorobjova
What do they do?
Album and publication art.
Why are you interested in them?
I like how they combine illustrative elements with image treatment, as well as their zine design being very experimental with layout/ collaging.
Where are they based?
She studied at Brighton and is based in the UK.
What do you want to find out?
What the process of post graduation is like and how to build a strong visual identity after graduation. What its like to be a woman within the graphic design industry. Where does she take her inspiration from?
Maria Vorobjova is a graphic designer that focuses on super playful image making, exploring themes of nostalgia and niche subjects such as Russian superstitions. I like how her work takes a lot of inspiration from zine culture and collages, as she blends image with illustrative elements. As well as this, the textures she uses are really nice in created a well rounded design, which ties into her self branding. As a designer, I really admire this sense of self branding as it is something I value in order to build a consistent portfolio and image within the industry. At this point in the course, this is something I'm definitely trying to improve, as I want to have a solid brand by the time I graduate; I want to aspire to be the kind of designer that is employed/ commissioned based on my style. In regards to Vorobjovas' style, I love how she experiments with different mediums and doesn't restrict herself with colour schemes; in a way, it is somewhat chaotic which is what I find interesting within her work. This element of playfulness and rule breaking is the kind of approach and ethos I want to use within my own designs, as it breaks the mold from design trends; her work is 'trendy' but still embraces originality. She also has made a few zines, such as her Russian superstitions zine, which is definitely an avenue I want to work in when I graduate; I find zine design really fun as there is no limitations and a lot of creative freedom to be expressive.
3 reasons why I chose them:
I love how she combines illustrative elements with images through a very collage like format, and how she is a multidisciplinary designer. I also want some advice for mediums I want to learn such as animating and blender.
Jack Mitchell (lifeisunfair)
What do they do?
Publication and clothing design.
Why are you interested in them?
I like how he takes inspiration from punk culture, and uses collaging techniques to create visuals. I like how his work is very witty and experimental.
Where are they based?
London.
What do you want to find out?
What its like working as a freelancer in London, where do you find commission work. What is your advice for collaborative projects, and what is your design process?
Jack is a really interesting designer that takes a lot of inspiration from punk culture; a lot of his work is collage based, especially his collage approach to type that is super cool. I really like how he is able to manipulate existing images into a way that is original and contemporary; this is a design approach I want to be able to nail as a designer, as there is always some element of risk with using existing visuals. In this respect, I also love how he blends image and illustration together, as it creates a very collective brand image. Another element of his work that I admire is that he always creates tangible products within his designs; such as stickers, badges, clothing and iron on patches. Again, designing for apparel is something that I really enjoy, as I feel like it really develops you as a brand within the design industry. Jack also doesn't limit himself with colours and design rules; his work is kind of loud and bold, which is definitely a style I'm more interested in. Some of his T-shirts have also been sold in the London Supreme store which I really admire; having my work sold by a third party is definitely an aspiration for me as I really want my brand image to grow. Also, in terms of money, selling clothing etc is something that massively supports designers, so this could be an option for me to work on the side.
3 reasons why I chose them:
Their design process of creating clothing is something that I'm interested in, as well as collaborating on projects. I'm super intrigued to see what its like to work in London, as I feel like I could get some solid advice into working as a freelancer post graduation.
FISK projects
What do they do?
Branding and publication design.
Why are you interested in them?
I love how their visual identity is very playful and experimental; they combine loads of colourful elements and have a really fun tone of voice. I also want to get better at branding and I feel like they do it in more of a fun and exciting way. I kind of have the conception at the moment that branding has to be pretty dull.
Where are they based?
LA
What do you want to find out?
What is the design scene in LA like? What is the process of getting a job in a small studio like? What do you prioritise when employing for your team? How do you create brand identities for companies without it feeling super commercial?
I wanted to look at some studios within my research, so decided to look at FISK projects; based in LA, FISK is a small design studio that mainly focuses on publication design and branding. You can definitely see the Californian influence on their work, as it is very laid back and playful; I also love the sense of nostalgia featured within their branding, as branding isn't something that massively appeals to me. What I like so much about their portfolio is how their designs are somewhat unorthodox and original; they often use bright colours and clashing textures in order to create some super fun visuals. Regarding their size as a studio, I'd love to work in somewhere like FISK as personally, I feel like large studios aren't my thing. Ideally, I would like to work in a small studio once I have graduated, as it has more of a closer sense of community and I think working with a smaller group of people would help me bounce my ideas off my peers. Looking at FISK for my creative report would be interesting as well, as I could gain an insight into studio life and how you can get a job in such a small organisation.
