INTERVIEW: Evan Anthony

EVAN ANTHONY, Designer, Animator, Coder, Maker of things // Freelance
Our first guest interview for the year comes to us from NYC, where he has been working as a freelance designer on myriad animation, motion, and interactive projects. Be sure to take a longer look around his work. So without further ado…the interview.

What made you decide/how did you end up attending RIT?

Circumstance mostly. I’m from Rochester, my dad studied graphic design there, and it was the only design school I applied too.

Programs you work in most frequently? How important is it to be fluent in coding and other technicalities as a designer?

The usual - Adobe Creative Suite, Cinema 4D, Processing, nothing too niche. I’d say fluency in code is one of the most valuable skills a designer can have. The tools you have at your disposal dictate the work you make and way you think, so being able to make your own is incredibly freeing. And it doesn’t take as much technical skill as you expect.

What inspires such imaginative animations?

A non stop stream of RSS burning my retinas.

Some favorites:

50watts

Cybernetic Zoo

Synaptic Stimuli

Designboom

ArchDaily

Playscapes

Sci Fi O Rama

Book Graphics

Illustration Art

Creative Applications

Brand New

ilovetypography

intothecontiumum

Given your broad range of projects, do you find it challenging to start on new projects with new companies, or do you like the pace and challenge?

Hopping across mediums, using different tools, working with new people, etc. keeps me fresh and interested. If I’m too sedentary I get lazy and bored, so freelance works for me. Starting with new companies isn’t difficult because there’s a pretty standard ritual you go through and studios are used to getting freelancers started and oriented.

How did you start doing work for Google? What’s it like?

My school buddy is working here and recommended me. The power of networks!

Google’s really great and totally lives up to expectations. I’m a bit of a fanboy and wasn’t disappointed. That said, a job is a job. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of my favorite people and organizations and learned that no matter what, professional work is never as fulfilling as personal work for me.

Treasure your time in school. It’s the one period where you can be completely self indulgent, take absurd risks, and experiment in dumb ways. Being able to fail is liberating and doesn’t really exist in the working world.

Looking back, do you think you learned more from school, or from working in the field?
School teaches process, work teaches production. Both are equally valuable and distinct.

Best way to have your work seen and to get noticed?

Once you’re fluent in a field of work, you get a bit jaded. As a student, everything is cool and exciting, but when you’ve worked for a while (especially talking to the older dudes), you can place every trend, pinpoint every inspiration, know every technique. Your vocabulary has grown so large and you’re so used to those things that once amazed you.

It’s the unexpected stuff that catches eyes. Seeing the weird failed experiment, the project that oozes personality, the behind the scenes process sketch; these are infinitely more appealing than something ultra slick. Prove you can do slick, but win ‘em over with your personality. Be bold. Be passionate. Be interesting.

Two examples from my personal experience.

After graduating, the project that started the most conversations was a surrealist parallaxing Flash site about different paraphilias in the style of Pentagram’s Museum of Sex work. Talking about why I made little vector people do the nasty either started a fun conversation, or weeded out the places that wouldn’t be a good fit at anyways.

Also, my first freelance gig arrived because I had done a very dumb project with stick puppets and snuck it in my demo reel. I remember feeling a bit unsure about whether to include something so primitive, but the personality shone through first, and that’s very valuable.

Job-finding/getting tips? What do companies/studios look for in a successful portfolio?

Prove your technical skills with some slick polished work, but then win ‘em over with some b-sides, some process sketches, something unexpected. You gotta’ just capture their attention with something professional looking, then nerd the heck out with ‘em. (Seriously, have some links to show, some old animator to talk about, an insane demoscene file, etc.)

How important are internships?

Very. Do as many as you can. Not only is it a safe environment to learn production, to get mentored by senior people, and begin your network, it’s a great way to get a little taste of a studio culture. Even if you don’t like it, a couple months at a place won’t kill you and you’ll learn a lot about environment. When you’re working and locked down in a staff position you won’t have the opportunity to expose yourself to different environments in a quick and risk free way.

