Computerlove™

July 30th, 2008

Linda Zacks updates Extra-Oomph

Lovely Linda Zacks has revamped her Extra-Oomph site with fresh news works.

You surely want to know more about this power girl ?
So check out the interview I made of her last winter.

July 1st, 2008

Interview / Linda Zacks

Hi Linda. First of all, you in a few words...
Lefty chick, moody thinking-person, sensual, sarcastic & creative & volatile, word-lover, juicy scribbler, intense, quiet loud & loud quiet

How did you come up with the name Extra-oomph?
I was looking words up in the dictionary…finding a name/feeling/vibe for your website can be a daunting activity and I was looking for stuff with ZING- crayon-eater, scribble factory, splat farm…but everything I came up with didn’t seem to work SO I started looking up energetic words, sexy words in the thesaurus and loW&beholD oomph was there….sparkle, spirit, passion, jazzzzz , sweaT all the twisted ingredients of creation & the creative process summed up in one little word

Where are you at the moment, what is your position and what are you working on?
I have one foot in the design world, one foot in the illustration world, and one foot in the fine-art world,
and a brain clogged full of ideas that need to get out; freelancing is an excruciating & exciting road of never-knowing-quite-what-is going-to-happen, the sky’s the limit, and it’s up to me to unlock the interesting gems in the cracks of the world, I love the open ended possibilities of being a creative free agent***

Many designers nowadays are only working with their computer. Where did you get this love for material / substance? When did you enter in the digital world, and was it an easy step?
We never had a computer growing up. I even typed all my papers in high school on a typewriter [fucking nuts] I think ever since I was little; I always had a lusty love for art supplies, their smell,
the colours, packs of pens, little empty books of paper, sticky letters, pictures of this & that- my parents always loved that stuff too so it rubbed off on me in a major way & stuck/ during college, computers became inevitable- starting with email, crazy eudora and archaic web stuff- I took one of the first web designy classes at brown- and while I never really loved computers, it was obvious they were not going away- I figured that design was the creative compromise to pursuing a viable living, so I started there and took my junior year studying that; getting the basics under my belt; then, soon after graduating, the web boom took over and swept everyone up into it’s digital tornado

You went to an art school to learn your job isn’t it? What is - according to you - the importance of learning art and design in school?
I didn’t go to art school- I studied at art school for one year, my junior year; instead of going abroad, I went across the street;;; I never applied or even wanted to go to art school- there were so many other things I wanted to learn- creative writing, economics, anthropology, philosophy whatever/ I always say I learned how to think, not draw----- my stint at art school did prove to be valuable, learning what I needed; getting a taste for the gruelling in & outs of creativity; but I’ve always found that creativity is a way of thinking about anything, about approaching any project whether you are a doctor, own a hedge fund, work in the advertising industry, or are a parent

What software do you feel comfortable with?
I use Photoshop the most…and my little trusty scanner scabbed with ink and smudges and scratches

When, according to you, did you make “the” step further within your work?
When I left my job at VH1, I really started to explore & push & explore & take more chances but I try to push push push all the time

Give us your creative steps?
A lifetime of sweat & struggle & collaged observations of humanity vomited out onto the floor mixed with looking things up in the dictionary, ideas that come from somewhere, a room full of art supplies, and finding & listening to the voice trapped inside my skull, and somehow getting it out on paper

What is the list of your working material? Have you got a photo of your working room?
Lots of bottled GOOS, paints, pencils, markers, anything that makes a mark that I can find, sticky letters, stencil letters, tapes [ I love tape ! ], things that make words, white out, paintbrushes, inky nib pen things, paper, clutter, pictures & Polaroid, wood, found objects from the street- metal, dirt, cardboard !

