ALLAN LORDE
Allan Lorde is an illustrator and designer based out of Winnipeg (the early stomping grounds of Neil Young and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper). He's a recent grad of the Red River College Graphic Design Program and is the layout editor for Lögberg-Heimskringla, an Icelandic community newspaper. Yes, he's black. When he's not helping put that paper to bed (he likes that term a whole lot), he can be found hanging out digitally at gigposters.com, partaking in Illustration Friday's latest theme, or dreaming of Japan.
When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?
This is gonna sound funny, but I finally figured out that I wanted to do be an illustrator and designer once I flunked out of the RRC program for the second time. I always knew that I had to be involved in some sort of creative field, be it in television, animation, cartooning...whatever. As a kid, I wanted to be an animator (I still have my copy of Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life somewhere). I got distracted by my pro wrestling obsession in '85 and didn't draw as
much. Fast forward to post-secondary education: I took Radio Broadcasting at Robertson College. My career didn't pan out. I knew my man Jeope had just finished taking the RRC program and I decided to take a shot at it, because I knew I could draw. I was in over my head, so I flunked out in the first term. I came back, but my horrific time management skills and lack of attention to craftsmanship killed me. I acquired the habit of reading Print, Juxtapoz, Communication Arts, etc. after flunking out the first time and that's where I refined my goals. Seeing the work of guys like Art Chantry, Reid Miles, Milton Glaser and Jay Ryan inspired me to keep going.
Who or what inspires you?
The list of names is endless, man. Including the previously mentioned folks, I can throw Rubens, Dan DeCarlo, Rockin' Jelly Bean, Jaime Hernandez, Frank Kozik and several others in there. But that's just like the illustration/comix/fine arts side of things. Aesthetic Apparatus, Heads of State, Patent Pending, James Victore, and Graphic Havoc are some of my design faves. Basically, anything by anyone GOOD is an inspiration to me. That and the female form, which is truly
poetic.
Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/ Art School?
The fore-mentioned Red River College Graphic Design Program. It's currently a two year course with an optional third. It took me five years to get it done, but I know I'm not the only one that did it that way, and I wouldn't change a thing. Taking the third year gave me a chance to explore different creative avenues and gave me more confidence to tackle the outside world. My education was augmented by checking out gigposters.com regularly. A number of creative people I admire hang out there, and the advice flows pretty free and easy. They taught me things I couldn't learn in school. It's a little tough for newbies to jump in there, but I recommend hangin' in there and earning your stripes.
How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?
I'm no vet, but in my opinion, the key to staying fresh is knowing the background of your industry. How are you gonna know where you're going, if you don't know where you've been? It's not really about staying fresh either, it's about being timeless. Okay, it's actually a little of both I guess.
What are some of your current projects?
Well, like a lot of folks just getting their feet wet in the industry, I'm doing an assortment of freelance for little or no pay in addition to the layout day job. I hope to change that soon.
I'm part of an art show called This Side Up, will be opening up next summer in North Carolina. Me and 55 other folks hooked up through gigposters.com to do this project which has us all doing
paintings/drawings/whatever on corrugated cardboard. A book is going to be part of this project, which I'm really stoked about. I also have a thing called "Pardon My French" coming up in the next edition of Successtories, a Minneapolis-based zine/comic. It's a number of illustrations accompanied by mangled French sentences. Next year, I should be involved in the revised edition of the Panda Meat sourcebook, which is curated by Frank Kozik. I'm REALLY stoked about that. I gotta come up with something incredibly hot for it...there's a ton of talented people involved in this thing.
Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?
Right now, the logo I came up with for the Best of Friends gift shop, which is a revision of the Friends of the Library logo I created with has me beaming right now. The Friends of the Library logo was a school project, out of which my design was chosen for the organization. I was later approached to change it up a little for the gift shop which is part of the refurbished Millennium Library in downtown Winnipeg. They have it plastered rather large on the side of the store, so I can't help but feel a touch of pride. It's freakin' huge!
Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?