3 reasons why I chose them:
They manage to create branding that feels fun and contemporary, which is something I want to improve on. Also, I'm interested in working in a small studio like theirs post graduation, so it would be helpful to get an insight into studio life and what its like to collaborate on projects.
What do they do?
Prints and publication design.
Why are you interested in them?
I like how she integrates humour into her designs, as her work has a very playful and absurdity. Her stuff is definitely a lot more contemporary and visual orientated, which contrasts from the other designers I've looked at.
Where are they based?
New York.
What do you want to find out?
Advice on being a freelance designer, how do you curate your inspiration/ find the imagery for your work?
Sara Yukiko is another designer that uses a lot of illustrative elements within her work; she takes a lot of inspiration from cartoons, thus building a sense of nostalgia into her brand image. This tone of voice is something I develop in my own work, as I feel like its a nice way to build audience recognition, but in a way that reinvents existing or familiar visuals. Her work also has a kind of punk feel to it, as she uses a lot of grainy textures within her imagery; this relates to my aspirations to work on zines in the future, as her work has that kind of DIY nature to it. Yukiko is also really skilled in curation and finding the right images to use within her work; this is something I want to improve on, as it would be nice to have some sort of archive folder of images I like - kind of like a pinterest but somewhere that only I could access. This element of curation also ties into the idea of zine design, as it pushes designers to select and use consistent visuals. Inspired by this, I might actually start creating some kind of moodboard with images I like.
3 reasons why I chose them:
They're really good at curating imagery for designs, and are super skilled in developing a consistent visual identity. I'm interested in the process of finding a style and sticking to it, as it definitely makes you look like a more well rounded and refined designer.
Leon Sadler
What do they do?
Illustrations and clothing design.
Why are you interested in them?
I love how his style is very organic and embraces imperfections with playful illustrations, he also is very skilled in creating interesting compositions that make his style so recognisable. I'm also interested in clothing design so its something I could ask him about.
Where are they based?
LA.
What do you want to find out?
Advice on being a freelance designer, how do you get commissions/ collaborative projects, what is your process of illustration and how do you combine it with other design elements.
Leon Sadlers' work features a lot of illustrative elements which I really like; his illustrative style feels very nostalgic and takes inspiration from retro cartoons. Sadlers' work definitely is similar to the kind of design I want to work on; he often collaborates with brands such as Brain Dead. This element of collaboration is also something I aspire to do as a designer in the future; I enjoy merging concepts together, and it would be great to work for clothing brands such as Brain Dead. I also appreciate how Leon Sadler is a super talented multi disciplinary designer; he often blends illustration with typeface design and has worked on the brand identity of the publication/ zine MouldMap. This aligns with my interest in publication design, as well as focusing on being a multi skilled designer. I also love the experimental branding of MouldMap as it is a really cool magazine that celebrates individuality and creative freedom, thus reflecting my values as a creative.
3 reasons why I chose them:
I really admire how they work on loads of collaborative projects such as the Braindead and Mouldmap, so would be interested in getting advice on how to brand yourself well in order to collaborative with big names. I also respect the way in which his illustrations aren't restricted, as they feel very fluid and carefree; I often have the worry of my illustrations feeling quite forced.
Bobby Engvall
What do they do?
Art direction, illustrations and type design.
Why are you interested in them?
I really like how his work is super playful and incorporates illustrative elements with type. I also really like how he creates stickers and T-shirt designs, as thats the kind of avenue I want to go down. Also, I admire how even though he creates a lot of contemporary and experimental designs, he's created a lot of commercial work as well, which is inspiring and reassuring.
Where are they based?
New York.
What do you want to find out?
Advice on being a freelance designer, how do you get the stage of being an art director, where do you take your inspiration from and how do you find a balance between experimental design and commercial design.
I love how designer Bobby Engvall takes inspiration from skate culture in his visuals; a lot of his typeface designs are hand drawn and use fluid and fun shapes. I relate to this approach to type design in particular as I find hand drawn elements within typefaces super fun. This sense of not following rules within design aligns with my values as a creative, as it involves the process of making mistakes and not restricting your creative freedom. For example, a lot of Engvalls' work embraces rough edges and hand drawn forms, which I think is really successful in building a fun brand identity. I kind of want to apply this visual identity even further within my own work, as I feel like it is quite a versatile style, and fits with the type of designer I want to be.
