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2003 - 2013
The Digital Decade celebrates 10 years of Designcollector Network I organised a graphic design poster competition to sum up our survival of the Digital Decade. The Jury panel selected an initial 30 participants, later 15 finalists of which there were 3 lucky winners. Prizes were awarded by our sponsors over at Depositphotos.com We were honoured to exhibit the 15 finalists at OFFF 2013 Festival, in Barcelona. I hope you enjoy all entries and the magazine! Special thanks goes to Elena Flanagan-Eister (Depositphotos), Judit Ribera, Hector Ayuso and Dot Lung (OFFF), Rob Ford (FWA), Romain Colin (Fubiz), Sara Blake, Ola Omami and Dmitry Karpov and all the participants
Arseny Vesnin DCMAG Editor designcollector.net dcmag.net 3
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BIO
He does stupid things, he does have an anger issues, he is too proud, he is a fame-whore and he talks too much. But also he is caring, loving and passionate person.
PATH
My friend Sergei always had this constantly growing collection of magnificent works from www.graphic-exchange.com - always fascinated me. Summer 2007 I’ve decided to do something like that. This is how it is all started. Next it was Depthcore workshop (this is where I’ve learned to take crits), half year later I was accepted to Slashthree and I’m still there, still doing stuff.
DEGREE
Nope, I’m completely self-taught.
START
After graduation (altho it was an IT diploma) I started working as motion designer right away but I was barely earning something.
CHILDHOOD
Definitely! For a long period of time there were no Videogames available, so all what we had was our imagination. Best time of my life!
WOW MOMENTS
It was my dream for a long period of time so I’m guessing I came to this point gradually. But I’m still having this “wow” moments from time to time. One of the biggest “wow” moments was when I first tried Wacom and the thickness of line were changing with pressure. That was truly mind-blowing, felt like there is no limits!
MENTORS
Sergei Tarakhteev! He still is and he always will be!
RISKS
When I moved to Shanghai. Even bigger risk was to move back and leave good studio for freelance work. Was totally worth it!
SATISFACTION
Always and never!
NEXT 10 YEARS
1st Place
Pretty much the same, hopefully on bigger scale with different set of technologies. Probably more music videos, less ads.
ADVICE
Vladimir Tomin
Critique is gold. Improve or leave. Love or leave
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BIO
I’m a 29 years old webdesigner, graphic designer and illustrator from Paris, France. I create things with images inside, to sum up my job.
PATH
I studied literature for 5 years, when I decided to utterly change my direction. Since then, I’m working hard everyday to improve and learn about the job I love.
DEGREE
No, I don’t. I’m totally self-taught.
CAREER START
After ending my literature studies, I started learning graphic design sofwares by myself thanks to internet tutorials. Then I entered a multimedia school in Paris and worked in a street marketing agency at the same time. So in a way, yes, I started working at agencies few times after having learned the very basics of graphic design. But the transition was really not easy !
CHILDHOOD
Like a lot of children, I used to draw a lot. But I can say it was a huge part of my childhood.
WOW MOMENTS
Yes in a way. When I was still studying, I wondered what to do for a living, since being a professor was’nt interesting me anymore. And one day I saw a poster for a music festival, and I thought “Hey, this could be a nice job !” And from this day, I worked as hard as I can to be a better graphic designer - and I still do.
MENTORS
Not mentors, but “idols” I’d say, designers or illustrator I particularly admire. There are 3 above all the others for me : Studio Kxx, Josh Vanover and Mario Hugo. I think I could spend all my days looking at their work
RISKS
In fact moving from literature and university to graphic design were a big risk for me !
SATISFACTION
No. I’m never satisfied. The day I’ll be satisfied I think I’ll have to quit graphic design ! As a self-taught designer, I always feel I have to prove more, to work more and to improve faster than the others.
NEXT 10 YEARS
2nd Place
I hope I’ll still be a graphic designer, creating websites and illustrations. I dream about doing more art direction in my personal projects (music covers, for instance), which I already do in the webagency I’m currently working in. But tomorrow starts today, so I’d rather focus on doing my best today, to reach my dreams in the future !
ADVICE
Xavier Bourdil
Work hard. Work hard. But above all, work hard.
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BIO PATH
My journey began as a graffiti artist with the relentless sticking of the DINES tag on every crack and corner Of every bus and wall! I developed my art style and turned mainly to digital art and typography.
DEGREE
University was one of the best times in my life to date. Here I developed my social skills, Design skills and drinking skills! I ended up with a 2.1...1 mark of a first. I was gutted.
CAREER START
I did work experience for a small advertising and media agency in Southampton. This was valuable experience that I still take with me today. I sat there and Watched the CEO and observed how she interacted with clients and how she delt with pressure...cool as f**k! she was so calm and measured and this is how I wanted to become once I started my own agency!
CHILDHOOD
My mother was an artist and my father was always amazing at making thing. I remember as a young lad, I would watch him single handedly make a shed out of found bits for around the garden and built some sort of master piece! Incredible. My sisters a singer and she always got me to design her gig posters. Design and creativity has always been around me and I’m so thankful for that.
WOW MOMENTS
The wow moment came when a local bar in Southampton asked me to design a couple of monthly promotional posters. I’ve never really designed anything that would reach so many people so I jumped at the chance. It was a huge success and everyone wanted this poster. Two months later I attended a house party and saw my poster in a frame on the wall. I couldnt believe it!! I’ve never had any art or design mentors along the way, but Business gurus have always been around me. I knew I could always ask these gurus for advice in starting a company or key skills I would need to succeed. They always showed confidence in me and that confidence would always shine through into my work. a massive thank you to them! They know who they are. Starting studio BLUP has been my biggest risk. It was tough times but I always knew that the dedication and will power will avail! The other risk would be my style. To win commercial jobs with this was a struggle at first. It was some deemed as “Too risky” but as time went on I got to pick and choose my clients that were more open minded and get me the maximum exposure.
