Once again we bring you one of our interviews with design and web professionals, as always our goal is to provide some educational and informative insight into how people work, what inspires them and how they got where they are. This month we’re talking with David Airey a self-employed graphic designer, currently living in Northern Ireland. He specializes in identity design, and authors two blogs: the self-titled David Airey, and Logo Design Love. If you think he can help in any way, don’t be shy. He’s a friendly bloke.
How or where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration comes from all around me. Nature, my family, the city. My blog readers also provide an infinite amount of inspiration. They come up with excellent ideas, and I’d not be where I am without them.
Who is the biggest influence on your work right now?
My girlfriend. If I was single, I’d get a lot more done.
Where are your “design roots”? Print or Web?
Print. My first design role was to be responsible for the publications of a small cancer charity.
How important is it to know the history of design?
History in general is very important. If you don’t know where you’ve been, how can you tell where you’re going?
Serif or Sans?
Depends on the project.
Do you code and design? Are you a “Hybrid”?
I can code a little, and have, but prefer not to. The front-end of my website was created from scratch, but the back-end is powered by WordPress. Identity design is what I love, so I tend to steer clear of web projects.
What’s your favorite part of the creative process?
Seeing the finished design in context. Working from home, for clients overseas, means I don’t often see my designs being used (except for online), so when a client sends photos, I’m extremely grateful.
What makes your creative process different from everybody else?
Didn’t you know? I’m unique, just like everyone else.
I don’t think there’s a lot that differs really. Designers use a lot of the same resources.
What do you see as the single biggest shift in the evolution of design over the past 5 years?
Young, up-and-coming designers are now more able to compete with large design agencies, mainly thanks to how the web is being used. My blog, for example, was launched just over two years ago, and is now the cornerstone of my business.
What makes one a graphic design professional?
I guess it’s earning a living from the profession.
What are designers/developers doing right (or wrong) in the web 2.0 world?
Right: providing information people want.
Wrong: I’m still seeing tiny, tiny text. Save my eyes, please.
What’s your favorite flavor of design or development programs/languages?
I mainly use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with a little InDesign from time to time. A sketchpad is always close by too.
What is your favorite book?
Non-fiction: Lateral Thinking, by Ed de Bono.
Fiction: The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho.
What is your favorite movie?
I can’t name one as my all-time favourite, but Pan’s Labyrinth is great.
Who is your favorite musical artist (or What musical artist are you listening to the most right now?)
St Germain. Great stuff.
David Airey is a self-employed graphic designer, currently living in Northern Ireland. He specializes in identity design, and authors two blogs: the self-titled David Airey, and Logo Design Love. If you think he can help in any way, don’t be shy. He’s a friendly bloke.
i am glad to have come accross david’s work i think he is a creative thinker/master. would love to have my design analyzed (critized) by him before going live with the website for my new own company. also, how can i know if the designs i am drafting are already some other company’s intelectual property or tm?
thank you very much!
Just recently I quit my job in an advertising agency to start on my own. The idea of being self employed is surely empowering yet very challenging. David Airey has been an inspiration on this road to discovery. The minimalistic and simple designs as well as the copy on his website – all a great package.