23 Questions!

Inspiration from Xanadu. Appreciation for a good use of taxidermy. The challenges of knitting. And a love of Starship. Was this city really built on rock and roll or does our new A-List Brendan have something more to do with it? You read and decide.

What sparked your passion for design?
I knew I wanted to be an artist as a youngster after watching the movie Xanadu. When the dancers came to life from a painting on the wall of a building. That was amazing!

How creative were you as a youngster?
I remember in a English class in primary school and drawing a scorpion on the desk and getting told of for it. There was plenty more of that over the years through my teens. I was a little shit!

Do you come from a creative family?
Ummm, there is a few artists on my dads side but nothing past down, other then myself.

Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
Well my parents where very supportive while growing up and still to this day. When I lived at home they even let me paint murals on my bedroom walls (floor to ceiling). Bless great parents!

What sort of education and training have you had?
Studied four years of design at Tafe in Perth graduating in Advanced Diploma. I had the option to go to Uni for one year to get a degree but I was eager to get out in the industry.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
I wanted to work in a design studio but my first job was in a printing and design firm. I learned a lot of the printing side which was good.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
Well I think my first was designing a music cd and website for a community. Just thinking of that and looking back I am pleased to see that I have come along way since then.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years? I love to work in Photoshop and Illustrator, love blending multiply images together to end up with one graphic. I think technology in itself is always expanding and I wonder how things will be in the years from now...

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
What do you mean, like BLADE RUNNER. No I think there will always be a need for print. What about all those beautiful paper stocks.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
Well, I admire self-exploration and reflection of a creative mind. If you can look at a graphic, painting or even listening to music and be emotionally touched then I think that is a true artist.

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you? There hasn’t really been a great person as such but a client from previous years that I had such a great chance to use all of my design skills that included interior design, art directing a space from old a banded area into a bar, restaurant &
museum.

How would you describe your work?
I could say split personality, safe or bizarre with a touch of old and new. I like to explore new depths but that depends on the project.

What are your plans for the future?
I want to expand my way into fashion designing clothes and jewellery and to be more of a hands on artist again.

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
A creative environment with other unique designers and clients.

What is your opinion of Australian design?
I think there is still more to be seen and explored and people should take risks!!

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
Well I haven’t travelled overseas with graphic design to judge, I think if I did I could answer this question better.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future? Who knows, really I think we are all learning as we go in new ways of expressing design. Wait and see...

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
Hassling and driving my friends up the wall! haha! I am currently visualising concepts for clothing. That also means one garment is going to be knitted, dam I had to choose knitting. See some people read before going to sleep... well I will be knitting for the next couple of months, yes crazy! Oh and you could find me hunting around in antique/preloved stores.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
I actually would say The Carlton Club. Very tactile and good use of taxidermy.

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
www.juliadeville.com
www.markryden.com
www.flickr.com/photos/astropop/sets/72157617961489047/show/with/3526463600
(Ed: That would be 3 websites, Brendan...)

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
I am listening to Starship and yes I love it. I couldn’t imagine not dancing to 80’s music!

If I was a font, I’d be...?
I would be a moggy... something scratchy but also with elegance incorporated.


Do you need an A-List Artisan like Brendan in your studio? Would you like to know more? Contact Mathew NOW!