How difficult was it to land a job in the design industry given the current state of the economy?

I have literally the luckiest career, so I’m not a good dude to ask, but surprisingly easy. RIT has a great industry day and I was able to get a good internship at Big Spaceship from that which caught the eye of B-Reel a year later. Once you’ve worked at a couple places in NYC, jumping around becomes very easy. It’s a smaller industry than you might think.

Without going into to many specifics, how is the compensation/benefits? Do you believe bigger cities have better jobs/more opportunities?

No complaints. Don’t expect to Scrooge McDuck it, but its an industry where you will certainly be comfortable enough. My experience is only in NYC, but being in such a dense and design focused place has been super valuable. It’s not about the size though. NYC has a ton of motion graphics studios, but Chicago only has a handful, for instance.

Do you tend to work with a team or solo?

Pretty much always at a studio, on a team.

Do you find much creative freedom with your work?

Nope, but I’m OK with that. Dealing with clients, creative directors, deadlines, etc. doesn’t have many opportunities for creative freedom. That’s not a bad thing. Personal work is what I find fulfilling, and I don’t expect professional jobs to match that feeling.

In what direction do you see the design industry heading? Any major shifts to new technology or ways of thinking?

Interactive installations are in the same spot that motion graphics and Flash style interactive web pages were in the early 2000s. It’s an exciting time to be exploring a newly accessible medium.

Is print really dead, and would you recommend focusing on interactive and web?

Print isn’t dead, specialization is dead. I wouldn’t recommend focusing on anything. Fill your tool box with as many tools as possible. Be able to use whatever medium’s best for the project at hand. Be nimble and adaptable.

But print won’t ever die, it will always be a valuable skill. It’ll just become less ubiquitous and a craft industry. Think blown glass, furniture making, etc. That said, those industries are gonna’ have a renaissance as the world becomes one giant Etsy page. I’m calling it.

What does your creative process look like?

Way too much writing if it’s a personal project. If it’s a professional project, not enough.

What is the average timeline of project? Are you working on multiple projects at once?

Most projects I work on, I’ll be involved for 2-4 weeks and will focus on them solely.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

A butt ton of RSS, following people on Vimeo and tumblr, reading books on art/craft/science, listening to Radiolab/99% Invisible/etc.

What sort of non-design, non-illustration courses did you find beneficial?

Writing is very important for pitches and articulating your ideas, so any literature/creative writing courses I took have proven beneficial for sure. Psychology is also a good one to take.

How long did it take to develop your personal style?
I like to think I don’t have a “style”, but I do have a personality and that informs the work I make. I’ll say it’s a work in progress.

Most difficult aspect of design/illustration?
Salesmanship. It’s a huge part of the job.

Artists/designers/other people, places or things that influence your style?

John K

Vectorpark

Malika Favre

Bruno Munari

Steve Reich

Penn Ward

Terry Riley

Fons Schiedon

Robert Hodgin

Scott Dadich

Jonathan McCabe

Paul Robertson

Bruce Timm

Ashley Wood

Orion Tait

Serial Cut

Walt Whitman

Jessica Hische

Jodi Terwilliger

Amanita

Andy Gilmore

Joel Trussell

Roman Mars

David O’Reilly

Gareth O’Brien

Scott Benson

Bruno Bozzetto

Italo Calvino

Jad Abumrad

Robert Heinlein

etc.

The one, most crucial aspect of design is…?

I’ll let Kurt Vonnegut finish this off —> 'There's only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you've got to be kind.'

Thanks for the awesome questions, it was a pleasure to answer ‘em all! Enjoy school, bust your butts, take risks, and have fun with making stuff. Hit me up if you have any specific questions about NYC studios or whatever. Best of luck and all that jazz! :)

Evan

evan.b.anthony@gmail.com

INTERVIEW: Niko Adams, Parrish

NIKO ADAMS, Graphic Designer // Parrish
Niko is a graphic designer for Parrish (based in Portland), working on-site in NYC. She is a talented, driven designer, with experience in Helsinki, Finland studying design, honing her craft and fine art skills in Arizona, and now working in UX/UI in Times Square.

