Designer Archives | Page 7 of 14 | The Great Discontent (TGD)

Austin Kleon

Designer, Writer / By The Great Discontent

Wow! What an experience it was meeting up with Austin Kleon, who made time to get together with us for this interview while briefly in New York City on book tour. We headed to the West Village, meeting at Orient Express for a conversation chock-full of stories, inspiration, and insights from Austin. Then we met up with some friends at Swine where live karaoke ensued—we’re not giving away details, but we will say that Austin does a mean rendition of Prince’s “Kiss.” Karaoke skills aside, Austin is brimming with energy and enthusiasm for his work, but he also makes a point to open up about his unplanned path, challenges past and present, and why he doesn’t adhere to the “do what you love” philosophy. Read on and let Austin’s words greet you with a healthy dose of encouragement and truth about what it takes to make creativity your work. —Tina

Veronika Scott

Designer, Entrepreneur, Nonprofit, Recommended / By The Great Discontent

Trust me: you don’t want to miss this week’s interview with Veronika Scott, the 24-year-old entrepreneur and product designer behind the Detroit-based nonprofit, The Empowerment Plan. Born out of a class assignment, the idea quickly evolved into something much bigger after Veronika spent time researching at a local homeless shelter. In this candid conversation, Veronika opened up about how The Empowerment Plan came to be, how the nonprofit is changing the lives of the women who work there, the people who have rallied around her efforts, and why her endeavor hits so close to home. This is more than an interview—it’s an incredible story of hope, second chances, and what can happen when one individual dares to believe that anything is possible. —Tina

Nicholas Felton

Designer / By The Great Discontent

Widely known for his beautifully designed, information rich Personal Annual Reports, a self-initiated project that he began almost a decade ago, Nicholas Felton has influenced the way we view and think about data. We spoke with Nicholas while he was knee-deep in his latest Annual Report, just weeks after the launch of his gorgeous Reporter iPhone app. He shared about his path into design, his decision to focus on data visualization, his recent transition back to the East Coast after two years at Facebook, and his hope of not only liberating our data, but also making us aware of how valuable it really is. —Tina

Michael Cina

Artist, Designer, Typographer / By The Great Discontent

Since the start of his career, Michael Cina has put out an incredible amount of work, from typography to illustration to design, and beyond. Even so, when I spoke with him for this interview, he remarked on feeling like his career is starting over again. The evolution of Michael’s career is certainly a result of talent, but as you read his story, keep in mind that talent alone doesn’t make one great. Michael reminds us that, no matter what season your career is in—whether a recent graduate or an experienced veteran—it’s still important to work hard and stay humble. —Tina

Putnam & Putnam

Designer, Photographer / By The Great Discontent

Darroch and Michael Putnam, partners in work and life, have found their niche in flowers. Based in the Lower East Side, their boutique floral design company, Putnam & Putnam, has designed arrangements for everyone from Vogue to the Smithsonian and caught the attention of flower lovers everywhere. We spoke with the pair about leaving their jobs to start a business together, the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneurial couple, and their best advice for those starting out.

Tim Van Damme

Designer, Developer / By The Great Discontent

Tim Van Damme, the Belgian-born designer and the man behind the maxvoltar moniker, has previously worked at Gowalla and Instagram, and over the past summer, he joined the team at Dropbox. I had the pleasure of chatting with Tim about what he’s been up to since then as well as where his path began. He shared about growing up in Belgium, his dream of living on another continent, the risk that led to his first job in the US, and what really happened behind the scenes when two of the companies he worked for were acquired by Facebook. After our conversation was over, I was certain of this: Tim is talented, but he has also worked hard to get where he is, and he genuinely cares more about doing good work than receiving accolades. May we all aim to work as hard and care as much. —Tina

Armin & Bryony

Designer, Writer / By The Great Discontent

Armin and Bryony are no strangers to hard work or risk. Partners in business and life, this couple has built an enterprise out of UnderConsideration, which now encompasses a conference, several blogs, a number of books, two awards competitions, and a department of design. Their work is well-known in the industry, but what about the rest of their story? We asked Armin and Bryony to take us back to the beginning, and they did. Sit back, relax, and take a journey with these two, who reminded us that, of all the risks you can take, sometimes the greatest one is believing in yourself—but once you do, anything is possible. —Tina

Jacob Escobedo

Designer, Illustrator / By The Great Discontent

We’re excited to kick off the year with Jacob Escobedo! If you watch any shows on Cartoon Network—Adventure Time is currently our favorite—or Adult Swim, then you’ve seen Jacob’s work. Behind the scenes, he is the VP of Creative Design for both entities, but he also does a lot of freelance work on the side, including album covers for the likes of Danger Mouse, The Shins, Broken Bells, Gnarls Barkley, Active Child, and others. Jacob was kind enough to chat with me about his path, which began in Southern Nevada with an early interest in art. From there, he went to Utah for college before dropping out to embark on a self-taught education, which led him to Atlanta, where he landed a gig at Cartoon Network—and the rest is history. We hope that reading about Jacob’s journey will inspire to you stay motivated to make the work you love—this year and always. —Tina

Invisible Creature

Designer, Illustrator, Musician, Recommended / By The Great Discontent

We’re absolutely honored to feature Don and Ryan Clark of Invisible Creature for our last issue of 2013! Like many who have found their way into the world of design and illustration, Don and Ryan’s journey started with music. From there, it branched out into running their first design studio, Asterik, and then Invisible Creature. The work that Don and Ryan have put out over the years is astounding, and we think you’ll enjoy getting to know them personally. Sit down, relax, and take some time to read about how Don and Ryan found their footing in a niche that is very much a reflection of all the things they love, and let it inspire you to find a way to dive headfirst into what you love, too. —Tina

Scott Hansen

Designer, Musician, Songwriter / By The Great Discontent

As I’m writing this, I have “The Daydream” by Tycho playing in the background. I looked at the release date for that album, and it’s been over five years since it came out. As short as it is, I can distinctly remember that two-song EP being the soundtrack for many a road trip as well as the background for countless late nights of designing—and I know I’m not the only one. But it’s not just Scott’s music that has inspired over the years. Before Tycho, it was Scott’s art, made under the moniker of ISO50, that so many young graphic designers envied and followed with earnest intent. Needless to say, Scott has been an inspiration for many, including me, and it’s an honor to share his story, which will surely resonate and inspire. And as you read, remember that it’s the journey, not the destination that matters the most. —Ryan

Designer