The amount of animation-based weblogs has me interested in animation again. It'd be cool to do work like Monkmus, whose "Year of the Rat" video for Badly Drawn Boy is both funny and inspirational. I wouldn't mind being a character designer like Peter De Sève...but that guy is artistically inhuman. I really want to learn how to paint. Glenn Barr and William Wray are my faves. If I had a tenth of their painting talent, I would consider myself one dope painter. I might take some classes or something. You never stop learning.
Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?
I dunno...you got any? I'm kinda wearing the novice hat at the moment myself. I can only recommend getting yourself a shot of sticktoitiveness. Stay focused n' whatnot. And draw every damn day! I can't stress that one enough.
I gotta take my own advice.What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?
Clear and concise communication. The result can work if it's complicated, and that's cool if it is, but if it's a mess and the viewer doesn't get it, you done f**ked up. Back to the drawing board.
Hey, nobody's perfect though. Folks as dope as Chip Kidd and Chris Ware will admit to screwing up on occasion.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?
Turning the TV off, which has only served to feed my web addiction. When I can pry myself away from the 20" iMac, I throw some tunes on and just kick my ass to get something done, because I don't like to let people down. That's the worst feeling in the world. That's my
motivation. Avoiding burn-out is done by temporarily walking away...just plain doing something else for a while. You have to. The human brain can take only so much, y'know? Additional motivation: to paraphrase Jay Ryan quite heavily, there's no such thing as mechanic's block, so writer's or artist's block is a demon that keeps you from doing what you do. Creativity is your
job...put SOMETHING down on that paper.
And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?
I was a true TV junkie until a few years ago. I think the web has taken it's place, so my intake has decreased. So to answer your question, I try to never miss Law and Order: Criminal Intent. It's like a way grittier Columbo.
Related Links:http://creativearts.rrc.mb.ca/2004-05_3rd_yr/alorde/index.html
http://elnegromagnifico.blogspot.com
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CRAIG BRIMM
I’m Craig Brimm owner and creative director of Culture Advertising Design (
www.culture-ad.com) we are a four - year old branding agency. Recently, we have been specializing in the ethnic health and beauty category, however we are not limited to that industry. We have completed a plethora of projects for clients such as The Bermuda Board of Tourism, Cingular Wireless, Coca-Cola, L’Oreal, Heineken, Colgate-Palmolive, and Procter and Gamble.
Branding is probably my favorite process to go through with clients. I love how we pour all the research and insights into one big bucket to come up with something new. I believe the design process unlocks those universal truths that can attract consumers to brands. I know that can be done for any product or service.
When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?
This may seem a little strange maybe but as a kid I loved to watch reruns of “Bewitched”.
Yes, I had a childhood crush on Elizabeth Montgomery, there it’s out. However, something which was more intriguing to me was her husband Darren, no, not like that. I loved to draw and Darren had a job where he sat at a very cool old-school drafting table and drew all day long. Somewhere between the nutty mad-capped capers of being married to a witch with relatives who were full on warlocks, and having to deal with an incessantly disgruntled boss (Mr. Tate), there were plot lines for Darren and I realized “I could get paid for drawing”! It was many years later that I realized there were schools for this too, man, heck!
Who or what inspires you?
The sheer brilliance of great design. From the greats like the Eames’ and Ghery to Matisse and Picasso. By great design I don’t just mean visual design, I am also inspired by audio design or music, like the way Miles Davis single handedly changed the landscape of music no less than three times. I am inspired by cultural design as witnessed by the beauty, power and innovation of hip-hop. I have to say my greatest inspiration comes from God or nature, I think it’s currently under-going a White House sponsored re-branding effort and freshly labeled “intelligent design”. But what ever your beliefs are it’s undeniable the creativity behind something as simple and beautifully complex as a plant. It breathes in the air we’ve used and recycles it for continued life, through photosynthesis it feeds off of the most powerful and abundant energy in our solar system and it does all this without producing any negative environmental effects.
Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?
