OUGD502 SB1 - Snask Answers

When did you decide that Graphic Design was for you? Has it been something that you always loved or was it an unexpected avenue to take?

I first decided that Graphic Design was for me while I was at University studying psychology and rhetoric. I ran a club night where I was at university with some friends where we DJ’s at the time so I started designing the flyers and promotional material for that and that's how I got into it.

Was their any point in your journey to becoming a Graphic Designer in which you encountered problems?

Of course, It would be sill to say I haven’t encountered anything in my journey as a designer as I think any journey without problems is an unsuccessful journey or at least extremely boring one, you can’t ever learn without making a few mistakes in the first place.

What advice could you give to a young designer when encountering these problems?

The first think I would say is that they should realise that a problem is never a mistake as long as you learn something from it. Life is all about overcoming problems and the process of overcoming them is called creativity and is the basis for learning.

What advice could you give to a designer still learning the trade and trying to get in to the industry?

Just work very hard. A general tip if you want to become a designer is to learn typography really damn well as it builds the basis of the majority of work a graphic designer will need to complete.

How would you describe the process that you go through when completing a brief, from concept generation to final delivery?

Do you follow a set routine?

Research, Strategy, Idea, Concept, Tonality, Design but this can change a little between briefs as no two briefs need tackling in exactly the same way.

Do you even feel like your workload is becoming too much? With what methods do you combat this?

All the time!  There's no real method other than to deliver and try to fight for longer deadlines and if this isn’t possible step back from the work, look at it as a whole and create a strict plan on how you will get it completed.

Do you like to say that you design within a certain style? Or are you open for almost anything you can try?

Yes and no. We always evolve and adapt but we do love designing things for real. We kind of hate doing things too digitally focused, stepping back from the computer and picking up a pen or pencil is always my first step in a brief.

As I have noticed that the majority of your work includes typographic and editorial style design, and this is a side of design that I truly love, what draws you to this area of design?

We don't see it as an area. Typography and editorial is part of being a designer and as designers we simply see it as part of our daily job. As I mentioned earlier I see this part of design as something in which all designers need to skilled. Take your time and learn the rules before you try to break them!

As a designer who would you say has been your biggest inspiration in to getting where you are today? What not graphic design related aspect of life gives you inspiration?

Probably KarlssonWilker Inc., Kesselskramer and Stefan Sagmeister but this isn’t where my main inspiration comes from and I’m glad you asked this second question as more importantly we think the environment around us is key to success. If you don't consume books, films, music and other culture you can never become a successful designer. Also you should not only consume but also add and create your own culture.

Where do you see yourself in the future? Is there anything you can think of that you would like to achieve in the future? 

I’m not really sure at the minute, I think we see Snask as our vehicle of having fun and that's always our goal, to be able to be successful at what we do and enjoy it at the same time.

Thank You!