Vector on Tap - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Which pieces of yours do you like the most?

I really don't have one. But the leader thus far is the ape head. Only because I made a crapload of stickers and postcards of it, so I need to like it. I'm a typical designer; I hate my work because I know I can do better. I see flaws in it, but then again, perfection is always a couple tweaks away (much like the idea that tomorrow never comes).

I heard a story about da Vinci, and maybe it relates. He had a lot of unfinished paintings, and there has always been speculation that the reason is, once you’re done with the “creative part” of the task, the production becomes annoying. You get bored with the piece. I can relate.

Also on Audikt.com, you said that when you started with art you had an anime style. Did you eventually drop this style or did it develop into the sort of art in the "Illustrations" section of your site?

I was really into anime, and still am to a certain degree. Out of all the cartoons, the Japanese have developed a deep stylized feel. I was doing a lot of that sort of illustration work at the time. And trust me, it wasn't that good. I look back at it and shake my head. However, it was a good starting point. I don't think I've ever dropped the style. Furi Furi is a great design company and they keep that dream alive because they are so fluid with their vector work and mix both anime and vector together. Their use of color is spot on. I would say now, I wouldn't directly do anime style. But I would look to it for inspiration.

You just said that in the beginning, your illustration work wasn't good. In what aspects did your designs change and grow over the years then?

It really wasn't that good. I started by doing hand drawings and I wasn't as skilled in that. Once I got into Adobe Illustrator, things started to change -- I could see how I could redevelop an illustration, make it look cleaner, add stuff, subtract stuff, etc. A lot just came with getting an understanding of what the tool can do and finding a way to benefit from that tool. Once I discovered the structure, and a way to develop it, things became pretty easy. And by easy, I don't mean “click, click, and done," but I could do a rough sketch, redraw it in Illustrator, then add the detail that I couldn't with a hand drawing.

You’re into pop culture, with the BMX biking and the type of music that you like. And your work involves designs for pop culture items. How much do you think your interests have influenced whom you design for, and how much has your design work influenced your interests?

The grand illusion. I don't BMX, skateboard, surf or snowboard. I don't really follow those sports enough to drop names, or names of tricks, but I admire the sports fully. I have such a high respect for the riders and the companies that took this little known thing, and brought it to the forefront of our culture. It's now widely accepted.

With respect to the 50 Cent spread you created for Boom Magazine – are you into his music?

As far as 50 Cent goes, I never listened to his music. I'm not interested in that sound, or what it's about. However, I do think there’s a certain vibe that he puts out that allows a creative to take bits and pieces and add in his own perspective.

Tell us a bit more about making typefaces and fonts. What's the process like?

Making fonts is a pain in the ass. I don't make as many as I used to. I mostly just wanted to make them to learn the process. Sometimes when I do up a couple of nice letters, I might finish up a style and make it a font. But by the time I'm done making it, I already hate it. And it's rare for me to want to use any of my typography in my projects. It's kinda like finishing a painting: Once you hit that last leg, you pretty much just want it done. Granted, when it's done, you’re happy with it, but you’re also so done with it as well.

For fonts, it is really complex. I would start with buying Fontographer and a copy of Illustrator. Play around a little. Explore some different things.

Is there a typeface that you particularly like, though?

Quite a few actually, however my tastes change month to month with wanting to find new typography to play with. I really like Letterhead fonts (http://www.letterheadfonts.com). Also, all of Mike Cina’s fonts over at YouWorkForThem.com.

So do you like designing logos more?

Depends on the name. If it’s short, then yeah, that is fun. But if they have a lot of letters, then no. [Smiles.] I just love playing with typography. It’s fun, and I like to think of it as an art form to be able to create something of that nature.

 Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4