ADVICE
NEXT 10 YEARS SATISFACTION
Dines is the founder of award winning Graphic design company Studio BLUP. He has established himself as one of the pioneers of the mix media contemporary style. A graduate from Solent Univeristy Dines and BLUP have gone one to work for some of the biggest brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Boss, Nike and Lacoste.
MENTORS
3rd Place
RISKS
Jonathan Wilkins (Dines)
Never! After a few days of seeing my work I hate it! I always want to push the boundaries as far as I can and strive to create something new. Influencing other designers is my aim and the satisfaction of that is amazing.
In 5-10 years we will push Studio Blup to America and Asia and to really push the design brand and fashion brand as far as possible. I’m getting my fingers in a lot of pies. The rewards are baring nicely so far. Keep your eyes open for new design influences and develop a style. Always ask wise and influential people for advice and take note. Find a business partner you can trust with your life and keep everyone around you happy. When anyone tells you “No” say to yourself “yes I will do it and also prove you wrong!”...then do it and convince them. Sell your design. Win it. Use these tips and I guarantee you will be much happy and successful designer.
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CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
I have not some exact memories about my childhood, but looking to my images, which i created while being a child i think i can say no.
WOW MOMENTS
Constantly, watching or working on some project. Otherwise it won’t be, when you see something cool and it blows your mind, this is when you realize that you had a right decision, and it’s happening every day.
MENTORS
No, i had no mentor, but there are many people whose opinion and advice means a lot for me. Some of them even are not in touch with this profession.
RISKS
BIO CAREER START
As i’ve already mentioned i started working when i was 15 years old, but in that age i didn’t realize that i love this job. In that time main thing for me was that i have some money in my pocket, and not that i found my thing.
When I started studying I also started working and realized that there were no sense to continue studies. I decided to quit and dedicate myself to Design. I think that was very risky when you’re just 15
SATISFACTION
Nope. I have incomplete higher education.
I think yeah, of course I prefer to have more freedom in commercial projects, more innovation, but clients are clients, and you should do what clients want
NEXT 10 YEARS
Work, explore, work, learn, explore, make mistakes, work, work, have a rest and again the same. But to be honest, for me it’s all about LOVE. If you love it you never give up.
I think all designers and people of this world dreaming about the same thing, to have own small office and work with passion and love to the job
ADVICE
24 years old, calm, still stubborn, but at the same time pleasant guy now approximately 2,5 years works in the best Advertising Agency in Georgia.
PATH
Special Prize
DEGREE
Zakharia Mesropov
I’m also eager to be adviced. I have no idea what kind of advicer i am, but i’m quite sure, that it’s very important never stop. It doesn’t matter where you are, with whom, what you are doing you can always think about what you’re working on. Don’t let any day pass without a business that you love, design or any other thing, whatever you are doing.
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BIO PATH MENTORS
My main “mentor” has been the internet, all I know comes from watching amazing people do amazing stuff on the internet
RISKS
I think we all have had those moments. Mine is when I started to get comments on my flickr projects back in 2008 / 2009 - I realized that I wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t the pro either, so I decided to keep making stuff until this became my main thing to do.
Not yet, I’m really just starting so not big deals on this area for me.
SATISFACTION
I was more into music, I started to play guitar at the age of 8 and at Kinder I was always on the Art Class or the Starring / Theater Class, I was a little artist when I was a little boy haha !
90% of the time yes, I think for the most part my creativity grows every day I see something new everywhere, from ads on the streets to a design book or a nice pattern on someone’s carpet, that’s how I feed my creativity and keep my creative side alive.
NEXT 10 YEARS
As I said, I’m self taught, so I have always worked that way - and always freelance too, since I’m still in school.
The most basic thing is have my own studio, from there I want to do a ton of more stuff on the upcoming years, and starting right now !
ADVICE
CAREER START
I’m a completely self-taught designer and digital artist, I learned all I know by watching others do what they love !
CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
At the age of 12 I learned photoshop and starting make this on a more professional way - since then, I got my first jobs at the age of 14 - 15 I made web sites and stuff like that, until I got 17 that I started doing art direction for big companies and that’s what I do today, I’m 18.
WOW MOMENTS
I am an 18 years old, self-taught, art director and designer living in Santiago of Chile. I’ve been working for more than 4 years now, and on the last few years I’ve had the pleasure of working with brands like HBO, PUMA, Samsung and Nestlé.
DEGREE
Sebastian Andaur
Don’t give up - be patient and use internet as your tool of reference, learn as much as you can about every single design and art - there’s a lot we can learn there, just stop thinking and start making !
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WOW MOMENTS
Like I previously said, in highschool when I discovered a 3D graphics program. It was the biggest wow in my life because it was back in 2003 when CG was not so mainstream
MENTORS
BIO CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
Somehow, I liked to scribble and draw stuff, but always on other things rather than paper.
Of course and the biggest one was my fine art teacher, but I learned various things from everyone around me.
RISKS
PATH CAREER START
Actually I started to work during highschool on very small projects and I got my first design job during my university years.
Not really, I like to build slow and play safe
SATISFACTION
I have a bachelor degree in fine arts, a bachelor in multimedia techniques and new media
Yes, but it can always be better...
NEXT 10 YEARS
In my childhood I always liked to draw stuff but somehow things went on other direction for me for a while, but in highschool when I discovered 3D program, I knew what I will do for the rest of my life.
Apart from focusing my attention on creative projects, I always try to be involved in various learning programs for beginners who like to start in this beautiful environment and needs some advice and support.
ADVICE
A 35 years old awarded graphic/multimedia designer, self motivated, always wanting to experiment and looking for challenges on every field of visual communication: digital matte painting, vfx, graphic design, experimental illustration, typography, interactive and new media, combining traditional techniques with digital ones in order to obtain something unique, something unexpected and spectacular.
DEGREE
Sorin Bechira
Be patient and work hard and everything will come true. And also: never stop experimenting, be a perfectionist, be restless, but always be a dreamer!
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BIO PATH DEGREE CAREER START
I visited a local publishing firm, one of the largest in Europe, where my father worked as a trainee for a week, but that’s about it really. In my school we practice agency jobs on real bases, so that’s kinda experience as well.
CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
It was a huge part of it, but creativity is so largely defined it’s hard to describe it, but I drew a lot, it was not good though but I had fun doing it and did it a lot. I didn’t, I was really happy though, because I had something I could attach myself to, something to relate to. Mentors, none that I know of, at least not in the creative field. But my parents played a major role in advising me. Probably every day, I tend to do risky things, doing unusual stuff, trying out something you don’t usually see or hear about. The feeling when you’re getting so much ideas and concepts that you can start them up on a blank canvas is just refreshing.
ADVICE
NEXT 10 YEARS
MENTORS
Not yet, I’ve been a student for my whole short career span of 5 years. I’m currently visiting a vocational school for Graphic Design to get the degree of a Graphic Designer, from that, no idea where life will take me.
RISKS
Plain as simple as anyone would start out, starting on various forums, getting the hang of simple images and pictures striving to achieve more and broadening your own skillset. Went from signatures to a larger canvas, establishing a good base in the digital art scene by joining popular art collectives and competing in a friendly manner against some of the best artists around.
SATISFACTION
I’m a 20 year old digital artist from Offenburg, Germany, currently visiting school for a Graphic Designer degree. I’ve been working under my identity ‘The Unknown Being’ for roughly over 5 years now.
WOW MOMENTS
Nicolas Monin-Baroille
I’m probably working in a job, doing my best to stay creative, loving life, enjoying my time, not being stressed all the time and experience the future. Don’t be limited, stay free, and show it in your work. The aim is to get yourself satisfied with what you do and transfer this feeling onto your viewers/fans.
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BIO PATH CAREER START CREATIVE CHILDHOOD WOW MOMENTS
Yes, at the beginning I was really impressed about all the stuff. It took me a little time to realise what I really wanted to do.
No. My family, my environment and the people who are surrounding me are my motivation. Maybe it wasn’t a big risk, but it was risky to start as freelanceer immediately after I finished my studies. Usually everyone is starting a fulltime position at the beginning.
Definitely
NEXT 10 YEARS
Not really. My childhood was great but not creative at all.
I’ve a lot of things in mind I would like to do within the next 5 or 10 years. But at the moment I see my future at my own brand “Messieurs Dames”.
ADVICE
Yes, I already worked at different agencies during my studies. Right after I started working as a freelance art director.
MENTORS
I studied communication design with focus on art direction at the Institute of Design Hamburg
RISKS
Everything started with webdesign during my time at secondary school. I read magazines like Advanced Photoshop and got my inspiration from blogs like Abduzeedo. Over time I decided to go to a design school and started developing my own style.
SATISFACTION
I’m a twenty-four year old freelance art director, designer & artist currently living and working in Hamburg, Germany.
DEGREE
Markus Baier
Never give up! You got a dream you gotta protect it! Believe in everything you’re doing. Just do it with passion and you’ll get the right opportunity.
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The first one happened when I started to work on my ‘Humanity’ posters serie. I designed three of them at a spell being in some kind of trance. And so I felt in love with that state. Glorious art-directors team at Art.Lebedev helped me to understand the Design Thinking. Timothy Samara with a book “Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual” really helped me to understand the career basics. Emil Ruder and Stephan Sagmiester. When I’ve had to leave my hometown for a new job in Moscow – the city which I still dislike so much. But I got a lot of useful experience here. Not really. I wish to have more time working on posters.
ADVICE
NEXT 10 YEARS
MENTORS
I didn’t like drawing or something like that when I was a kid. But I had a serious interest in visual part of programming. And music creation.
RISKS
I’ve started to work with a local hardcore/metal booking agency in Petrozavodsk, my hometown. After a year and a half working as a freelance web designer, poster artist and web developer all at the same time, I got a job offer from the biggest russian design studio Art.Lebedev located in Moscow.
SATISFACTION
CAREER START
I have a B.A.Sc. degree in Engineering science and mechanics. Nothing associated with design. I’ve got design basics by reading books and blogs.
CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
I was going to become a software engineer since my childhood. But started my career as a freelance web developer when I was a student. Due to low interest in it I spent next few years playing idm. And one day I woke up with a desire to have a try to design a gig poster. So that really pushed me into design after a while.
WOW MOMENTS
PATH
Moscow based 25 years old graphic and interaction designer.
DEGREE
BIO
Sergey Skip
UI and UX design for a yet another new technology as always. And posters, of course.
If you want to have a commercial success then find some nice design studio to join. Come and get a year or two working together with highly experienced people. Your skills will be boosted up like on steroids. And don’t forget to continuously working on yourself. There is no end point.
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Fill Ryabchikov
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Tomas Toleikis
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BIO WOW MOMENTS
PATH CAREER START CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
I had an interest in painting since childhood, when I had spare time I painted.
Let me just say that working without that emotion would not have a sense at all
I never had mentors, but there are some people whose works and styles I admire.
I can not single out , but similar situations happen often.
Of course I have, but it does not mean that I have to stop searching for new feelings and new ways of expressing my works, old ones are not interesting for me anymore, I am always searching for new ones.
ADVICE
NEXT 10 YEARS
While studying in the Academy I had some proposal and started working as well, and it went on and on and developed. I mean working at various studios/companies, depending on my interests and wishes.
MENTORS
I have graduated from Academy of Arts, Tbilisi, Georgia. In my opinion in such cases besides education, emotions, interest and passion is also very important. I consider myself a self-motivated and a self-developed person.
RISKS
I have always been interested in feeling aesthetics in visual space, but in my case it all took place step by step, it was a transformation - from a hobby in my childhood and developed afterwards. Started with traditional media and transformed into digital.
SATISFACTION
Young illustrator and a graphic designer living the dream in Tbilisi, Georgia, working on various projects all around the world. Visualizing life, people, circumstances and memories.
DEGREE
Giga Kobidze
I think I will be as I want at that specific moment and at the place where I will feel pleasant, place filled with passion. Self motivation, self development, just WORK!!!