What keeps you going everyday? And what are you doing if you feel a little bit dried out?
Sometimes I feel completely mentally spent, zonked out, all photons fried, dried-out through&through- but somehow I always end up back smoking the crack pipe of creativity…I guess it’s my calling—
I think to myself- it’s not like I am saving babies or I’ve had to fight in a bloody war; although sometimes it feels like daily mental warfare, the digging deep deep and the birthing of ideas which come from where? who knows so I sit back, breathe, and gain some perspective- read the news, watch a DVD, go to the gym, and I’m back in the forest of scribbles with crayon trees and duct-taped highways- I just wish I could create more, more potently, but it’s hard to get stuff seen in this world of media onslaught

Where and when are you getting the inspiration for your works?
Anywhere & anytime

Do you need loads of inspiration all the time, or are you more the one who keeps closed to seeing stuff?
in this bidness you just got to summon inspiration from everywhere anytime and convert it to visual goodie on crazy deadlines- inspiration is everywhere / I am always looking…the real challenge is what you do with it…what you can make yourself do with it- discipline, experimentation, seeing things backwards sideways & inside out, translating observations and collaging them together

You definitely prefer printed works isn’t it? Are you still making some AD for websites?
I love print, yes, I do web stuff, motion, whatever

Did you see the field evolve since you begun? In which sense?
It’s always been highly competitive and always will be- I think that there seems to be an exponentially growing population of creatives- illustrators, designers, painters, writers, photographers; so it comes down to getting stuff out & seen as much as possible, creating opportunities for yourself, coming up with fresh ideas, pitching things, making connections, voicing your voice

Are you interested in new or upcoming technologies in our field?
Always- I’d love to get more involved with motion, sound… Some of that stuff is amazing!!

Are you browsing web communities?
I check out the design sites- DIK, newstoday, woostercollective, newsnews, you guys!

How important is human contact for you in the job?
sometimes important / sometimes not it’s great when you can actually meet the people you are working with; add face to voice to face; lately I’ve been blasting things out from my apartment and working through email phone, so that’s cool too

What are you doing in your spare time?
Hanging out with yummy boyfriend & doggy

What have your child’s dreams become?
Well… I always wanted to become a professional athlete, so I guess I am a little off track;

Who would you like to meet the most?
My boyfriend’s birth parents- he’s adopted I’d like to see who made his beating heart

What about your clothes?
They need to be washed!

Related links
Site : Extra-Oomph

Other interviews
@ Altpick
@ Mcville
@ Creative Behavior
@ Design is Kinky

June 24th, 2008

Interview / Masa

Hi, Miguel, define me MASA in some words.
MASA is a graphic playground that focuses in Art direction.

Are you still 3 in your studio or have you evolved since? Do you want to keep little sized?
No, MASA has really evolved through the years. It was founded in 1997 while still studying design at Pro Diseño Communication School.

MASA started as a duo, then we grew up, and became 3, then 6 individuals.
Since January 2005 I decided to move on: now MASA is just me
I expand or contract MASA with the need of the projects. I do all the processes via e-mail, ichat and video chat.
I only work for 2 clients in Venezuela…The rest of my clients and projects are located in Germany, L.A, Amsterdam, Brazil, NYC and Japan.

How did you choose your collaborators in the studio?
Based on complementary skills. It helps to communicate the ideas in a better and you get a stronger result for sure. Also, by letting all the collaborators do what they really love and do the best: different talents for specific tasks.

How is visual creativity going on in Venezuela?
There’re interesting individuals and some small studios, but most of them are working for local Agencies. The best ones are, unfortunately, living overseas in US and Europe. They decided to left the country and find a better way of living.

Was it difficult to create the studio in your country? How did you manage to get the clients?
When MASA started I never really thought about it. I just wanted to create new things, hang out with my friends and keep doing… Very much like a rock BAND motto.

Before I graduated I was already doing internships and involved with some clients.
MASA released some stickers, and we began to tag the streets and right away got noticed. The clients started to come and ask for work. There is still many things to do and space for new styles and approach to clients…
If you deliver a fresh result there’s always an open space for you.

When, according to you, did Masa make “the” step further?
Definitely when I decided to do a book about contemporary design in Latin-America.
It was the “LATINO” book project.
It has always been important for me to show and encourage people about the Latin American design scene… So 3 months later Die Gestalten Verlag got interested in it. I received a great international exposure with it.

From there many good things happened and I have been lucky enough to be invited and involve in many awesome projects, such as FOX Hotel, NIKE football Personalities, Exhibitions, conferences and publications, etc…

What is your typical journey in the studio?
From bed to The Living Room

What is your working material and what software are you using?
I use anything that helps me visualizing an idea. Sketch book, digital Camera, pencils markers… I also kept 3 years just using non-digital procedures to find out different approaches and finalize the results in every work. That time was awesome.