SCHOOL:
 
what was your first step as a graphic designer after finishing college?
Contacting everyone I knew (and many I didn’t) who were even loosely related to design. Hunt down alumni, friend’s parents and old classmates to see where they’re working, how they like it and more importantly, if they know of anywhere that’s hiring. I also sent emails to agencies asking if they needed an intern. (see next question for more on this)
 
what type of internship/s did you do? any recommendations for landing an internship?
I had two internships, one that was unpaid during school and a post-graduate, paid one. My unpaid internship was at Anthropolgie building window displays and such for about 12 hours a week for less than a semester. I was then hired on, which has helped me land lots graphic design jobs. It says “I’m versatile and can build things,” which is appealing in a career dominated by computers; so never be afraid to put “artsy” works in your portfolio, it could help you.

Post-college internship, Nomadic Agency. This is one of those fate driven situations, which is how everyone will get a job. I wrote them an email saying I liked their work and asked if they needed an intern. After hearing nothing for a month, I was contacted, interviewed and working there within a week. Their intern backed out last minute and I was in. I worked there for 40+ hours a week, paid. It started as a 3 month internship, but I stayed for over 6 months. I learned so much from them. I can’t say enough great things about them and how much they’ve helped me get to where I am. To get an internship, find places you like and politely beg them to let you work and learn from them. Nobody wants/can work for free, but if the internship is going to help you go where you want to, you might have to.
 
did you feel prepared coming out of school to work where you are now?
Hell fucking no.
 
are you satisfied with your BFA? any interest in going back to school for MFA?
Maybe, if I find my focus I would go to SVA or RISD to get a MFA. But currently, negatory.
 
what is the best advice you can offer a VC senior?
Stay strong and be brave.
 
how has your design style developed since school?
In school, I made art-based design work. Scanned in my drawing, old slides, cool things. Now, I’ve learned the art of high quality work in tight deadlines. I also work in a field I never thought I’d touch, so I’m constantly learning how to apply my style to it.
 
is it better to have a physical portfolio or a digital one?
Both are equally as important for different reasons. Make sure your website is badass and up to date, always. I bring a couple 8.5x11” portfolios to interviews, and working in the digital world, it kind of freaks people out. I also leave one behind, which is always followed by “are you sure?” The more reminders that you existed, the more likely they will get back to you.
 
do you ever do any free work, just to get your name out there?
Unless it’s for a really, really good friend, or my mom, no. If they are big enough to get your name out of the world of design, they are able to pay you. But I say use your best discretion on that. You will know what’s best for you.

what was more useful, school or on the job experience?
30% school, 70% job. School mostly taught me how to pull an all nighters and sit in the same place for days.
 
in your opinion, was all of the student loan debt worth it?
A million times, yes. Would you rather be a designer in New York or a hostess at your home town’s Applebees?
 
will specializing in a single area of design be helpful or hurtful as a graduate?
Double edged sword.

how stressful are interviews?
Personally, I love interviews. You sit, smile, talk about yourself—nothing too stressful. Think of it as a blind first date, you really want to impress this other person so that they call you back. Just be comfortable.
 
do you format your portfolio to cater to the place you are applying? how do you decide what to include and what to omit?
YES, duh. If I’m applying to a print position, I put in the best work that I have done in print. Do NOT include subpar work just because it’s relevant to the position. Every position you apply to should have a portfolio tailored to the job. I understand as students, you may not have a ton of options, but editing is a big part of building a solid portfolio. Don’t be shy about it, send your portfolio to your fellow designers and get their feedback on what to include and what not to.
 
what skills would you say are most important?
Honestly, social/interpersonal skills. The person you’re being interviewed by will probably have to see you daily, and they don’t want a miserable sack that can’t hold a conversation mopping around the office. Unfortunately, untalented charismatic designers get pretty far, but ultimately hit a ceiling, so don’t fret.
 
how was Helsinki’s approach to design different from the US?
They love designers. Their clients let designers do their job without micromanaging or taking their wives opinions as gospel. Finnish/ Scandinavian design is all about saying one thing simply. We (America) try to cram as much content into a logo as possible, which is generally unnecessary.
 