3 reasons why I chose them:
His work is very experimental and playful, he's incredibly versatile as a designer, he's worked on a lot of interesting projects as well which would be interesting to get an insight into.
Alexis Jamet
What do they do?
Illustration and publication design.
Why are you interested in them?
I love his style as it is very abstract and contemporary, and find it interesting how he integrates type alongside his illustrations. His work is very positive and I also love how he brings them to life through animation.
Where are they based?
Paris, France.
What do you want to find out?
What the design industry in France is like, how do you get commissions as a freelancer, is there a specific client that you only work for, how do you develop a strong brand identity?
Alexis Jamet is a image/ texture based designer that works with gradients and illustrative elements; unlike some of the other designers, his work is a lot more abstract, but definitely still has a playful tone of voice. I really like the grainy effect that he adds to his work, as it also provides undertones of nostalgia; this is a something I like to develop within my own work, as its a nice way to build a sense of familiarity with the audience. Jamet also animates his textures/ gradients, creating really nice, flowy and lucid movements; animation is a skill I really want to learn, as I think it will really develop me and my skillset as a designer. Learning moving image skills would be really fun to do, and I could possibly focus my creative report around moving image ambitions; it would be interesting to possibly ask Alexis Jamet some questions/ advice on this topic.
3 reasons why I chose them:
I like how his work is very consistent and he has a strong brand image, which personally I want to develop for myself. Also, I really respect the brands he has worked for as he has travelled a lot for collaborative projects, and I want to gain an insight into freelance work.
Estefania Loret de Mola
What do they do?
Graphic design and poster visuals.
Why are you interested in them?
I really like how she combines simple elements together in order to develop interesting compositions; I admire her minimal approaches to design, yet she still elevates them with textures and bold colour palettes.
Where are they based?
Chicago.
What do you want to find out?
How she brands herself on social media and whether this has grown her brand more, how to be a successful freelancer, what her design process is like? Has she found it harder to be a woman within the industry?
I really like how designer Estefania Loret de Mola uses colour and textures to create minimal but impactful designs; a lot of her work is orientated around abstract concepts, so the visuals reflect this through the use of negative space and abstract shapes. I admire how she pairs bold colours together, as this is a skill I want to improve as I feel like being able to create interesting colour palettes is a very valuable skill as a designer. As well as this, her work ties into the sense of nostalgia I like to create within design, as she applies grainy textures and photocopier effects. Her work also inspires me to focus more on minimal design, and play with interesting compositions that feature more negative space; this is something I feel like I haven't quite nailed yet, as a lot of my work is super busy and chaotic - I want to find a better balance.
3 reasons why I chose them:
She has a very strong visual style and has a consistent instagram feed, which I want to improve personally on. Also, she is really skilled at creating interesting colour palettes and is super talented at translating things visually. I also want to get some advice on self branding and how to gain exposure on social media/ within the industry.
Anna Mills
What do they do?
Type design and animation
Why are you interested in them?
I love how her type design feels very organic, as she hand draws her letterforms which provides a nice texture to her work. Also, I really like how she brings her type to life through animation, as it aligns with her ethos of expressive type.
Where are they based?
Bristol.
What do you want to find out?
Because she has only just graduated, it would be nice to get an insight into what the process is like post graduation, as well as gaining any advice into how to brand yourself to get freelance work. Also, I'd love to learn about her process of creating typefaces.
Anna Mills is a type designer that focuses on hand drawn techniques to create free form shapes and textured components; I really like how she doesn't restrict herself with grids and draws type by hand - it creates a nice rough texture to it. This is showcased even further in her animated typefaces, as she uses a grainy stop motion effect; her animation kind of brings her type to life, which creates a very playful and energetic sense of voice. I also really like how Anna Mills focuses massively on emphasising the type with negative space; she maintains her hand drawn letters as the key part of her works' visual hierarchy, which ensures her work is consistently styled. In regards to this, I really admire how she brands herself, as I want to create a solid brand identity for my own work; I feel like this is essential in building a wider audience and ensuring my work all matches visually. It would be interesting to talk to Anna Mills for my creative report, as she could provide an insight into self branding and how to stick to your unique style.
3 reasons why I chose them:
Her type is really fun, playful and expressive, as well as how she illustrates elements; this is something I want to get better at personally, so it would be great to get some advice on it. I also think it would be nice to get an insight into what post graduation is like, as she has only just graduated. As well as this, I want to know what the design scene in Bristol is like, as its somewhere I have been considering.