For the Software: Illustrator, because I love to play over and over to do new shapes, that may become a LOGO or a Display FONT. I also use Photoshop, After Effects…

What is good design for you?
A good idea transformed into a BOLD image. Something that feels perfect when you see it for the very first time. Nothing to say or to add!

What is creativity? Do you think that everyone can be creative?
I think that anyone can be creative in his/her own way, it is all about how you will resolve the problems. Anyone can come with a different approach for a common
Idea…Sometimes it can surprise you because it can happen in the most difficult daily situations. That’s life ;)

Can you explain us your steps your so called creative steps?
First I hear or read the Title or the Brief. Right up I start visualising basic forms and concepts. Then I can write down a list of items and references that may suit in any given way the project.
These items could be related or not at all (colours, words, textures, materials,…)
Then, I start sketching in paper or directly in Illustrator.

After that, I leave the work so that it incubates for some days. Therefore I can see it with fresh eyes and keep it in the direction that I like. With this, I reinforce it or delete it.
In this process, I focus on the work as the final consumer.

It can take a few hours, or take some weeks.
This implies shifting between different projects at the same time. But I like it.
The most important to me is to do it as if it was my own project.

Your reputation is to deliver strong works and fresh ideas. Where are you getting the inspiration for your works?
My surroundings are my prime inspiration… Every possible local, popular and
Folkloric influences are attractive. My own Latin American references are also an influence. Possibly everything that is far away from the design scene.

What keeps you going everyday? And what are you doing if you feel a little bit dried out?
Being so lucky of doing what I love everyday and getting paid for it keeps me rocking. If I get stopped… Then I try to step back and remember why I’m so lucky after all, and try a different approach for the idea.

Are you browsing web communities?
I try not to browse new trends. That’s a fact! I have been a fan of LOUNGE 72 because of the interviews of new and talented people like Jacob Printzlau (PlasticKid) he's one of my best friends. If you are reading this Jacob: a big kiss to LINUS!

I also do that because of the content of so call web communities, that only post and steal the same stuff from others. But it is good to read interviews, see the profiles, and look what others look like… It’s a good way to know other creative around the world.

I also like Newstoday, and Illustration Mundo. They’re bringing a lot of feedback and services to the design community.
They clearly evolved in a different way that just another design ezine. And the design scene needs good web communities that offers good content, not just links.

How important is human contact for you in this job?
In fact, it is very important. It is all about keeping good communication between people.

Designers are producing lots of work, often more than needed…. At the end, nobody really says if they like it or not... So the contact with real clients who want to seduce a final consumer is very essential… It’s vital to hear if they like what you’ve done so far.

These days I’m more working with people in Venezuela in and out the computer
So I can do more meetings and video chat as well to discuss all Masa Projects.

What are you able to refuse?
A bad or Sellout idea. Something that I don’t really believe in. Saying NO is sometimes very difficult but you have to do it.

What are you making with your money?
Saving & Investing. Surely more travels. I want to know more people and places, and invest it with personal projects (like my Clothing line, a Small Shop called buga-buga).

Each of you, give us your tombstone epitaph!
IN MASA WE TRUST

Related link
Masa's Web Site

Interview / Jacob Printzlau

Hi Jakob. First of all, the easy one, you in a few words...
Tall as a house, with ugly hair and a big heart.

Where are you at the moment, what is your position and what are you working on?
Well my work is freelance based so I work out of my apartment. We just moved to a huge one recently, so I have a pretty sweet office of sorts now. Also I have a steady position as an art director at In2media.com. It makes it easier to be picky with the kind of client I accept on the side which is really what is most satisfying for me. I am working on some arty stuff for Sony Playstation, and a couple of illustrations for different magazines, but the big thing right now is a story board for a music video for the band “Choir of Young Believers”. It’s going to be difficult but fun, that’s all I can say.

What is creativity according to you?
I am not sure I have an answer for that. I have just always liked expressing myself visually. And I have played music since I was very young. I guess I have always been attracted to stuff that allows me to interpret the world around me into some form of art. It’s just something I have always felt a need to do. I have no idea why.

