23 questions!

The cheerfully passionate Jackie Cooksey shares her story!

What sparked your passion for design?
Art and Colour

How creative were you as a youngster?
Creativity didn’t kick in until my teens. But I have always been consumed with film from an alarmingly early age.

Do you come from a creative family?
Not very, they are all left side brain people, although my brother is an architect.

Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
They didn’t oppose it.

What sort of education and training have you had?
Tafe, University, travel. It’s all played a part.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
Big studios with cool offices with art based clients — still do, although size doesn’t matter.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
I’m pretty happy with my first project because I was able to work closely with the senior designer. So no matter, it’s been well designed for the client in mind.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years?
Anything on a Mac. I’d like to say the iphone or wireless internet but I’m sure it’s more like biotechnology or stem cell research.

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
Sure hope not, there is so much we can get from print that we can’t achieve from digital. Having said that, it’s a very different medium with different results/objectives. Both have an important role to play.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
Tibor Klaman. Period.

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you?
I’ve been lucky to have worked with three amazing senior designers, they’ve taught me to be comfortable in my ability along with the power of great leadership and the importance of communication.

How would you describe your work?
Maturing (hopefully) but colourful springs to mind too.

What are your plans for the future?
How far into the future should I venture? The possibilities are (thankfully) endless.

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
An open, strong company, who wants to challenge the boundaries and concept of design through strong critical thinking and creative art direction.

What is your opinion of Australian design?
Young and somewhat innocent.

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
Australia opened up the possibilities, for me, of being a designer, so that was the best thing. The worse is being so far away.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future?
The isolation.

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
Photography, French, Art, Galleries, Friends, Films, Festivals, Life.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
Melbourne is dripping with bars which ooze coolness, better pick a type of bar to narrow it down. Grungey, Fancy, Garden Party, Minimalistic Chic, anyone?

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?

thesartorialist.blogspot.com
facebook.com
abc.net.au/atthemovies
grafikcache.com

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
Mumford and Songs. I overplay, but yeah, it’a good, if not a little repetitive.

If I was a font, I’d be...?
Perfectly kerned.

For Jackie's freelance availability, email Lawrence NOW!