WORK:

what is the path that brought you to you current place?
I made a promise to my best friend that I would move to where ever she got a job, and I don’t fuck around with pinky swears.

what are the best ways to get work? be seen? advertise yourself? what is the best way to promote yourself?
Make good work and be likable.
 
how did you start working where you are now? how did you land work in NYC?
The day after I moved to NYC, I had two interviews, one on the next day and two the day after that. I sent out my resumes, used my friend’s address when necessary, and got interviews set up. I also had a series of very fortunate events that allowed me to successfully freelance for four months.
 
was rejection a big obstacle for you when starting your post-college career?
Naturally, yes. As a designer straight out of school, I was fragile, insecure and scared shitless. You’ll have moments like this too, if not, fuck you. But rejection motivates me to spite the jerks that didn’t want me and get a better, more awesome job.
 
did you apply for jobs based on where you wanted to live, or based on the job itself?
Both. If you know where you want to live, go there. Something will come your way. You’ll make connections. Be in the know. Generally, it's easier and more likely to a job in the place you live. If you know exactly what you want to do, apply for jobs in places you don’t live, just know it will be significantly more difficult.

what is the best way to understand, precisely, what a client wants?
Talk to them about things they like and react to. Even if it has nothing to do with the project. Non-art based folks have a hard time expressing their aesthetic preferences, but they might have a favorite car or band that could help you crack the code.
 
what is the single most important/valuable thing you’ve learned in your experience?
FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT.
Maybe you said you know UX/UI and don’t but got the job anyway. You will now be watching 72 hours of tutorials and talking to anyone who’s made a wireframe.
 
what did you have to do to get recognized/seen by big companies?
This will sound awful, but I have just known people, by happenstance, that work for great companies, which I was fortunate enough to sneak into. (this applies mostly to NYC)
 
what was your first paying project/gig?
My friend’s band’s album. It sucked and was great.
 
what is the most important design tip you’ve learned since working in the graphics field?
Always stay up to date on trends, style and techniques in the design word.
 
how often are you forced out of your own style to please clients?
Too frequently.
 
what is it like to design in NYC?
It’s probably the coolest thing ever.

PERSONAL/DESIGN PROCESS
 
what helps to keep you inspired?
The internet and MoMA, occationally fresh air is nice. Some days I’m not inspired, these are sad days. I usually wear black to mourn my loss of creativity during this time.
 
what is your process for choosing a typeface? any favorites?
I go through ALL, I mean all, of my typeface to see which is a good accent to what I’m making, and then settle on a sans serif. Most projects in the work place, you will be given a typeface to use. Mostly likely websafe, most likely Arial.
 
what is your design process?
Have an idea or just start drawing a bunch of stupid shit. Then refine the ones that don’t totally suck.
 
do you ever have time for personal projects?
Yeah. My free time is for personal projects.
 
what does a finished project mean to you?
A well deserved deep breath and a new project.
 
are there any traditional, off-computer tools you like to use for design?
There’s this really awesome medium no one really uses anymore, but should because it’s where most amazing ideas come from, it’s called a pen and paper. Carry it with you always.
 
what do you like about the medium you work in? have you always wanted to work in it?
I like that it’s quick and easily changeable. I wanted to be a real artist with paint and clay, however, I enjoy not living off my parents, and I also took incredibly well to the advertising world.
 
how much design work do you do in your spare time?
My spare time is design work because I fucking love it. If you would rather spend your weekends and evenings doing nothing, you’re in the wrong field.
 
what brainstorming techniques do you find most helpful?
ACID! I’m kidding, mushrooms.
But seriously, just thinking and making doodles kick starts ideas. You can’t just sit around and wait for an idea, sometimes you just have to start with material and see where it takes you.
 
two words to describe John?
Jelly. Beans.
Curmudgeon. I don’t need two adjectives.
Picky. Old.
knick. knacks.
(editor's note: I keep including these, strictly for your entertainment, students.)