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BIO PATH
I am still exploring the path to become an artist and of course I beat on against the current taking serious decisions for my career. The latest one turned out to be a work in a famous Russian entertain TV channel, so I accepted the invitation to join the team. I always wanted to work on TV even been a child I did my personal “channel” from a cardbox and designed the schedule with different programes. That was yet the best channel that I have ever created. After I finished the secondary school I tried myself in “Technology and Design” colledge but failed due to their outdated program. Later a friend of mine invited me to work with him and that was my intial “education”. After I moved to Moscow I tried to visit the famous BHSAD but found it unsuitable and quit. I feel like the work is my main education and I don’t regret that.
ADVICE
NEXT 10 YEARS
SATISFACTION
RISKS
MENTORS
CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
I was born in 1992 in Saint Petersburg. At my 17th I moved to Moscow to work in Stereotactic Design Studio
DEGREE
Alex Frolov
I think all kids are creative but later forget or indeed develop that possibilities.
My friend Gleb Koksharov that I mentioned above in “Education”, then Pavel Karikkhalin who invited me to work in Moscow and helped me a lot to settle down. Arseny Vesnin - the guy who mentioned me some time ago and asked to do a splash for OFFF2011 Russian Creative Panel, he is apparently the editor of this magazine and Designcollector blog. I can’t say that I have risky job until I occupy neighbor’s machine to double up the render speed :) I am really satisfied with things I am doing on daily basis. More often I like to unfocus and do different things like typography, animation, graphics. That’s were I get more satisfaction. For the last 3 years I had so much events happen in my life so I can’t even imagine the next few years ahead. Never regret and always complete things you have once started. Even now, complete reading the magazine :)
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BIO PATH CAREER START
Only if we can name running with pencils, markers, etc and compulsively drawing on the walls, then yes, I had a creative childhood. It’s really hard to say, because I’m very critical to my work. So, normally, when I am doing something, I can say “this looks good, I’m happy with results so far” but later I might dislike it in most of cases. I am always trying to hear opinion from my friends because it is a good way to improve ourselves. You cannot stick to only one opinion and it is even worse to follow only yours. Risk is a part of this game called “life”. No risk - no fun. If you’re not risking you can always have the same question in your mind “what can happen if I make this choice”
NEXT 10 YEARS
Definitely! I’m doing what I really love. What can be better than this?
I like my life the way it is going right now. There are probably few things I want to achieve. Like traveling more frequently and trying to do work in different agencies, discovering new places and meeting new people.
ADVICE
SATISFACTION RISKS
During my studies I started to work in agencies. Later, after droping my studies I took a fulltime job in interaction design but freelance is still important part of my life. It iss always good to work with new people and take new challenges.
CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
I studied graphic design in Cracow, but after two years I’ve decided to quit it and start developing myself in an agency. Now I can say that it was a good decision but on the other hand I’ve met there my wife and spent good time with friends.
WOW MOMENTS
Probably everything started from skateboarding. Watching skate videos and skateboard graphics was something that really inspired me.
MENTORS
Wojciech Zalot is self-taught 26years old Designer and Art director originally from Poland now based in Vienna, Austria.
DEGREE
Wojciech Zalot
Never give up! Designer’s work is really tough not in physical way but in mental. Explore and learn new things especially now when the world and technology are changing everyday with the speed one’s never knew before.
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This is always great inspiration for me, and helps me to work harder and better.
When I’m not sure of anything in my work, I always take the advice of my friends and other calligraphers. But after that, I still do what I believe will be better.
Yes, sometimes I paint my street art works in strange places or at high altitude, but I always have happy ends
Yeah, and I am really happy about this.
ADVICE
NEXT 10 YEARS
MENTORS
I always enjoy to draw or create something, since my childhood
RISKS
3 years ago.
SATISFACTION
CAREER START
I never used to go to design or art school or something like that, because I think this is the best way to reach a new style and fresh points of view, it’s need to be done by only you, with the minimum interpositions from the other persons.
CREATIVE CHILDHOOD
I have fallen in love with letters, typograhy and graffiti 6 years ago. Then, I started to explore calligraphy to improve my skill set, and that was very exciting for me. This feeling still pushes me to work again and again.
WOW MOMENTS
PATH
Hello, I`m calligraphy & street art artist on Moscow. I love to draw different kinds of letters like calligraphy. My works is combining modern opinion about lettering with untraditional painting tools.
DEGREE
BIO
Pokras Lampas
I hope that I will still love calligraphy and lettering, and write something that just blow your mind.
Enjoy what you do, practice every day and always criticize your stuff.
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Digital Decade at OFFF‘13
DIGITAL DECADE FINALISTS EXHIBITED AT OFFF 2013 FESTIVAL IN BARCELONA This June was really hot. Especially in Barca, the capital of Creativity and the motherland of OFFF PostDigital Culture Festival happening here each year. Designcollector with a great help of the contest sponsor Depositphotos.com exhibited 15 finalist in the hall of the festival. Great thanks goes to festival director Hector Ayuso and his team with Dot Lung and Judit Farre to be mentioned in particular. OFFF is an entity in continuous transformation, alive and evolutionary. More than a decade ago, it was born as a post-digital culture festival; a meeting place to host contemporary creation through an in depth programme of conferences, workshops and performances by the most relevant artists of our time. Buy your OFFF 2014 tickets online now at offf.ws
ARSENY VESNIN Designcollector Editor
DIGITAL DECADE OFFF visitors
EXHIBITION AND CONTEST PRIZES WERE SPONSORED BY DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM 32
THE ONLY FINALIST WE MET - NICOLAS
THE DIGITAL DECADE JURY - SARA BLAKE
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Digital Decade All Participants
NOELIA LOZANO 34
ALEX EGGER
SARAH FRANCE
IGOR SCEKIC
STAS OSTRIKOV 35
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LUKASZ KULAKOWSKI
JOSE GARRIDO (NOEM9)
DANIL VYATKIN
VERONICA AZARYAN
JOHN MARK HERSKIND 37
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INTERVIEW WITH
Sougwen Chung
SOUGWEN.COM ABOUT SOUGWEN
INTRODUCTION
Sougwen Chung is a Canadian-born, Chinese-raised, and Brooklyn-based artist. Her multidisciplinary visual work aims to explore contrasts; the intuitive and the technical, form and function, material and immaterial.