Are you more in searching an idea after having made the image, or making an image out of an idea?
I mostly come up with my ideas before I start working. That’s the way it works best for me. The other thing just takes damned long. The other way you can shape your images to the concept instead of finding something that limits the idea from the start. I don’t use too much imagery from Google and that kind of stuff. But sometimes clients bring me photos to work from and that sort of shakes the routine a bit. But that can be fun too. Generally I like it best when I am in charge of everything from the beginning, so I can decide every little detail and make sure it I have everything my way..hahahah. I am a control freak like that.

Did you go to an art school to learn your job? What is - according to you - the importance of learning art and design in school?
I went to a few different schools related to my line of work. But mostly what it taught me was not to listen too carefully to what the rules are within the different Medias I work with. Whenever you break the rules, it becomes more interesting. I think you need some degree of autonomy in your work to stay interesting. Schools have a way of streamlining peoples thoughts to some extend. And I can appreciate that it’s good to be prepared for the industry and have understanding of the way it works if you want to have a steady job and make a career for yourself…But for me it’s about finding my niche where I can be my own boss and make my own rules. Not to say schools are bad or anything like that. I am pro education…totally…but the schools I went to never gave me what I was looking for. But it allowed me to ask myself some important questions, and come up with some answers that I probably never would have figured out on my own………

What software do you feel comfortable with? And how are you evolving with computer techniques and how does it affect your work?
The usual. Photoshop, illustrator, Final Cut, After Effects and whatever else is needed. But you know…talking about the software that created illustrations or animations or whatever, is like talking about the tools is was used to build a nice car. It’s never as interesting as the outcome itself. I mean, if that’s the case, you are probably not that good at what you do…
I probably could not have evolved in the direction that I have, if it wasn’t for the work I have done on the computer. Playing around with software is easy when you want to get started right away. But for me it also helped me do more work outside the digital universe, because I sometimes need a healthy break from stasring into a monitor.

What about your style?
My style is probably a summary of a lot of different influences that affected me in my upbringing and later on in my life. I was very much into skateboarding when I was growing up. I got hurt quite a lot because I probably sucked as a skater, but I was drawn to the whole lifestyle, the people and the music and art surrounding it. I was completely obsessed with classic heavy metal back then, and I still try to let all the visual impressions from that period in my life reflect on my work today. I also still deeply admire people like Jim Phillips www.jimphillips.com and Derek Riggs www.derekriggs.com because they totally blew me away when I was a kid. They still stand as some of the most important influences to my work. I still get a special feeling when looking at their stuff and I try to channel that feeling into my own work. Along with a lot of other stuff of course. There are so many other influences that have helped create my style, but this would be a pretty long interview if I should mention them all. And I am not even sure they would be that exiting to anyone else…

When, according to you, did you make the step further within your work?
I think when I went to Barcelona for the rundown of the Place Project, which I was apart of. Meeting the other artists and being able to get and insight in their work and the thoughts behind, made me look at my own in a different perspective I guess. But I always try to pressure myself in order for my work to keep evolving. Of course sometimes you are forced to repeat yourself because people have seen some stuff you have done and want something just like it, but mostly I try to take steps further all the time. But there are always times when it works out better than other.

Have you got so called “creative steps” when you’re working on a project?
I depends what kind of project. But I have a sketchbook/notebook. That’s mostly where everything starts. From there it depends on the media.

What is your working material? Have you got a photo of your working room?
I am always looking for new materials…But I probably use the same as everyone else. Markers, cardboard, glue, paint, pen and paper, whatever software I need and so on...

Where and when are you getting the inspiration for your works?
I know it’s a total cliché but I get my inspiration from life in general and everything that crosses my path. Things I get it touch with on a daily basis seem to have an impact on my work.

What keeps you going everyday? And what are you doing if you feel a little bit dried out?
I always have projects going, and that’s one of the things that keeps me going. I love doing what I do, and that helps a lot. Some periods are more fun than others obviously, but there is always a cool project in the horizon that I am looking forward to. If not, I always come up with one myself.

