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Primary design concentration:
Print and Web
Most preferred tool for designing:
I start with pencil roughs and tend
to finish on one
of the Adobe applications on my Mac.
1. How and why did you choose to
become a designer?
I was already a writer and had taught
myself how to draw; I wanted a job that would allow
me to combine those skills and learn new ones.
2. Challenges you encounter as a
designer and how do you deal with them?
Clients often don’t know how
to explain what they want, only what they don’t
like when they see it. Staying flexible and not falling
in love with your own concepts or procedures is important.
3. Your definition of an “elegant
solution,” that is, good design?
I like things that are actually
useful and intuitive, since that is so rare these
days; but fine-art design is also nice, if you can
find a client who is willing to finance it. ;) The
best designs are a bit of both, I think. I remember
when I got my first iPod, one of the original ones;
I was floored by how simple it was to use, and yet
how powerful and how full of potential underneath.
That kind of design comes from a lot of trips to the
drawing board, not from trying to imitate someone
else or meet a certain cost-per-widget ratio.
4. From skills to values, what makes
a designer successful?
Unfortunately, some designers are
successful in the “I make a living” sense
by just imitating others’ work or cranking stuff
out that they know the client will like because it's
in their comfort zone. To me, being a truly successful
designer means that a client comes to you because
you know what you're doing and they trust you to create
something that will meet their needs and the end user's
needs while still being interesting.
As for the skills behind that philosophy,
a designer should understand the fundamentals of drawing,
layout, typography, photography, and colour; depending
on your field it may also be useful to know about
painting, fabrics, screenprinting, sculpting, film...
the list goes on.
5. How do you stay motivated and
grow personally and professionally as a designer?
Finding the right clients makes
a huge difference. A client with vision can make even
the most pedestrian work, like a three-fold brochure
and matching website, an interesting experience. If
you're not feeling challenged by clients, create a
sample client and design what you want to design—then
show it to others as part of your portfolio. Give
them something to aspire to.
6. For those aspiring to become
a designer, whatever the discipline,what is your advice?
Look at the design of everything
around you, especially things you take for granted.
If your television well-designed? Your car? Your plates?
Immerse yourself in it and develop a critical eye
for the tension that exists in good design. When you
do work for others, understand that it is a collaborative
process; rejection of your concept is not about you.
Find a way to make it work and be the conduit between
your client and the object that they need but can't
create all by themselves.
7. What is your quest in design?
To create products that are a win/win/win
proposition for myself, the client, and the end user.
Scott Marshall is owner of
Omakase Design. Omakase is the Japanese word for “entrust”
or “protect” commonly taking place in
sushi bars. Ordering Omakase typically results in
creations of the highest quality. His blog is Open
Source Inspiration.
Image courtesy of Esther
G at flickr
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