IN CONVERSATION SEPTEMBER 2019
drawing down. Why? Frankly, it’s
not something I feel like getting into
with her. It’s better for me (and her)
that it’s not on the wall.Do you have any advice for
designers who want to forge a
career as a sole practitioner, but
don’t have a reputation yet or
big portfolios?
I had to get fired from my last job,
because it’s scary not having thatCOMPUTERARTS.CREATIVEBLOQ.COMBelow:The video
for When Will You
Die by They Might
Be Giants also
featured a
monster-sized
ghetto blaster.
steady pay cheque. It also depends
on where you are. This isn’t an
answer, but in school I took a
‘business of graphic design’ class
and I realised, sigh, that there was
so much emphasis on presenting
your work, and what you wear. I was
like, “Forget this, I’m gonna work as
hard as I can to be the best designer
I possibly can and then whatever
happens, happens.”
That’s not advice, but I know for
me the work has always begot more
work. Having some business acumen
can be really helpful, finding the
right partner can be really helpful,
finding the right allies or meeting
the right people, always staying open
to possibilities, and really at the
beginning being sort of aggressive
and getting out and letting people
see you in some shape or form is
super important. I don’t know if
that’s a road map – it’s all pretty
obvious stuff. Most important: make,
make, make.Do you and Emily come at the
concept of creative control fromdifferent directions? She’s obviously
part of a team at Pentagram...
Yes, very much so. Our approaches
and viewpoints can be very different,
but we are the same when you
really get down to it. Emily is a
designer through and through. Her
parents designed the national flag
of Anguila. They were there on the
island in the 60s and they were
the only graphic designers there!
Super cool. She’s a designer in the
same way – it’s her life, and
it’s not just a job.Would you ever consider working
together?
We don’t work together. I know
some couples can do it and still
be happy. That said, I show her
everything I do. She’s a sounding
board for me and often I don’t take
her advice or do the opposite, but
it’s invaluable. We talk about work
often at home. She’s doing the new
opening for SNL and she’s sending
me messages saying, “What do you
think about these typefaces?” We do
that. It’s nice.“I’M STILL TRYING TO GET MY MOM TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HELL I DO. IT
DRIVES ME CRAZY”