Sougwen is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores transitional edges – where the mark-made-byhand meets the mark-made-by-machine, where light meets sound, and form meets formlessness. If drawing is an analogy for basic human expression, then what does that mean when drawings are hybridized/catalyzed with software, sound, light, and space? Working across print, digital and environmental mediums, Sougwen’s immersive work plays with contrasts and transitions, when those liminal experiences where our human-ness is thrown into high relief by our use of and ever-deepening relationship with technology.
Designcollector was happy enough to meet Sougwen at OFFF 2013 in Barcelona and later ask some questions about her works.
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DESCRIBE YOUR PATH TO BECOMING AN ARTIST Indeterminate topology, erratic serendipity, tactile revelations, winding geographies, obsessive dedication, and luck.
WAS CREATIVITY A PART OF YOUR CHILDHOOD? Aren’t all children artists until they learn to be otherwise? Before an awareness of rules and social scripts really comes into play. The obliviousness of being a child lends itself well to original and sincere expression before the conceptions of propriety are imposed. As a child I had a predilection for enclosed spaces; closets, alcoves, spending time under desks. Drawing and playing with paper; secret spaces and an overall appreciation for environments that enhance interiority.
YOU WERE RAISED AS A MUSICIAN? WHAT WAS THE BREAKING POINT OF TAKING AN ART AS THE MAIN PATH OF THE CAREER? HOW THE MUSICIAN BACKGROUND FLUENCE YOUR WORKS? Being classically trained in violin was my initial induction into the intuitive process of making; the gestural, the free-form, and the abstract qualities of performing and composing music, when transmuted into the creation of visual art, informs a process that combines the expressive, experimental and ephemeral... The movement of a violinists bow draws a line through space that creates a weaving thread of sound. Doesn’t it share some parallels to the tracing of a stick of graphite on paper or a stroke of a brush on canvas?
The mark is closely tied to the gesture; the sound is closely tied to the stroke of the bow. Isn’t all art focused on connection? h Perhaps the work to date could be described as a sort of synaesthetic aesthetics. Making work intimately tied to visual and auditory senses, using various mediums towards works that interlace the two. I’ve come to realize my process is inextricably tied to music making and have been exploring that link in my newer works.
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HAVE YOU HAD ANY MENTORS? I have; possibly more in life than in art, if one could possibly make that distinction.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST SIGNIFICANT WORK? WHAT WAS IT? In my work I have moments of personal significance, moments of breakthrough... In regards to works of lasting significance -- timelessness, perspective, I think that’s still to come as it is still quite early in my career. That being said, any time a process or image transforms whether through materials or technology or scale, those developments feel significant for me personally.
YOUR WORKS ARE FULL OF DRAMATIC DETAILS? DO THEY COME AS THEY ARE OR YOU BRING THEM FROM YOU FANTASY TO THE PAPER? With my existing body of work, the images all emerge from the process; from the space of free-form cognition manifested through mark-making.
YOUR WORKS EXIST NOT ONLY ON PAPER BUT IN PERFORMANCE ART AND INSTALLATIONS, AND THE LATEST ONE WAS “CHIAROSCURO”. CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT IT IN DETAILS? WHAT WAS THE MAIN IDEA AND BIGGEST CHALLENGES? Chiaroscuro was an homage to polarities; between the old and new as represented by the blending of traditional and digital forms of making, light and dark as described by the title and the perceptual interplay of the work itself... I was invited to install the piece in the Museum of Contemporary Modern Art in Geneva as part of Mapping Festival over the course of 7 days. It was quite an artistic pilgramage to transport the installation there.
Because there wasn’t time to ship the installation materials, I journeyed from New York to London to Geneva with a 6 foot cardboard tube 1 foot in diametre strapped to my back which contained over 30 hand-cut 4-6 foot drawings, in addition to fifteen 1 meter RGB LED Strips, 15 heavy-duty connector cables, 10 steel triangular prisms, 3 power adapter cables... It was a rather physical feat for one person.
Upon arrival the set-up took 7 days of setting up the paper pieces, hand drawing, spacial scanning, projection mapping.. resulting in a 20x20x20 foot sound-reactive drawing sculpture with a 3 surface bespoke projection mapping.
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CHIAROSCURO STATEMENT Chiaroscuro is a culmination of contrasts; the interplay of light and dark, the tangible and intangible, the old and new. The installation is a contemporary interpretation of “Chiaroscuro” — a term more commonly associated with 17th century painting that is as hand-made as it is digitally enabled. Drawing in the installation is the fundamental element — spanning the physical structure, the lightmapping and the projection itself. By digitizing the drawing, the simple expression of mark-making becomes transmutable. It is reinterpreted to take on a new form and dimension in the software — it transforms into structures manipulatable through time.
If drawing is an analogy for basic human expression, Chiaroscuro is an immersive installation that augments the drawn image in scale, sound, and scope by harnessing the imaginative potential of interdisciplinary processes and technologies.
WATCH CHIAROSCURO Watch Chiaroscuro with your iPhone now! Install LAYAR Application, open it, scan this page and enjoy watching the video
www.sougwen.com/2013/05/chiaroscuro 43
I HEARD OF YOUR COLLABORATION WITH BRITISH ELECTRONIC BAND SEPALCURE, HOW IT COMES IN TERMS OF NEW EXPERIENCE IN VJ-ING? I have been collaborating with Sepalcure, composed of NY-based Praveen Sharma and Berlin-Based Machinedrum, as their visual component since 200X, directing everything from their release artwork, visual identity, music videos and their live show. We debuted the live Visual show at the A:Visions showcase as part of Mutek Festival in Mexico City alongside Murcof and Antivj in the oldest theatre in the city during the Day of the Dead festival. In it’s original iteration I performed the visuals live using a Korg nanocontroller projection-mapped onto a suspended triptych. We performed that set in venues all over the world including Taico Club Festival in Japan, Outlook Festival in Croatia, Fabric, London and the esteemed Robert Johnson venue in Hamburg, German. We also performed it in our home-base of New York as part of a curated visual show for Unsound Festival.
