Formulating questions

From the previous research collected I was able to formulate questions in which may be appropriate. Some of these questions have been outlined below.




What is the main struggle you have had yourself since coming out of university?

Do you ever feel that you are sometimes belittled for being a creative rather than taking a more 'academic' root such as science?

Do you find it hard to balance projects in which you would like to take on with a smaller income, compared to that of larger projects in which you need to sustain the business?

Where do you see yourself as a creative heading in the next ten years alongside the company?

So how come you decided to stay up North, rather than say London, the hub of graphic design?

Throughout your career what project has stood out to you the most, and that you have enjoyed doing?

Do you think printed media is still relevant?

What's your favourite colour?

If you were to label yourself what would your job title be other than creative director?

Who are you favourite designers?

What's your golden rule for design? 

If you could change anything about the design industry what would it be?

Who is your biggest motivator?

Will you be a creative forever?

What's your advice to a young creative?

As I was unsure upon what questions to ask Tim, John stated that I should select questions in which would help myself/guide my career path. As a result of this the below questions were selected with the reasonings being outlined. 

What is the main struggle you have had yourself since coming out of university? As I will be soon leaving university it is essential that I am aware of the struggles faced by other professionals in order to prepare oneself. 

Do you ever feel that you are sometimes belittled for being a creative rather than taking a more 'academic' root such as science? I often feel that taking an art related degree is seen as 'easy' and thus I want to ask the following question in order to gain a greater insight into whether this is relevant in industry. 

Do you find it hard to balance projects in which you would like to take on with a smaller income, compared to that of larger projects in which you need to sustain the business? As I belive ethics are a strong aspect of design I would like to gain a greater insight into Tim's ethics. 

Where do you see yourself as a creative heading in the next ten years alongside the company? As I may be interested in joining their company, I believe it is important to ask essential questions in order to gain a greater understanding upon the company's future.  

So how come you decided to stay up North, rather than say London, the hub of graphic design?

As I am unsure upon whether I want to stay up north or not I believe this question to be highly relevant.

Throughout your career what project has stood out to you the most, and that you have enjoyed doing? Taking a personal insight into Tim's account will make the interview personal, and thought provoking. 

Research into Tim Dee and Rabbit Hole

LinkedIn 

From researching into Tim's LinkedIn I discovered that he set up Rabbit Hole 8 years ago, and that he is now the creative director. I also discovered that he studied at Leeds College of Art (and therefore this maybe something in which we can explore common ground with).

Twitter 

From looking at Tim's twitter I was able to discover multiple aspects in which I believe to be influential. These Could be general talking points or factors in which I include within the interview. Key aspects include-favourite football team, singers, his work for the international film festival.

Website 

From the website the following information was gained. 

'Rabbit Hole is a design studio based in Leeds (UK). We produce work that balances concept and style with an appetite to service the message.

We specialise in brand identity design, art direction, web and app design/development and graphic design.'

Select Clients:

3 Beat Records
Coldplay
Deadmau5
Duke Studios
EMI
Hebe Works
Kylie Minogue
LeedsBID
Lily Allen
Lord Whitney
Mariano Vivanco
Max Cooper
National Housing Federation
Parlophone
Prime Studios
Rising Digital
Transform
The Tetley
Universal Music
Vastint
Virgin EMI
Warner Music Group

Interviews analysed

Multiple interviews were analysed, with the casual nature of 'its nice that' being emphasised.

Interview with new UK Vice.com editor Jamie Clifton by its nice that 

Questions asked 

• Congrats on the new job! So what kind of editor do you want to be known as?
• What are your plans for the future of Vice.com?
• What’s your approach to the visual aesthetic of Vice, and do you want to change the design, art direction or photography? Who are your favourite creatives to work with?
• What makes a perfect Vice story, in your opinion?
• What can we expect in the coming months?