But when I do need some off time, I just pull the plug and take my son and my girlfriend to stay at my parent’s house way out in the country. It’s right by the waters edge with no neighbours or nothing. Just the forest and a fucking amazing view. You can stay there or a week and not meet more than 3 people walking by. That always slows things down if you are feeling stressed and tired of the city crowds.

Will you move one day to another country?
I can’t say that I won’t, but I like to be close to home and my family. I think there are too many things keeping me here. But it would probably be nice to get away for a period some time though…

Are you browsing web-based communities?
I try not too, because most of it is a complete waste of time for me….but I get bored just like other people. I have myspace site that I spent some time on when I created it, but now it sort of has its own life. I seem to be getting a lot more friends than I would ever get in real life..hahah

How important is human contact for you in the job?
It’s pretty important. I am a social person, so I need to share my thoughts and ideas with someone every once in a while in order to stay happy.

How’s your music band working for the moment?
Our second album is being mixed in LA by someone whose identity I can’t reveal to you yet….But it’s going to be great. He is quite the celebrity haha…..We will probably have new single and a video and a single out there before X-mas. Just stay tuned.

And how’s the child going?
He is doing well. His name is Linus and he is awesome in every way. He just started walking around and he just won’t stop talking jibberish. It’s so funny. He actually makes it ok to get up incredibly early in the morning. I never thought anyone could make me say that….haha.

What about Dark Matter?
I guess you mean Dark Matter which is the clothing label I am starting with my friend Emil Kozak (emilkozak.com). Well, it takes a little longer than expected since Emil has moved out and is now living in Barcelona, and since we a both busy little bees. But we a both such fans of each others work so we decided to do this thing together. I just got delayed a bit, I hope thing will clear soon so we can get everything ready…

Give me your tombstone epitaph.
Here lies Jakob Printzlau, the only known human being to ever become more that 200 years old. He lived long enough to see his great great great great grandsons become billionaires with Plastic Kid – the graphic design empire that he founded more than a millennium ago. And passed down through generations… ;)

Related links:
PlasticKid

Other interviews:
Feedmecoolshit
RevolverLover
Pestol

Interview by Loïc | Lysergid.com

Interview / Geneviève Gauckler

Hi Genevieve. First of all, you in a few words...
I’m 39, born in Lyon, France, and I live in Paris.

Where are you at the moment and what is your position?
I’m living and working in Paris as a freelance illustrator. I’ve always worked on my own except 3 times a few years ago, for a short time, some months… (“Interactif” magazine in France, Boo.com and Me Company in London). I definitlly prefer to work on my own. It’s the best way to work for me.

You’re now reaching 40.
Has age an influence of your work ? Do we have a critical age in our work?
Getting older is all good for me. I guess I know myself better and for this reason, I know what I want and what I can actually do. Being more experienced allows me to save time and energy. I don’t spend my time with boring people on boring projects anymore.

Where you creative as a child?
I think so! I used to draw a lot: horses, German army helmets (!). Later, I painted a lot, oil on canvases, I loved that. I was also making sculptures with tubes in plastic and spaghetti: I was already very creative ;-)

When did you enter in the digital world (computer-based), and was it an easy step?
I entered it thanks to the Macintosh. At the art school (ENSAD aka Arts Deco), we could work on MacIIci computers and my first Mac was a MacIIfx, with a 13” screen! It was so expensive I had to borrow some money from my family and the bank. I just loved it because it was the best way to be independent, to work on my own without depending on anyone. I used one of the first Photoshop versions, without the layers feature!

You went to an art school to learn your job (Ensad) What is - according to you - the importance of learning art and design in school?
Becoming an illustrator and a graphic designer took me a lot of time. When I left school, I would say it took me about 10 years to learn all the different aspects of my job. Art school helps but it’s obviously not enough. It gave me the opportunity to experience a lot of techniques (photography, silk screening, and typography) to kind of have a better idea of my skills. Having access to a very good library and meeting other students was also really helpful. And I’ll always remember my 2 Swiss typography teachers, Rudi Meyer and Peter Keller!

What is art according to you? What is the use of it?
Art is a field where great things happen, that’s always ahead of its time, it’s should be a laboratory. For this reason, I consider as art not only what one can find in a museum or a gallery, but also many things such as a some TV series, music videos, record covers, advertising. I don’t see image creation like a pyramid on top of which there would be art.
I think I’m personally not making art. I’m doing some commercial art, and I’m very happy with this idea.

