23 Questions!

Really, the profile pic says it all - and perhaps one of the best that we've ever had! Although, I suspect it would cause one hell of a headache. Discover our latest A-List, Sebastian.

What sparked your passion for design?
Since I was a kid I enjoyed drawing and creative activities. I started my degree as Licentiate of Philosophy trying to understand the mysterious creative forces in all human beings. But I needed more than theory, so I did a second degree as Industrial Designer, which put me into the creative world from a more tangible perspective. Finally, I end up working as Graphic/Multimedia Designer for more than 10 years. I have the luck of understanding the design process from a phenomenological point of view.

How creative were you as a youngster?
I always expressed my creativity in very different ways, not just drawing or designing. Creativity can be applied to everything we do. Since I was youngster, I enjoy creating new ways to avoid repetitive cycles like going to school everyday. Creativity helped me to break the routines. One of the most important creative tools I had was my school pen and notebook, which I used to write and draw my own comics. This was much more important for me than any other thing.

Do you come from a creative family? Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
Yes, my parents were creative primary teachers; but my father in particular, he is a musician. Both always support me and encourage me to follow a creative degree.

What sort of education and training have you had?
As I mentioned before, I have 2 degrees, but I acquired the real knowledge when I started my first Multimedia Design Company 10 years ago.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
My dream was working for an Argentinean Advertising Agency Called Romero Voctorica; and I had the luck to realize this dream. This place was very inspiring for me and I made very good friends there. Few years later, I worked for one of the best Agencies in Australia, The Feds, located in Sydney. I am very grateful with those guys for giving me the opportunity to prove my self.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
When I finished Uni, my first project was the creation of my own company. I remember I called a group of good friends, which were also good designers, and convinced them to create our own company. We started from scratch renting a very old warehouse near the city, in Cordoba, Argentina. Our Name was SOPHIA, a Greek word that means “wisdom”. We create our logo, Collateral material, Website before having any client and commercial experience. After few weeks, the wheel started to move. The company turns very successful. We all felt very proud of it.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years? I guess the preferred software varied with the time depending of the needs of the epoch. I used to love 3D studio Max, then Maya, finally Adobe Flash. But if I have to choose what was always present in any process, Photoshop would be the answer.

What are the various mediums that you've worked with and is there any that you would like to explore? During my career I had worked with almost any platform and software in the Graphic & Multimedia Design Industry and I almost explore all the faces of this profession. Anyway, I thing I would like to explore more deeply the areas related to print design and special effects for movies.

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
That’s a difficult question. In my opinion, print material like books or magazines are objects of worship and will not disappear that easy. Also, this kind of objects of art doesn’t need to be plugged or updated.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
I really admire all the work born at the Bauhaus School. They were the precursors of the modern world and thanks to them art is part of everyday life.

Who has been the greatest person that you've ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you? I may say all the colleagues I had worked with. Sharing knowledge is the most important part in a creative profession.

What has been your greatest achievement so far?
Probably being recognized as a talented person in all the Agencies I had worked. Also when my clients appreciate the quality of my work.

How would you describe your work?
I believe that it is efficient and communicates the marketing requirements.

What are your plans for the future?
Keep working independently, growing my small project into a very creative company, where we all enjoy working in it.

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
I would like to work for a couple of years for a big agency with other designers and keep learning and developing bigger and engaging projects.

What is your opinion of Australian design?
Most of the Australian Design I had seeing is very good. You can see the multiculturalism on it. It’s also very efficient to communicate what it needs to be said.

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
The best thing is that people respect you as professional and work environment are most of the time relaxed and nice. The worst thing is probably the hyper consumerism, which transform art in something mechanic putting the pressure of rules with the only propose of increasing the sells.

I also thing, the aboriginal culture should be part of the Australian identity. We are missing the possibility of communicate through the symbols of a very ancestral culture. Instead, we are creating design with out a distinctive identity.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future? Definitely, find its own identity, away from the western influences.

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
Music and philosophy.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
I really like the Paris Cat.

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
http://www.thefwa.com/
http://www.desktopmag.com.au/
http://www.grafika.com/
http://www.uni-yoga.org/blogdoderose/
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
"Cantora", for Mercedes Sosa, 2009. It will get the EMI this year.

If I was a font, I'd be...?
I would be any typewriter style.


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