Could you tell me a little bit about your background and where you have worked?
I've been a digital designer for about 6 years. I started out as a jack-of-all-trades working at an architecture firm responsible for designing all print materials, branding their multiple sister companies, designing their websites, and then doing my own front end dev/flash work. I also had the chance to try my hand at some motion graphics pieces while i was there. After about a year, I came to the realization that I needed to hone in on what I thought was my calling, so I retired my programming hat and got a job at a small digital agency as a straight-up designer. After a few years I joined a start-up digital shop with some friends at Relish Interactive, and I currently work as a digital designer at TAXI Advertising.
Where are you currently working?
What type of things are you working on at the moment?
What is you position?
How many people Work there? And what type of positions do they have?
At TAXI I work on a multitude of things. Initially I was working on traditional ad campaigns for Molson, but i've since been oriented to focus more on digital offerings ranging from your typical microsites and banners, to desktop and mobile applications. On my lucky days they'll even throw me a logo design project. Everyday is different and I like it like that.
I'm technically a Designer by title at TAXI.
TAXI is a medium sized agency with about 130 employees. All sorts of positions exist, but the people I work with on a regular basis are experience designers (information architects), copywriters, art directors, developers, creative directors, interactive producers (hardest working people in the business), account directors, account managers, and occasionally motion graphics artists.
What is your daily work schedule like?
I usually get to work, spend an hour checking out blogs then regurgitating the good stuff on mine, sending out emails, then I get to work around 10am. Daily work schedule consists of brainstorms, heavy photoshopping, tea breaks, lunching, illustrating, occasional meetings, and snack time.
What is your favorite piece that you have worked on?
That's a pretty difficult question to answer since there are a lot of projects that were very rewarding to work on. I could definitely give you a list of my LEAST favourite, but I'd rather nobody find out about them. The best projects are always the one's that get you excited when you wake up in the morning. I recently did a digital piece made entirely of construction paper. It was a re-skin of Asteroids, but with a recession twist. How topical. Super fun to use my hands and get away from the mouse for a bit. I'd say the site I worked on for the Mitsubishi Lancer was also a favourite of mine. An enormous budget, a great 3D team, and a wicked tight timeline always make for a good time.
Where do you find inspiration?
I try not to look too close for inspiration. By too close, I mean I try to avoid looking at "winning websites." I see them and I think, "Ok, can't do that, can't do that..." and I also find it hard not to be directly influenced. I try to look beyond what's happening stylistically online. I pay close attention to emerging techniques and technologies, but I look to graphic design blogs, architecture, fashion, photography, and my general surroundings for ideas.
How often would you say you are looking at design blogs and/or design magazines? For inspiration, news, ext…
I'm never not looking. in fact, I'm switching between itsnicethat.com and this questionnaire right now.
If you had one piece of advice for student and incoming graphic designers, what would it be?
Be versatile and promote other people's work as well as your own.
