No. 1
CREATIVE REPORT A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH INDUSTRY PROFFESSIONALS
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INTRODUCTION This Creative Report serves as advice and references for young creatives entering the industry. This publication comprises of three interviews from creatives across the world who specialise in different disciplines. It
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documents the professional’s route into the creative industry and where their creative practice is currently situated as well as some very helpful and motivating advice.
CONTENTS 2. Introduction
4. Joshua Noom Interview
10. Chris McClean
16. LAND
Interview
Interview
23. Summary
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JOSHUA NOOM
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Image: Joshua Noom, http://www.joshuanoom.com/
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Image: Joshua Noom, https://www.instagram.com/joshuanoom/
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Joshua Noom is a Designer based in Fort Myers, Florida. His work specializes in hand drawn illustrations that are detailed and bold combined with an organic sense of typography. He
has worked for the likes of Warner Music Group, Polo Ralph Lauren and Sony Music.
TRY NEW THINGS, UNTIL YOU FIND THAT THING THAT’S FUN. AND YOU’RE KIND OF GOOD AT, THEN JUST RUN WITH IT.
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LM: Where did you study and what were some of your first jobs? JN: I studied at a local technical school in the area. It was a 2-year course and walked away with a certificate in Commercial Art, which I’m pretty sure means nothing hah. My first and only design job, other than freelance, was working for an automotive advertising agency. I was the guy putting together those horrible looking car ads that you see in the newspaper. LM: How did you develop your style as an illustrator and what tips would you have for others? JN: I think my style has just kind of developed over time and I think it will probably keep evolving. After many attempts of trying new things and figuring out what works for me and what doesn’t work for me, I’ve just kind of ended up here hah. Only advice I have would be to just keep working away. Try new things, until you find that thing that’s fun. and you’re kind of good at, then just run with it. LM: Where do you take your inspiration from and are there any designers out there right now that you really admire? JN: I think you can find inspiration anywhere you let it. I try to pull inspiration from music and other art, but I think its best when it comes while just hanging out with my wife or with friends. 8
For sure, there are some many excellent designers out there. The obvious ones that come to mind are the groups like LAND or Young Jerks. But I’ve also been getting into the illustration side of things a little more, and one guy that I’ve really been diggin’ is Mark Conlan. LM: What work excites you the most? JN: The work that excites me the most is probably the work that comes naturally, when it just kind of flows and I don’t have to stress or try too hard to put something together. That’s always the best. LM: Do you have any advice for students or recent graduates? JN: It would probably be similar to my earlier advice. Just keep at it. The more you put into it the more you are gonna get out of it. LM: What would you like to achieve in 2018? JN: Well, it’s nothing crazy, but in 2018 I’d love to have the opportunity to work on some skate decks haha, I think that would be such a fun project to be a part of.
9 Image: Joshua Noom, https://www.instagram.com/joshuanoom/
Image: Chris McClean, http://chrismcclean.co.uk/reel
CHRIS MCCLEAN
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Image: Chris McClean, http://chrismcclean.co.uk/reel
Chris McClean is an award winning director, designer and photographer. He has worked with Channel 4, H&M and Jigsaw and received awards from
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D&AD, VIMEO and SXSW. He is also part of the team that create Backwash, an independent surf anthology.
I’VE ALWAYS DRAWN INSPIRATION FROM IS MUSIC, BE IT FILM SCORES OR SOMETHING OBSCURE SUCH AS TURN OF THE CENTURY RUSSIAN BELL MUSIC.
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LM: Can you explain what you do in a sentence?
scores or something obscure such as turn of the century Russian bell music.
CM: I’m a filmmaker and photographer.
LM: Do you have any advice for students or recent graduates?
LM: Where did you study and what were some of your first jobs? CM: I studied landscape design and went down that route for a while before retraining as a graphic designer at the Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge I took a role as a junior designer at a small agency in Cambridge before applying and moving to O’Neill’s HQ in Amsterdam.
