Inside the Mind of Studio Dad

Studio Dad is a Portland-based design team. Peter Dean is a writer and Tess Donohoe is designer. Their opinions are almost never the same, but they’re almost always complementary. This is the strength of their studio. We posed questions that a lot of students face as graduation approaches. Read to find out some of the things to expect as a professional designer.

What did you expect after graduation? What was your first design job? And what advice can you give young designers for life after university? PETER: I had no idea what to expect. I thought I wanted to work in TV. Then, via a professor at my university, I was introduced to an Executive Producer at a big ad agency. That led to my first job as a producer of TV and radio commercials for car companies. I had NO IDEA what I was doing. I even asked my boss at one point, “Am I doing a good job? Am I horrible?” It literally could have gone either way in my eyes. Hence, my advice is: no one knows what they’re doing when they start and that’s OK. Everyone starts out that way. Find a job where you are going to be thrown into a lot of situations where you need to do lots of things that are new to you. You’re smart! You’ll figure it out. And as a result you’ll grow and learn and, before you know it, you’ll know what you’re doing. (Although you’ll still feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, because that never really leaves you.) TESS: I started my career in the motion graphics industry in LA. I think the first few years in the creative world can be overwhelming. There is so much to learn, from understanding contracts to how the process of each creative company works. It’s okay to be nervous or unsure, just ask questions of the people you work with. Find mentors or creatives who are further along in their career who you can learn from. Be courteous and polite when asking for people’s time. And find ways to keep learning. Do small freelance projects, set up a daily creative challenge for yourself, read a book on process or redesign your website. And it might take a lot of emails and applications to find a job but that’s okay. Keep trying. I think I sent out over 100 applications my first year out of school, even if I had a job or internship, I kept connecting with new studios and people. And keep a sketchbook where you can write down your ideas, thoughts and work on concepts. I think getting away from the computer and processing your thoughts is so important. Do you have any particular influences from the art world that you turn to for inspiration? PETER: The one thing I try to remember is that creativity isn’t a pool, it’s a well. A pool can dry up, a pool is a finite quantity. A well, on the other hand, is constantly replenished from below. Your inspiration is the same. You need to constantly feed it and replenish it with new ideas and new perspectives that challenge you. That, in turn, will help you grow as a creative person. Don’t get too comfortable with your influences. My favorite artists are those who surprise me by challenging themselves to reinvent who they are or the nature of their work. That inspires me to try and do the same. TESS: I like to look at experimental graphic design but I also think it’s important to look outside the design world for inspiration. Listen to new music and draw to find inspiration. I love painting and am always looking in old books on art. I find inspiration from historic artists like Toulouse-Lautrec and the impressionists. I think it’s great to look at references but in the end it’s important to try and simply be yourself in the most honest way you can. What was a turning point in your career? PETER: I’m a believer that life is a series of small successes and failures. At the time of each instance, the success or failure may seem huge. But, in the long run of your career, they’re really just small steps on your path. When I was in college I hosted a radio show. For reasons far too complex to explain here, I was fired while I was on the air. It was embarrassing and I thought my career was over before it even started. Well, somehow, many years later, I still have a career. You might have one big experience that changes everything, but it’s far more likely that all the small ups and downs will add up to be the big thing that shaped your career. TESS: I don’t think there was one turning point. It’s like sailing a giant boat. You can only try to steer it in the right direction but it’s going to be a long slow process of turning it to where you want to go. What is your motto? PETER: “Have a good time all the time”. Not really. I don’t have a motto, but I find lots of inspiration in the words of other writers. And I don’t mean “writers.” I mean anyone who puts down words that resonate with the human experience. It’s difficult to always channel the muse when working. Having some good ringers to get you in the right headspace can help start the flow. Find a few of those and keep them in mind for when you need it. TESS: I try to remember to enjoy the journey of whatever I do. What types of projects do you enjoy working on most? PETER: For me, I like projects that allow me to collaborate with really good people. Working with people who are super talented helps you grow. Sometimes it can be intimidating, but that’s a good thing. That pushes you to get outside of your comfort zone and evolve as a creative person and as a professional. Plus, you wind up making new friends and you need as many friends as you can get in this world. TESS: I like projects that incorporate a lot of different mediums, like illustration, animation, sound, photography and experience. I also enjoy projects that are concept driven. One of the benefits to running a small studio, versus freelancing, is that you get to brainstorm together (which is always better than trying to come up with ideas on your own). So I always recommend finding collaborators even for personal projects. Why did you get into this field of work? PETER: To do cool stuff that excites me. It doesn’t happen on every project. Sometimes you need to make the money. But, hopefully, as your career progresses, you’ll do fewer and fewer projects for the money and more projects that fulfill the inner part of you that, at some point, somewhere, told you that you’re a unique, interesting, creative person with a voice and with ideas and with a perspective that’s worth sharing. Because you are. TESS: To find a way to keep learning and growing as a human. Being in the creative field is a lifelong learning process. And I also want to bring more art and well-designed and thoughtful things into the world.