My training came through all the usual channels, College, Art School, Tech School and exploration. However, there was one professor (we all have that one) who’s encouragement and support gave me direction. He was a tall sagacious fellow, sort of a Yoda meets Gandalf hybrid. He came of age in the 60’s, the golden era of advertising and insisted on teaching things that are mostly considered irrelevant these days. We had to draw entire fonts repeatedly, sketch before turning on the computer, create near perfect marker renderings and use one of the most oft forgotten tools of the trade, a concept. It all comes to bear years later and I still hear his voice “Luke use the force”, umm, “Craig start with thumbnails”.
How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?
I try to stay current by keeping my head tuned to the rest of the design community and the world at large.
Trade magazines, design books, the internet, music, television, I’m sick with it, the clinical diagnosis would be “Infomaniac”. But I believe that designer’s (myself included) relying too heavily on these materials can ultimately hinder more than help. Let me explain myself before we get a jones for the latest design annual and a case of the shakes from withdrawal. While these materials certainly inspire, they may dampen a designers “eye” or development of their own personal style. If we look at designers like Herb Lubalin, Saul Bass or Paul Rand we see definite voices. Ultimately, it’s our striving for less up to the minute “freshness” and more acurate visual messages presented in an authentic voice that will keep us all evolving and subsequently new.
What are some of your current projects?
We are currently working on a couple of package design projects. One is very corporate and “design by committee” so I’m embroiled in that classic design battle of creative versus suits. They actually have narrowed it down to a design we like but they are circling the wagons for the final shoot out. Another project is one we’ve taken on damn near pro-bono in exchange for more creative freedom, say wha.
Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?
I can’t really narrow it down to a project or two. I would have to say my career as a whole. Before working in the design field I had the opportunity to work a lot of different jobs; UPS, a bag boy, in-store merchandiser and even on a pig farm. However, once I began designing I really became alive. I was an intern in 1996 and by 1999 I became a Creative Director. I designed for a small agency who put me on the fast track. When I left there I did a career adjustment and went back to being an art director. Then in 2001, I went out on my own. I do feel most confident (proud) of my conceptual work both graphic and advertising, it’s the thread that delineates my career.
Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?
I am very interested in developing products from start to finish. I get to paint the proverbial pig all the time but I’m very interested in creating more, something tangible, functional yet visceral. We have a few designs on the drawing table now. I had the opportunity to design my own desk, so I created a sort of Noguchi inspired look. Product conception and design seems to pull from all the arts. You see it in the building or honing of form like sculpture, the systematic or archaic plotting of design plus the adornment or affectation of color as an illustrator. I am hyped about that!
Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?
Heck yeah! Pick on the little guys, I’d love to... Nah, just kidding. They are the heart and soul of the arts with out their passion and untainted optimism these fields would grow very dim.
Study your craft. Consider yourself a professional from day one of art school. I cannot stress this enough. Be as professional as possible... a professional knows three things
1. What I am capable of doing.
2. How much time it takes me to do it.
3. What it’s worth.
Neophytes should remember it’s a small world made smaller everyday by technology and once you narrow it down to designers and illustrators that leaves us with about 37 people, just kidding there, but it’s a small group of us. So what I’m saying is a little corny but, be nice, treat people well and for goodness sake help others where ever possible. Lastly, when you blow up as some of you will, stay real.
What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?
The communicative nature of the piece. A chair should invite one to sit, through certain visual cues or maybe not at all, but once seated, a good design can impart an altogether different message. It can convey one of working, relaxation or just posing. A painting can emote a broad range of ideas and messages. A successful logo should in theory work through similar principles. However, if we look at the Nike logo while it certainly implies motion and maybe speed. It actually was the design of the marketing campaign that gave us the whole brand message and meaning.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?
Motivation for me is found in collaboration with others, sharing ideas and in learning. I try and get away from my office and computer to relax and avoid burn-out. I get so geeked up on design, that even when vacationing I want to stay in a boutique hotel for the aesthetics.
And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?
“My name is Earl” and “The Office”, Steve Carell is bananas !
Related Link:
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