CM: I think looking back it’s easy to think the world is against you, but those frustrations just need channeling into positive energy. That might might meant you stay up all night screen printing or in the dark room but the more experience and experimenting you do all add up and feed into more ideas which you never know where they will lead you, and never think you can’t do something, if you want it hard enough it will happen.
LM: What have been your highlights since starting out?
LM: What would you like to achieve in 2018?
CM: I guess the highlights so far have been winning a D&AD as a student and having a film commissioned by Channel4
CM: My biggest gripe with life is finding a good balance, family, work and personal projects… I always seem to be teetering on the edge of abyss, I’ll like to find that balance.
LM: How would you describe your role at Backwash? CM: At Backwash I’m the Creative Director, I’m one of the founders and contribute on all levels from designing the magazine, commissioning content to planting the trees we plant for every issue sold. LM: Where do you gather inspiration? CM: Inspiration comes from lots of different places, but the one constant in which I’ve always drawn inspiration from is music, be it film 14
IT’S EASY TO THINK THE WORLD IS AGAINST YOU, BUT THOSE FRUSTRATIONS JUST NEED CHANNELING INTO POSITIVE ENERGY.
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LAND
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Image: LAND, https://www.workbyland.com/work/packaging
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Image: LAND, https://www.instagram.com/land_boys/
LAND is a creative consultancy and design studio formed by Caleb Owen and Ryan Rhodes. They create timeless work that isn’t trend led. They have a
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world-renowned reputation for building and maintaining brands and have worked for the likes of Levis, Vans and Marshall.
I ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THEIR OWN THING... THE WORLD NEEDS ORIGINALITY, NOT REPETITION.
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LM: Where did you study and what were some of your first jobs? RR: Caleb and I both studied communication design in college. We were both into “graphic design” before we really knew what it was. My first job out of school was at an advertising agency, working in the small design agency of the firm for 7 years. Then I broke out and worked solo for 2 years before starting Land with Caleb. He worked for a number of folks including Mtv as a freelancer. LM: How did you develop your style and what tips would you have for others? RR: Our style was developed from experimentation. We just tried anything and everything, simplifying and refining. Just did what felt good. And then people started hiring us for our aesthetic. Now, that aesthetic is prevalent in design circles all over the world. Enough that we feel we need to change it up and move on... it became a trend, and we hate trends. I encourage others to do their own thing... the world needs originality, not repetition. LM: Where do you take your inspiration from and are there any designers out there right now you really admire? RR: We take our inspiration from old books, ancient and modern references. It comes from everywhere. If you get out and see the world, you see more, your mind expands and it affects you. 20
There aren’t any designers currently, but we always look to the past. LM: What work excites you the most? RR: Lately we’ve been able to work on projects that require more involvement than the traditional “design” gigs. We’ve been stepping into more roles... architecture, interior design. We’ve also been digging into starting our own brand of menswear and home goods. We’re creating textiles, fragrances, candles, wool sweaters, canvas jackets, and more. LM: Do you have any advice for students or recent graduates? RR: Advice... yeah. Put yourself out there. Go work for the folks you admire, in any capacity. Challenge your comfort level. Don’t just go into the world expecting a banger salary... get the experience first. LM: What would you like to achieve in 2018? RR: 2018 will be full of experiments that I can’t discuss ;) LM: Do you have any must read books for designers? RR: Everyone must read the Let My People Go Surfing book by Yvon Chouinard, found of Patagonia. A great read for reluctant business minds.
GO WORK FOR THE FOLKS YOU ADMIRE, IN ANY CAPACITY.
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Image: Chris McClean, http://chrismcclean.co.uk/reel
These interviews show the breadth of the creative industry and the possibilities available to graduates. It’s going to take hard work and some long hours in front of a computer screen, but the potential to achieve a career which you are passionate about is definitely obtainable. 23
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With thanks to Joshua Noom, Chris McClean and Ryan Rhodes. Your advice has been invaluable.