AIGA Portland's interview with Paula Scher 

Questions asked 

• You have the unique perspective of having watched the design profession largely grow up and come into its own. How has the role of designers changed over the past few decades?
• Following up on that idea, there is a huge push for designers to be proficient in the newest technology, but what role should traditional design training play when compared to the ever-growing list of software requirements by employers?
• We’re surrounded and inundated by social media and the dilemma of being “always on”. Do you have any tips to achieving balance between being connected and “going offline” in a designer’s day-to-day life?
• You’ve designed identities for some of the most famous companies and organizations in the world. How do you keep things fresh when approaching a new identity project?
• The need for distinct and clear identity design is more important now than ever before. How has identity design changed/evolved in recent years?
• How can an organization stand out from the visual “chatter” of an ever-growing list of emerging and competing brands?

The Great Discontent's interview with Sagmeister

Questions asked 

• Describe your path to what you’re doing now.
• A few minutes ago, before we began this interview, you mentioned that you started your studio out of your apartment?
• A few minutes ago, before we began this interview, you mentioned that you started your studio out of your apartment?
• That is personally interesting to me because Ryan and I are working out of our apartment right now after going out on our own full-time in January. How long did you work out of your apartment before you moved into a studio space?
• Agreed. So, going back a bit farther, was creativity part of your childhood and were you encouraged in those types of pursuits?

My thoughts 

From conducting this research it became evident to myself that interviews in which contained a 'relay' effect were most effective, as you are able to read the interview as if it is a conversation. It is also evident that the interviewer in these cases knows extensive details about the consumer and thus this must be highlighted within my interview. It was also found effective when the interviewer asks a new question in relation to something the participant has just said. 

When discussing this with John he suggested that I should stick primarily to 5 questions, in which can be expanded upon.

Contact with Tim Dee

Tim firstly sent me an email thanking him for the card. He also stated that he would meet up for an interview. As I am a massive fan off Rabbit Hole's work I was extremly happy that I would get the opportunity to talk to the creative director. 

After a brief discussion, we arranged a date and time. It was stated that we would meet at Duke Studios. 

When confirming this the day before, it occurred that dates were mixed up and thus the interview had to be re-arranged. 

No response was gathered for a couple of weeks and thus I thought Tim could no longer do the interview. But, Tim then emailed me asking to meet him in the next couple of days. As a result of this I had to undergo extensive research upon Tim and rabbit hole, as well as looking at interview techniques.

Thinking about who I would like to interview

When thinking about who I wanted to interview, I had to think specifically about the career path in which I would like to take. From this the below list of interests were outlined.

• Advertising 
• Branding 
• Bold usage of colours 
• Design up North 
• Illustration 
• Packaging design 

As a result of this list, I was able to develop a list of individuals in which I personally want to contact. Many of these individuals are followed by myself on instagram and thus this was my first method of contact. 

Instagram 

When contacting individuals different tones of voice were used in comparison to the individual's work, ethic and job title. This in turn highlighting to the individual that I am specifically interested in contacting them.

Mushpit

As I follow mushpit closely, and have many issues of their bi-annual publication, I decided that they would be a good starting point in forms of contact. I also felt as if there were multiple questions in which I would like to ask them surrounding design, females and the development of a publication. 

After contacting them through both instagram and email, it was apparent that they were not going to conduct my interview. As they are highly busy I completely understand this decision. 

Studio Collector

One of the main issues in which arose was that of individuals saying they would complete an interview, but once I emailed the questions no response was gathered.

Built by civilization 

A large majority of individuals also did not reply to the message. This may have been because of the chosen platform. 

Studio Build 

As Nicky didn't reply to my previous email, I decided to contact the Build account on instagram, no response was made. 

 Adamg Studio 

Each message developed was individual to the person in which I was attempting to contact. This in turn promoting the idea of a personal relationship between myself and the individual. 

Ludovivo Pincini 

Tone of voice was widely explored when contacting individuals.


