Interviewing My Design Nemesis

I reached a realization right out of college that it would have been unspeakably beneficial to have known other designers in the area with whom I could have learned, networked, and interacted with. This post will be the first in a series of interviews with designers that I meet as I encounter them for the benefit of those who want to know what’s out there.

What better place to start than with my old friend and design nemesis, Andrew Osborn. I say nemesis not because he stole my lunch money or ruined my plot for world domination, but because we spent our entire art career up to this point walking side by side as the Andrews who are designers at Augustana College who screen print and work on Project A, B, and C, for Clients 1, 2, and 3 in Classes I, II, III. Competition breeds excellence.

Introducing, Andrew Osborn, freelance designer, illustrator, silkscreen printer.

Tell us about your path up to this point.

I graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD with a double major in Fine Art emphasizing in graphic design and Spanish Language and Culture. While in school I interned in the in-house shop at Sanford Health. At the end of my internship they offered me a full time position, but I had to turn them down in favor of an internship with Fresh Produce advertising agency. I saw an opportunity to break into the agency world and had to take it. The internship was paid for twenty hours a week. I put in closer to forty hours. Because we acted as a small autonomous agency within Fresh Produce, I learned so much and was actually paid! It wasn’t much, so lived in a trailer by the river. Really, that’s true.

I am now back freelancing. To put it simply, it is very stressful. I had too much work two weeks ago and not enough this week. I really like the variety that it brings, playing salesmen, account executive, art director, production artist, and accountant at the same time. Obviously I play art director much better than accountant but it gives me the opportunity for human interaction. Too often designers are seen as dark room people that only interact with their Mac and their kind. I like to get out and talk about my concept and how it was executed through the design.

What sort of goals or ambitions do you have?

Wow, what a loaded question. See every continent by the time I’m thirty. Live in central Africa for a spell. Learn Arabic and French. Learn HTML and CSS. Do something memorable.

On a professional level I aspire to be a creative, an artist. I would like to find or start a small creative agency and set up camp as the creative director. I would stress concept over turn-and-burn, generic work. Also, I hope to stay connected in the fine art scene in general no matter where I end up.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

The first thing I can remember is an Architect, then a Youth Pastor. In school I studied business for a semester. When I switched to design I was in-between Graphic Design and Astrophysics. I can’t imagine how poorly that would have gone.

What or who has influenced you?

What isn’t an influence? Big ones from art history are Caravaggio and Goya. I also like the looks from the Russian Constructionists and the kookiness of the Dadas. I also have always loved the gig poster scene. I am a screen printer as well so I love to look through old posters and retro typefaces. The whole gig poster scene and book cover design have always been big influences for me.

What is your favorite and least favorite typeface?

My first love is Futura but I’m having a fading love affair with Century Gothic. I’m interested to see what will come next.

Best part about the industry thus far?

The variety. I have gotten to work with a lot of great people on a number of fun projects. Also the learning, everyday I get to learn something. Sometimes it results in me looking like a fool, but that’s normal.

Worst part about the industry?

The job market. I feel like we are at a point where a lot of places have a lot of work but are hesitant to hire on a new artist because they are not sure how long they will stay busy. I have heard this a few times this summer. On the other hand some are turning around and contracting out that extra work, so I’m trying to find a niche there.

What is the coolest thing you’ve seen lately or work that you’ve liked?

It was a video of Milton Glaser talking about the industry. Very inspirational and applies to everything, not just design. I still think one of the coolest pieces I’ve seen was a SunChips billboard that used a structure so that the sun would cast a shadow that said the tagline. It was brilliant.

High point of your career/ favorite piece of work?

Another loaded question. My favorite piece in my ripe old age would be my Muse-ic campaign for Fresh Produce. The concept was: Muse-ic, when music inspires art. We took local musicians and gave their CDs to local artists. All of the artists picked a song from a local artist to inspire the work. The viewer listened to a cassette of the song while viewing the piece.

Advice for up and coming designers…

Work relentlessly. Focus on your ideas. Lots of people can run a computer, probably a lot better that you can. In the ad world, and art in general, it is the ideas and how you think, that sets you apart. And drink coffee. One space after a period.