INTERVIEW: Jonny Black, Cast Iron Design Co.

                                                                                                                                              all images are copyright CIDCo.
 

JONATHAN JAMES BLACK, Graphic Designer // Cast Iron Design Co.
I’m co-owner of the Cast Iron Design Company in Boulder, Colorado. The company was founded in 2010 with myself and my business partner Richard Roche. I received a BFA in Graphic Design from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and an MFA from the University of Arizona.


SCHOOL

what type of internship/s did you do? any recommendations for landing an internship? 
I didn’t have any design internships, but I worked two different prepress jobs that gave me a lot of experience with print production.

what did you do once you graduated college? 
Moved to Boulder Colorado to run the business full-time.

when did you decide what direction you wanted to go in with your career? 
I knew I wanted to be a graphic designer when I was 15, after designing shirts and a website for the band I was in. It was a really shitty band, but I’d like to think we had above-average graphic design.

other than design courses, were there particularly interesting or beneficial classes that you took? 
Photography and printmaking.

any advice for student designers getting prepared for the design profession? 
Everyone always says this, but it’s absolutely true: work your fucking ass off.

did you feel prepared coming out of school to work where you are now? 
Very. But since I went to grad school I was in college for a total 7 years, as opposed to four for most.

what, if any, are the benefits to getting your masters? how valuable was your grad experience? 
My graduate experience was awesome and extremely nourishing. I highly recommend it. I became a much better writer, more intelligent, and of course improved my design skills. The shitty part is that I’m in a lot more debt, but it was definitely worth it.

what is the best advice you can offer a VC senior? 
Work your ass off and constantly feed your obsession with design. Otherwise you’ll probably get a shitty job working prepress, cropping shitty photos and watching the clock all day.

is it better to have a physical portfolio or a digital one? 
Get a website. Cargo Collective is probably the best/easiest format right now.

what was more useful, school or on the job experience? 
School taught me more, but I learned a lot working too.

will specializing in a single area of design be helpful or hurtful as a graduate? 
It’s okay to specialize in a single area (for instance if you love making posters, make a shit ton of posters). That being said, you do need to be able to show how you can translate an idea/brand across multiple platforms, so stop making posters sometimes and do other stuff.

do you format your portfolio to cater to the place you are applying? how do you decide what to include and what to omit? 
Include your best. Less is more. Sometimes we see a portfolio come in from a student, and there’s a few good projects and several shitty ones. The should’ve just sent us the three good ones. Edit.

does the addition of a master’s degree help in getting work? if so—how important? 
I can’t say exactly, since I didn’t apply for jobs, but it probably wouldn’t help that much in terms of landing a job. Your portfolio is what counts.

what experiences from undergrad helped you to succeed professionally? 
My mentor. I had a design professor who gave a shit. And pushed me.



WORK

where did your company name come from? can you elaborate on your Cast Iron identity? how did it come about/develop? 
The company name came from my own cast iron skillet, and I thought of it one day while cooking. Here’s the full explanation from our site:

The name Cast Iron Design Company refers to the classic cast iron skillet. The timeless, efficient, and functional qualities of the cast iron skillet are all characteristics we strive for in our design work. Cast iron skillets are heirloom objects, often lasting hundreds of years, passed down from generation to generation. They are made of a singular material (iron) which is relatively simple to melt down and use to make something else. Cast iron cookware leeches healthy doses of iron into your diet, in contrast to contemporary cookware which instead leeches traces of carcinogenic teflon. We’re also quite fond of the connotations people have with a cast iron skillet, such as memories of grandma fryin’ up eggs & toast for breakfast, lumberjacks cooking a stack of flapjacks over an open fire, or old fashioned wives chasing their nar-do-well husbands out of the house.