HAVE YOU HAD A POINT WHERE YOU’VE HAD TO TAKE A BIG RISK TO MOVE FORWARD? Isn’t a level of risk essential in moving forward? The primary component that distorts the perception of risk is fear. Being unafraid to approach risks can enable a clear approach when making decisions. I’ve also found inversion useful in decision-making. “What are the risks of not doing x?”
IS IT DIFFICULT TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN WORK LIFE AND FAMILY? The inherent challenges of striving for balance is possibly what makes it intrinsically worthwhile. In this current phase, the allocation of time is a bit of a swinging pendulum. I also live in New York, which isn’t notorious for incubating a balanced lifestyle.
IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO BE PART OF A CREATIVE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE?
ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING OR EXPLORING NEXT 10 YEARS?
It’s not important, but it’s not unimportant. It’s probably somewhere in between.
Yes. I’d like to continue to explore what is possible -- conceptually, technologically, expressively, collaboratively, sculpturally... There’s no deficit of interesting projects and experiences if one cultivates the right mindset.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE? Wake, rise, make, ruminate, eat, make, sleep.
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ÂŤ The artist connection of disparate ideas towards a cohesive whole, the viewer connects to the artist through the channel of the work.Â
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INTERVIEW WITH
AEROSYNLEX.COM
Aerosyn-Lex
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ABOUT AEROSYN-LEX
INTRODUCTION
Aerosyn-Lex Mestrovic is a Designer, Calligrapher and Creative Director/Co-Founder of the UK based label Earnest Endeavours. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lex is a graduate of both PRATT Institute and TEMPLE University of Japan, and has lived and worked in New York and Tokyo. He has worked as part of the lauded design firm Graphic Havoc, amongst others; has been the Creative Director of various publications including URB Magazine and has developed a client list including some of the world’s top brands.
He has collaborated extensively with KANYE WEST and his creative team. He also has worked with the legendary Parisian fashion house KENZO, most recently for their Paris Fashion Week runway show. He has exhibited his artworks at shows in NY, TOKYO, LONDON, MIAMI ART BASEL and beyond. Lex was chosen by BECK’S to introduce a new Artist Series collaboration alongside 5 other creative luminaries, including M.I.A. He was named by the UK’s DAZED & CONFUSED Magazine as a Top Young Creative in 2010 Aerosyn-Lex was recently honored by being awarded a Rising Star as part of the TOP 40 ALUMNI from the prestigious PRATT Institute. www.aerosynlex.com
DESCRIBE YOUR PATH TO BECOMING AN ARTIST The journey is ongoing. The destination, unknown. I feel my path to becoming an artist coincides with my own journey and evolution as a human being. For me, art has always been a constant. It’s been an identifier for me, a realm in which I find relevance, significance and personal affirmation. Art, or rather, the Creative Pursuit is something which has always existed in me. The want to create and express my thoughts, observations and ideas visually is something which I don’t question. I feel at times I’m a vessel, a conduit, here to facilitate the manifestation of these thoughts and images which likely have existed before me, and will likely continue to exist after me.
WAS CREATIVITY A PART OF YOUR CHILDHOOD? Yes, always. I am blessed to have amazing parents who’ve struggled and worked tirelessly as first generation immigrants to this country, to provide opportunity for our family. My Father’s family has relation to perhaps the most famous religious sculptor of the 19th and early 20th Century, Ivan Mestrovic. My Father is an amateur artist himself and he was always supportive in exposing me to new means of creative expression. He put me in a calligraphy class at an early age… and that’s obviously something that’s always stuck with me.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MENTORS? Definitely. Before attending PRATT here in New York I was going to school for Fine Art ( Figurative Painting + Drawing ) in Florida. There I apprenticed at an artist’s studio with two of my professors. Jackie Otto-Miller, who was a well known abstract-expressionist painter, and Rima Jabbur, a Syrian born female artist who worked in pastels and oil-paint, creating old-master figurative pieces. They let me sweep the studio, stretch canvases, wash the paint brushes and in return would teach me painting, drawing etc.
I’m thankful I eventually landed at PRATT, from which I’m honoured to have recently been named as one of their Top 40 recent alumni. There I met typographer and designer Kevin Lyons who taught me a lot, not only about why Typography matters immensely, but also how to conduct oneself in business, and also how to operate in this “influencer, taste-maker” space that many of us sought to work in.
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AS I KNOW YOU WERE BORN IN BUENOS-AIRES ARGENTINA. DOES THE ROOTS HAVE A SPECIAL CREATIVE SIGNATURE OR FLUENCY IN YOUR VISUAL CAREER? Yes, I think it comes through my family structure and the way that I was raised. As I mentioned, I have a very close-knit family and I think indirectly, my moral values and aspirations which come from my family and culture, inform the kind of work I make and the way I express myself.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST SIGNIFICANT WORK? WHAT WAS IT? Good question… I’d have to say it may have been a large 6”ft x 6”ft abstract painting which I did whilst in school in Florida. I was awarded an “Alice Neel” painting award for the best painting of that year’s exhibition and also given a partial scholarship. I think that experience helped me know that I could create something that others would value and others would appreciate. In some way, I’ve always been trying to get back to that time when I was making large painting, and I feel that time is coming very soon :)
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YOUR WORKS ARE FULL OF HAND-TYPOGRAPHY. DO THEY COME AS THEY ARE OR YOU MAKE A RESEARCH FOR EACH PARTICULAR FONT FACE OR LETTER BODY? I feel that Typography can be ultimately expressive artform full of all the subtlety, nuance and emotion that any other artform might have. I enjoy creating my own typefaces as I feel it allows me for a certain sense of stylistic ownership of a design, or layout etc. By creating a design with my own typeface it’s instantly differentiated from all the other work out there because it’s 100% original. Obviously, making a working typeface is a whole different workflow that is very detailed oriented and time-consuming. I’ve done it a few times but I find more joy in creating the letterforms and using them myself, than creating typefaces to potentially sell online. I feel it’s a matter of diminishing returns.