What is the list of your working material?
An Apple PowerBook G4 laptop, an iMac G5, 4 digital cameras, 1 scanner, 1 printer, some pens and paper.

Where and when are you getting the inspiration for your works?
From daily life (streets, people, shops), from TV (documentaries, films), dreams, internet (blogs, portals), travels.

What keeps you going everyday ? And what are you doing when you feel a little bit dried out?
I’m going to see an exhibition, or I surf on the Web, or I’m going to my favourite bookshop. I’m working all the time!

Do you need loads of inspiration all the time, or are you more the one who keeps closed to seeing stuff?
I like searching for inputs in books, websites, exhibitions, I’m not afraid of being influenced by other people’s work. Because anyway we are influenced whatever we do, whatever we are looking at. It’s better to know well what’s happening outside rather than trying to protect its own creation, it’s pointless.

Did you see the field evolve since you begun? In which sense?
Yes, in France, graphic design is taken more seriously than 10 years ago. Internet has changed many things: when someone is doing some good work somewhere, it doesn’t take a long time to notice him. Also the frontiers between illustration and design has become more blurred, it’s quite interesting.

Are you interested by what people are saying about your work or image that goes around the internet?
Yes, of course, it’s useful to have a feedback. I’m also very keen on getting feedbacks from my friends.
Most of the time, I receive very kind emails from people who like my work. I did not receive any bad emails : I’m lucky so far.

Are you interested in new or upcoming technologies in our field?
Yes, I’m always keen about using new tools, even if it’s sometimes a bit painful to learn how to use them. I’m trying to learn 3D software but so far I can’t. But I’m optimistic and I’m sure I’ll do it one day.

How important is human contact for you in the job?
It’s very important to feel what the client really wants. It’s easier when you can meet him in real life. When you can’t, the brief has to be very clear. The more experienced you are, the better you can understand the client’s wishes.

What are the first things you after waking up?
I’m making a tea, going to the bathrooms, look at the window to check the weather, switch on my computer and the radio, patted my dog, drink the tea, have some biscuits, going to the bathrooms again, ha ha, etc.

And what are you doing in your spare time?
Going to the restaurants with friends, travelling, walking my dog.

What would you like to get for your birthday?
An helicopter? Well, right now, I do have everything I want, it’s weird but I can’t answer the question, I’m afraid I don’t want anything for my birthday…

Who would you like to meet the most?
David Bowie. He was my first hero, he still is.

Give me your tombstone epitaph.
She loved dogs very much.

Related links:
Pleix
G2Works

Other notes:
Ensad
G2 Blog

Interview by Loïc | Lysergid.com

June 18th, 2008

Dstrukt

Chris Hewitt has made an update of his Showreel for 2008, you should check it out !

More works to see at Dstrukt

June 12th, 2008

New works up at Xtrabold

Nelson informs that he has upped lots of new works in a fresh new site for his birthday.

Check it out : Xtrabold

June 9th, 2008

DavidBarath + VisualGroup

David Barath from Budapest has launched his two new sites :

- David Barath is about his personal graphic design works.

- VisualGroup represents the creative boutique which provides intgrated solution in the field of branding, advertising, photography and 3D.

June 5th, 2008

Let's go back to Mutabor

German-based creative studio Mutabor has fully relaunched with fresh new works.

May 22nd, 2008

Gkaster goes Live

Pierre Magnol (formerly known as Kurtzmedias) and Pierre Fabre have joined forces to create GKaster ,their brand new motion-design studio.

They also upped their last Reel which is a sweet eye-candy.

Check-it : GKaster

May 18th, 2008

FWA Theater

To mark FWA's 8th Anniversary, FWA announces the launch of its biggest additional showcase to date and its latest daily destination…

Welcome to the FWA Theater

More details and comments in the facebook group

May 14th, 2008

Adobe.com/CreativeLicense

Creative License. Experience it

The Adobe.com/CreativeLicense site seeks to inspire professional designers
by showcasing some of the best uses of Adobe software.

Wonderfuly brought to you by Juxt