can you talk about Cast Iron’s commitment to sustainability? 
From the site:

Green design is about getting more out of less—less materials, less energy, less water, less waste, less carbon emissions, et cetera—in order to minimize environmental impact. We carefully consider our options in order to produce the highest quality finished product with the smallest environmental footprint. There is a common misconception that green design equates to higher costs, which isn’t always the case. Often, green design solutions end up saving money.
We believe that considering the environmental impact of a project is an essential facet of any good design solution. Our approach to green design is research-based. Take for example, paper. Though paper may seem like a simple material, it’s a surprisingly complex subject. Choosing the best option requires careful research for each individual project. We work with clients, manufacturers and production specialists to consider the environmental impact throughout all stages of the process, extending beyond the traditional role of designers.

what motivated you to become a ‘green’ designer? does the cost/expense of your work increase by going green? 
I was a “budding” environmentalist before going to grad school. One of my professors had a class about social and environmentally conscious design, and I connected the two. After that, my role as a designer had purpose. No matter the budget, you can always find ways to be more conscious of your environmental footprint. If you’re interested in green design, I highly recommend Green Graphic Design by Brian Dougherty.

how many years did it take to start your own company? what was the basic process for starting? 
To get everything set up (website, legal stuff, etc), it took about six months.

what are the best ways to get work? be seen? advertise yourself? 
Do something creative and unique. Make something awesome that will make you stand out from the rest of the students who are trying to get a job.

which clients do you tend to work for? which ones do you avoid? 
We work for a lot of different businesses, mostly small businesses, and we’re very lucky to have every one of them. We avoid clients who seem like they’re assholes. You’ve got to trust your gut.

how do you find a steady stream of clients? 
We don’t. There’s an ebb and flow to things. Sometimes we’ll get five inquiries one week, and then zero for an entire month. We’ve never advertised, and most of the inquiries come from our website (which has made it onto a lot of blogs) or word of mouth (referrals).

where did you meet your partners? 
My business partner and I met during undergrad. We had good design chemistry, and even more important, good personality balance.

most difficult job/project you’ve had to complete? 
Personal website, hands down.

how do you deal with the pressure of deadlines? and how fast are real-world projects compared to college projects? 
I deal with it by using it as a tool. Deadlines push me. Make me focus better. Make me stay up late and work into the night. Deadlines—although they can be a huge bitch—are your friend. College projects are always fast. Real world projects typically take months, but every project has its own pace.

what is the best way to understand, precisely, what a client wants? 
Listen. Then reiterate it in your own words (we develop word lists with clients).

do you ever do any free work, just to get your name out there? 
I used to do a lot of free work, as its a great way to get experience as a student. Volunteering my design skills for school clubs, that kind of thing. But now I can’t afford the time because free work isn’t free anymore, it means I’m losing money. And we’re not exactly rolling in it. I’d say the best way to promote yourself is to create a website and look for small design jobs on craigslist. That’s what I did and it was a very valuable experience.

what was your first paying project/gig? 
Stuff for my band when I was 15.

how often are you forced out of your own style to please clients? 
Although our website (which is about two years behind) shows a very vintagey style, we only use that “style” when it’s appropriate. We make our design decisions based on what is appropriate for the project.

what are a project’s typical time-window for completion? how many different projects do you work on at once? 
Time always differs based on the project’s components. With the two of us we can handle about five clients at a time, but prefer about three.

what do you do regularly to advance your career? 
Read about design and look at design. As a student, one of the most important tools for becoming a better designer is to look at and analyze design as much as you can. Get a google reader account (or an RSS reader app) and start subscribing to RSS feeds of your favorite design blogs.