SOMETIMES YOUR WORKS EXIST NOT ONLY ON PAPER AND SCREEN BUT ALSO IN PERFORMANCE ART, FASHION AND MOTION. CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT ANY PROJECT THAT IS REAL AND ANYBODY CAN TOUCH IT? Sure… I spoke about this very topic with a artist friend of mine just a few days ago. We both find great joy and satisfaction in creating works that are ultimately consumed as products by the general public. I’ve done everything from footwear, to clothing, to beer bottles, to liquor bottles, to books, magazines, snowboards etc… This to me is a great legacy to leave behind. I feel it can be as rewarding, if not more, than leaving behind drawing, sketches, paintings etc. I’d love to continue to create both.
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I HEARD OF YOUR LATEST COLLABORATION WITH CHANNEL 4 UK , HOW IT COMES IN TERMS OF NEW EXPERIENCE IN DIRECTING A FILM? This has been the biggest project I’ve ever worked on… It’s been a long journey that has taught me so much, not only about film, but about managing and producing works at a much larger scale than I’d done so before. Martin Scorsese has said that “Film is the true collaborative medium” and that’s absolutely true. I’ve been so blessed to have great friends around me who’ve had the faith to walk this path with me and make this film a reality. My co-director Shane Annas has been there since day one, helping to realize this project. Our amazing creative collaborators at the award-winning agency FAKELOVE who’ve overseen all the visual effects work and post production have been amazing. The performers, Miho Nikaido and Maki Shinagawa gave the most wonderful and moving performances which we were lucky enough to capture. Musically we have DIPLO creating original music for this film, along with the avant-garde British producer ACTRESS and new duo Plaitum lending tracks to the film. All the music was then tied together by a mix created by an amazing agency LISTEN based here in NY and Australia. It’s been an amazing journey and it’s not even close to being over. The film debut’s on British television soon and then the fun begins ;)
HAVE YOU HAD A POINT WHERE YOU’VE HAD TO TAKE A BIG RISK TO MOVE FORWARD? Yes, I think one must always assess risk and be willing to take leaps of faith in order to get to the next level. I’ve certainly done a lot of that over the last 18months and I’m so happy with where it’s brought me.
ARE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU DO? They are Immensely supportive… it’s through and with them that I’m able to accomplish anything.
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IS IT DIFFICULT TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN WORK LIFE AND FAMILY? Yes. In all honesty, it’s a difficult pursuit. It’s countless hours working alone, countless hours working within teams, and it can be very demanding not only creatively, but strategically when it comes to managing the business aspects of running your own creative enterprise.
IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO BE PART OF A CREATIVE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE? I think it is. I know some people can live in relative solitude, disconnected from creative communities and interact mostly in a virtual space and that works well for them. I’m not that kind of person. I live in New York for a reason as it’s still such a magnet for talent and creativity. I have great friends all over the world and if I’m not traveling to meet them, they usually pop up here in the city and I’m able to maintain those relationships in a more personal manner.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE? Ha, well My Favorite part of the Day is Night… quote me on that. I work around the clock, sleep very little, focus on administrative work and meetings in the day, and creative work in the evenings. I take a break to hit the gym and lift heavy weights, that’s my meditation… And every so often I go out to events/parties to keep up with the everchanging, ever-evolving nightlife scene here in NYC. It moves a light speed, but I’ve made some great friends over the last decade here in the New York club scene and it’s great to step out to see familiar faces and enjoy what this city has to offer.
YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD? SWEETS YO!
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ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING OR EXPLORING NEXT 10 YEARS? Too many to list… But, I’ll say that now with my first film under my belt - I can tell you it won’t be my last. Also, I’ll be working at a much larger physical scale ( sculpture, installation works, paintings etc. ) in the near future and that’s exciting. I can honestly tell you that I’m really exited for the months to come and excited to share all this new work with the public.
WATCH SCRIPTURA VITAE Watch Scriptua Vitae with your iPhone now! Install LAYAR Application, open it, scan the magazine page and enjoy the video http://www.scripturavitae.com/
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GUYS GIVE TO A YOUNG ARTIST STARTING OUT? Take a few classes on entrepreneurship. Understand that Art is a Business, and perhaps one of the tougher businesses. Understand that your network is your audience and foster those relationships in your network that bring you creative inspiration through collaboration and coalition. Be nice to people, all people, you’ll be surprised just how positively that can affect your life. Oh, and follow @aerosynlex and holler at a ninja!
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INTERVIEW WITH
Mago Dovjenko
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ABOUT MAGO
INTRODUCTION
Mago Dovjenko, russian born artist, self-taught, began at an early age. He now lives in Germany, working as an illustrator, graphic designer and art director for more than 6 years. Almost abstract forms allied with a fluid style, gives a organic and psychedelic touch to his compositions. The use of vibrant colors and high contrast combined with a great wealth of detail, creating complex compositions gives strength and personality to his works. His irregular bold typography is another strong characteristic and present in most of his works.
Being a prominent figure in Germany’s design industry, highlights of his career include him being invited twice to Germany’s top late-night talkshows. At this point, Mago had the pleasure to work with some of the worlds biggest and most creative companies, such as Nike, Toyota, Diesel, Warner Bros., Hummel,MISHKA,Johnson & Johnson, Art Directors Club NY, in addition to magazines as GQ Italy, IdN, Computer Arts, Beautiful Decay, and many more. Mago has been part of various exhibitions, e.g the ‘Diesel Only the Brave’ launch parties in New York and Miami, the ‘Lyrics & Type’ Exhibition at the Gorker Gallery/Semi-Permanent in Melbourne and the ‘Time & Space’ Exhibition at the Maxalot Gallery in Amsterdam ,along others.
