• What’s the skinny on you? Tell us your story.
By day, I'm the full-time interactive designer at skinnyCorp, better known for creating the community based T-shirt company, Threadless.com. Outside of Threadless, I'm also the AIGA National Social Media Liaison, a contributor to Scott Hull's Visual Ambassador, a contributor to CMYK Magazine, freelancer that does posters/logos/websites. And, I'm a self proclaimed chocolate chip cookie connoisseur.
• What is it that drew you to a life of graphic design?
People and drawing. Design needs drawing. People need clearer communication. Graphic design requires us to understand other people better, that is truly an amazing job to have.
• Where did you collect your design education?
I went to college at The Illinois Institute of Art. However, most of the learning came outside of the classroom. Doing personal projects, reading books on top of magazines on top of blogs. Furthermore, attending events like AIGA and HOW really got me thinking, and inspired me to do more.
• Are you a team player, or are you a solo creative?
Team player, you have to be. If you have hopes or aspirations to work in a studio, agency or firm, you need to be collaborative. Even if you're a solo creative, you need to embrace other's ideas. Team player, be one, always.
• Are there any qualities you wish for in a project, or, describe your dream job?
Every project is different, and each one poses it's own challenge. Qualities should definitely include: challenging, rewarding, inspirational, curiosity-evoking and of course, morally right.
• What primes your creative pump? Where do you find your best inspiration?
My friends. My travels. Stories. Movies. People, students especially, need to look for inspiration more in their every day world and less in the design annuals.
• We have all had projects that didn’t go well or were quite the challenge. What have you learned from these scenarios?
How to do them better next time. :)
• If you happened upon enough cash flow to retire today, what would you do?
I'd still design. I don't do this for money.
• Any advice you care to divulge to students who are currently in training?
I have a lot of them. In fact... I do talks and lectures to design students all the time.
Presentation on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/migreyes/
sets/72157618193543080/
I also do design student tips each and every episode on the 36 Point Reflex Blue Show: http://www.36point.com/
the_reflex_blue_show.html
• Last chance, is there anything we missed you’d like to impart?
Think more. Read more. Listen more. Design last.
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