23 Questions!

Publishing... corporates... and Irish - what a great combination. We'll turn a blind eye to the stamp collecting but openly admire his strong connection to the arts scene back home. Check out Vincent - he's grand!

What sparked your passion for design?
I developed a passion for music at a very young age and every time I bought a tape (yes a tape!) I had a ritual of taking out the inlay card and devouring every piece of information on it, from the song lyrics to the artwork. When I was about 8, I began collecting stamps and spent every rainy Saturday arranging and admiring my collection.

How creative were you as a youngster?
I spent a vast amount of my childhood drawing, painting and playing with my imaginary friend Tom. By the time I was ten, my greatest achievement was representing my school in the art section of the community games! The rules were simple – when the clock starts, paint a picture of your choice in one hour. I painted a Leyland truck and lost.

Do you come from a creative family?
Absolutely, my younger brother sings in an ace band called The Fabulous Penetrators. Two of my aunts are painters and my dad spends his time buying old cottages, restoring them and selling them.

What sort of education and training have you had?
I completed my degree with first class honours and Athlone IT in Ireland. When I arrived first started designing I had a brief dalliance with grungy fonts and some of the less appealing aspects of Photoshop (lighting effects anyone?) but was lucky enough to be part of a course with some very passionate lecturers, who helped me develop a passion for good typography and restrained design.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
I have always been a great admirer of The Guardian newspaper and it definitely sparke an interest in publication design. At the time I was also a big fan of Form, Büro Destruct and Farrow Design.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
My first commercial project happened during my first year in college. My friend Jessica had just set up her own theatre company and she asked me to design a poster for her opening production. Despite a questionable font choice, I am still quite proud of the poster, although not as proud as when I collected it from the printers. I still collaborate with Jessica on a regular basis.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years? I have used the Adobe suite throughout my career to date and have always appreciated the progression from one version of InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator to the next. Traditional art and a desire to make marks on paper methods have always played a large part in my work, from using printmaking methods such as silkscreen and etching, to scalpels, spraypaint, felt pens and nail varnish remover. Over the last five years, one of the greatest advancements in technology has been the constant improvement of the internet from social network sites to file sharing systems such as yousendit.com

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
There will always be a need for print. From a daily newspaper to an exhibition invite, both the collectability and tactile nature of paper can never be replicated on screen.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
Rick Poynor, Ellen Lupton and Eye magazine for helping me appreciate the intellectual side of graphic design, David Byrne for endlessly supporting and showcasing some of the best designers and artists over the last 30 years, the people behind ffffound.com for providing a constant source of design inspiration and Kozyndan for always putting a smile on my face.

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you? After leaving college I was commissioned to design a newspaper from scratch. The editor had a great appreciation for the power of design and showed huge faith in my abilities by rewarding me with such a high level of responsibility. He taught me to always believe in myself.

How would you describe your work?
Creative, typographic, playful yet restrained.

What are your plans for the future?
I would like to continue to work across a wide range of media. I have always enjoyed designing for the arts and it is something I want to develop even further. My lifetime ambition is to still be able to create relevant and provoking work by the time I have grandkids – like a latter day Clint Eastwood!

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
I would like to work for a studio that respects the fundamentals of design and pays attention to every detail.

What is your opinion of Australian design?
There are loads of people doing good work in Australia and there is some amazing cross pollination between the art and design sectors. One of my favourite things about Melbourne is the universal appreciation of good design. I think events such as Semi-Permanent are a great addition to the state of design in this country. I do have reservations about some of the mainstream newspaper design and commercial advertising however.

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
Since I moved to Melbourne, I’ve found the city to be a constant source of inspiration. Melburnians have a great respect for the vernacular – I am constantly wowed by the city’s milk bars, laundrettes, old factories and signage.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future? I think it is very important for Australian design to keep its own identity. It is often quite alarming at times to see how much popular culture in this country is influenced by America and the UK and it would be a shame to see this having a negative effect on design.

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
Photography, screenprinting and spraypainting.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
The Retreat on Sydney Road – you can drink on the grass, listen to cow-punk, play pool with bogans, share a toilet with someone of the opposite sex and smoke indoors (well kind of).

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
ffffound.com
guardian.co.uk
irishpaintmagic.com
graphicthoughtfacility.com
candycollective.com

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
My fave album at the moment is called ‘Bent, Batty n’ Bnoxious’ – a compilation of weird and trashy ‘50s rockabilly. It’s pretty damn good.

If I was a font, I’d be...?
Akzidenz Grotesk.


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