DESCRIBE YOUR PATH TO BECOMING AN ARTIST I started out early, when I just did paint some stuff with my father, nothing really outstanding. But that turned into a passion when I was on internet forums and downloaded Photoshop to make my own Signatures. About 2 years later, when I was 14 I thought I was good enough to go professional so that was the beginning of my career in Illustration and Design.
WAS CREATIVITY A PART OF YOUR CHILDHOOD? Yes, very much. As stated above, I did draw a lot with my father, like, every day. In School I was always the one not listening but doodling in my exercise books, because that was just so much more fun than listening to the boring stuff in School.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MENTORS? Not really
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AS I KNOW YOU WERE BORN IN GROZNY, RUSSIAN CHECHNYA. DOES THE ROOTS HAVE A SPECIAL CREATIVE SIGNATURE OR FLUENCY IN YOUR VISUAL CAREER? I’m not sure, I came to germany very early in my childhood so I don’t have any memories about grozny anymore. But I think that my aggressive style with loads of details is sort of inspired by my russian mentality.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST SIGNIFICANT WORK? WHAT WAS IT? It was my first job for Nike. When I was 14, I got an email and didn’t really know how to react. Nike wanted me to do 3 Illustrations for their Football apparel, it was crazy. Like one month before that I did a note of my Dream Clients, which included Nike, Coca Cola and many more and one month later destiny brought me that job. it was awesome.
HAVE YOU HAD A POINT WHERE YOU’VE HAD TO TAKE A BIG RISK TO MOVE FORWARD? A few times. The biggest risk is to go against the mainstream and do your own thing. I’m sure a lot have experienced it. I’m just not that kind of person to bow down to being straight commercial and do the thing that everybody does. Being unique is the only way to the top, and nowadays there’s just not too much of it anymore, everybody does the same ( include a curse word ).
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YOUR WORKS ARE FULL OF VIBRANT ABSTRACT FORMS. DO THEY COME AS THEY ARE OR YOU FOLLOW THE PATTERN? I just let my head lead me into my crazy abstract surrealism. I never know how an illustration turns out before its finished, there’s just so much processes I go through that always give me a different result. But one thing always remains, a decent load of details. You’ll always find something you didn’t see before if you didn’t look close enough into my works.
SOMETIMES YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS EXIST NOT ONLY ON SCREEN BUT ALSO AS A FASHION WORK. CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT YOUR RECENT INTEREST IN FASHION INDUSTRY? Yes, very gladly. I started out about one year ago, following my love to fashion to make it not only a dream, but my reality. I was always in love with the idea of wearing my own clothing, as I never really bought print shirts, they weren’t just interesting enough. As a designer, I think you have a very different approach in that as if you’re just a regular guy buying stuff. I don’t buy shirts that are poorly made or have a print that isn’t well executed. So I wanted to do my own thing and start my own fashion Line, which is going great! My Spring Summer 14 Collection has already a high list of dope Shops around the world, selling only some of the best high end street wear available. Also I have some of it coming up in GQ Italy very soon. Stay tuned on that.
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ARE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU DO? Yes, very much. Well in the beginning, they loved what i do but wanted me to take other paths. Complete a high degree in school, go to university and such, because then I would, as they said, “make more money than anybody who didn’t study..”. As I said, I’m not going to follow the followers. Doing what I do best and taking my own path, led me straight to what I am today and helped me realize ( some of ) my dreams already.
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IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO BE PART OF A CREATIVE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE? Yes, because networking is the thing. You need to know everybody and have good connections, else you won’t get far.
IS IT DIFFICULT TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN WORK LIFE AND FAMILY? Not really, it works quite well besides that I sometimes need to stay up the whole night, which makes my girlfriend go dizzy, ha
ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING OR EXPLORING NEXT 10 YEARS? Definitely, I want to get deeper into fashion. Also the music industry, I would love to work with the big rap stars, especially kanye west.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GUYS GIVE TO A YOUNG ARTIST STARTING OUT? Don’t listen to everybody when it comes to work, be good at picking out the right criticism and make the right connections.
WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE? Waking, depending on how long i’ve worked ( which may be at 2 pm ), starting to work as long as I need and then spending time with my family and friends, I guess it’s the usual. Besides that, I’m browsing a lot through certain inspiration sources through the whole day.
YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD? Pelmeni! Russian food. Love it
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Russian Illustration Books DCMAG UNVEILS NEW NAMES IN RUSSIAN ILLUSTRATION FROM UNRELEASED 3-RD BOOK Few years ago Designcollector’s editor Arseny Vesnin decided to reveal the creative power of Russian Illustration scene to the audience from around the world. The release of 2 books-on-demand “Russian Illustration WOW“ gained a good attention as well as in Russia and abroad. They are still available for purchase on Designcollector.net/books 90 and 60 pages accordingly. The plan to release a 3rd book was halted by some reaseon so we decide to show you the best of it now
DESIGNCOLLECTOR.NET/BOOKS 70
12 Russian Illustrators you will Like
EVGENIY NECHYPORCHUK
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Evgeny Nechyporchuk
BE.NET/CHIPORCHUK 72
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Nata Bayduzha
BE.NET/NATABAYDUZHA 74
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Artem Bizyaev
AP6Y3.DEVIANTART.COM 76
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Tatiana Doronina
TVDORONINA.RU 78
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Alexander Efimov
BE.NET/YOFIKUS 80
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Pavel Grishin
HAMPTYDAMPTY.LIVEJOURNAL.COM 82
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Ilya Kuchin
BEHANCE.NET/AMENC 84
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Ekaterina Matveeva
MAMBEEBA.COM 86
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Viktor Miller Gausa
BEHANCE.NET/VIKTORGAUSA 88
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Yana Moskaluk
YANAMOSKALUK.COM 90
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Konstantin Novosadov
KONSTN.BLOGSPOT.COM 92
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Victoria Semykina
WWW.SEMYKINA.COM 94
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DO IT WITH PASSION OR NOT AT ALL
Thank you for reading! @designcollector 96