Alex Center 

Alex Center is a Brooklyn-based designer who works for the global beverage leader, The Coca-Cola Company, as well as Vitamin Water. As Coca-Cola and Vitamin water both have had bad press, I wanted to discuss this with him, as well as other challenges in which he has faced.

When contacting Alex he initially responded saying he would conduct the interview, but pinpointing an exact time was difficult due to the time difference and his highly busy schedule. As it soon became obvious that he was not to conduct the interview, I tried obnoxious methods of gaining his attention in which John suggested. Unfortunately this did not work.

Guiller Moaliaga 

No response was gained from the following email. 

Harri Park

As Harri had previously given a talk in uni, I decided to contact him as this gave me a personal basis to himself. Again no response was drawn, this being understandable as he did state in his talk how he had to attempt to balance two jobs. 

Sampsonic 

Jessica Walsh 

Illustrators 

Joe Boyd 

As I had previously talked to Joe at the intern magazine launch, I decided to use this basis as an attempt to contact him. Although Joe is an illustrator I thought it would be effective to contact him as he previously won YCN, and is currently working in Duke Studios, a space in which holds prominent design within Leeds.

Unfortunately no interview was gained from this. 

Further non-responses 

As I had now gained no direct response from the instagram format, I decided that a different platform may be effective. As a result of this, I contacted further individuals through email. 

Email

By this point I had decided to focus on designers directly in the north, as I felt that this would be more influential to my future career as I am most likely to stay in the north. 

Kat Loveday

Lord Whitney 

Hello Collective 

Jane Bowyer 

From the emails sent no response has so far been gained. In turn promoting the idea that digital is not the best format in which to contact individuals.

Alternative 

As I had now sent over 25 messages of contact to professionals with no guaranteed interview, I began to think about other ways in which I may be able to contact them. From this the below list was derived. 

• Phone call
• Physically visiting them 
• Letter 
• Linkedin

When discussing my options with peers they suggested that I should either phone or send a letter to my selected individuals. As I had previously contacted all the individual designers in which I know I decided to focus more directly upon creative studios in the north, primarily Manchester and Leeds (previous blog posts can be found surrounding design studios in which I would like to contact).  

As a result of this, I developed some hand written letters. 

Each letter in which was written was specific to that of each design company. This being in terms of tone of voice, design and formatting. 

Responses from this were an email from Tim Dee at Rabbit Hole.

Design studios I find influential

Rabbit Hole-Leeds 

Rabbit Hole is a design studio based in Leeds. Who specialise in brand identity design, art direction, web and app design/development and graphic design.

Factors I like about rabbit hole:

-The design appears gender neutral 

-Large focus on typography 

-Bold colours 

-Multiple design platforms 

Design by Day-Manchester 

What I like about Design by day:

-Design over multiple platforms (print/digital)

-Colour is a large influence 

-Ethical design studio

B&W Studio-Leeds

What I like about their company: 

-Colour is a key influence 

-Small studio that focus on design 

-Explore publication design a lot 

Elmwood-Leeds

What I like about their company: 

-Classical design 

-Illustration based 

-Strong typographical presence 

Build-Nicky talk

'Build is an award-winning creative agency with an international reputation for creating strong visual narratives. Utilising art direction and graphic design, we create brand identities, websites, packaging and books for design-led clients around the world.'

Within Nicky's talk she extensively discussed her career path and the ways in which her design career has altered throughout the past 20 years. From originally wanted to be a children's book illustrator she has extensively broadened her career path, being involved within computer gaming, and creative directing. Although her initial aims for her career were not met she joined a path in which she enjoys extensively, promoting the idea that the creative industry allows for multiple paths after a degree.

After the talk I contacted Nicky in order to discuss the potential of interviewing her, as I found the path in which she took highly interesting, and wanted to discuss further her role in build.



Contact with Nicky from Build 

After sending numerous responses to the above email no reply was gained, this most likely being due to the movement of Build's location alongside live briefs. As a result of this I will attempt to further contact Nicky within a couple of weeks.