what skills would you say are most important? 
Be flexible. Show you have range. Range in visual execution, as well as range in design mediums (interactive, print, environmental, etc).

do you modify your look/style to meet the customer, or do customers come to you for your style? 
From time to time we do have clients come to us for our “vintagey” style that’s showcased on our website, but we usually turn those people down if we can. Our design solutions are based on what’s appropriate for the customer (ex: fun/serious/modern/contemporary/vintage).

when did you start your business, and what challenges did you face initially? 
The only real challenge we have with the business is money. It’s the shittiest part of owning a business. Everything else is great. Our ongoing challenge is being efficient. We spend way more time on projects than what we’re paid for. That makes for great design, but not great business.

do you often work alone on projects, or with a team? 
To some extent, Rich and I always work together on projects. We’re much better that way, even thought it’s time consuming. We’ll hire others when necessary but it’s pretty rare. We prefer to do everything ourselves.

how do you know what to charge for a job? 
It’s a balance of how much money we think the client has, and how long it will take us. There’s no real formula, and every designer struggles with how much to charge. Jessica Hische wrote a great article about it on her blog, look it up.



PERSONAL/DESIGN PROCESS

why did you change the typeface used on the questionnaire document? 
I wasn’t exactly looking forward to spending an hour looking at Bembo Standard.
editor's note: I'm using Helvetica on the blog regardless. So no Bembo, and no Supria Sans. But the font thought is appreciated.

what is the one thing you struggle with the most? 
Business-wise: making money. Personally: being efficient and staying focused. I waste an incredible amount of time on the internet, mostly looking at cat gifs and stupid shit like that.

how do you stay inspired day after day? 
I don’t. There’s a natural ebb and flow, and I’ve learned to accept it and work around it. Sometimes I’m super excited about a project I’m working on, working extremely fast and efficiently. Other times, I’m in a lull.

which of your works/projects was the most inspirational to you? 
The best and most important projects I’ve worked on are projects I believe in. I’ve been very fortunate to work on a lot of these types of projects.

where do you find motivation/inspiration for personal projects? do you do personal projects? 
I don’t do as many personal projects now that I’m out of school, but the projects I’m working on professionally are exciting and nourishing, so it’s not really an issue.

what is your process for choosing a typeface? any favorites? 
I have a giant library of typefaces that I treasure dearly. My process for choosing type is to find the typeface(s) that resonates with the tone or feeling of the project. I have too many favorites to list, but H&FJ’s typefaces are the best in the world.

are there any cultures or countries that inspire you creatively? 
Cultures that put a higher priority on good design. The Swedes and the Swiss are two.

with what you know now, is there anything you’d do different? 
Not really. I’m very grateful for where I am and the path I’ve taken thus far.

what music to you listen to when working? 
If I’m designing, a lot of indie music, pre-80’s country, folk-ey shit, psycadellic rock, etc.

if you were to describe john in two words, what would they be? 
Italian Stallion.

how has your design style developed since school? 
Simpler and more modern.

what is your design process? 
Research: Learn about the client and the business. Find out what’s been done.
Brainstorm: Word lists, mind maps, mood boards, etc.
Sketch: Never skip the notebook. Something magical happens with pencil and paper.

are there any traditional, off-computer tools you like to use for design? 
A really nice pencil or pen, and a really nice notebook. Spoil yourself here and it will make sketching much more enjoyable.

what do you like about the medium you work in? have you always wanted to work in it? 
I love technology and I’m lucky enough to have a gigantic-ass 27” iMac. I love it. I also screenprint posters from time to time, which I absolutely love doing. The only other medium I would like to work in is hand-painting signs. Someday that’ll happen.

how much design work do you do in your spare time? 
In the very, very limited spare time I have, I’m outside or with friends. I spend 90% of my waking hours working.

do you prefer print work or web work? 
Print is my love. There’s nothing like that feeling you get when you receive the finished product. I designed my first book recently (not like some blurb shit—the real deal) and it was amazing to finally get that thing in the mail.