Creative Spotlight - An interview with Mike Young
There is no substitute for a trusty Mac when it comes to design. They do the heavy lifting without breaking a sweat and you don't even notice it.
It's easy to forget how reliable they are as they keep on going like a new computer. Ask a Windows user if they feel the same after 6 months (Whilst they reinstall and sit through painful updates!).
We meet awesome designers all the time and the opportunity for a one to one on all things design. Our Spotlight posts cover new trends, working in design and, obviously, the tools of the trade!
In this talk, we catch up with Mike Young, a design professional with a wealth of experience and years of great work. With that said, let's jump straight in!
What's your name and where do you come from?
Hi, I’m Mike Young a Designer from Luton in Bedfordshire.
How long have you been a designer?
35 Years
2018 - Who what, why, and the winners and losers...
What new trends will we see in 2018?
2018 will be the year of “double”.... so it says, double exposures, double light and double exposure duotones.
What are your design goals for 2018?
To keep working and to keep earning
Who is your design God and why?
Herb Lubalin - just a brilliant graphic designer
What brands crush it? Who should we keep an eye on in 2018?
I love the BBC actually, everything they do looks great and works well too.
Who needs a serious re-brand? And how would you do it?
I saw a Legal and General advert the other day and thought their logo/brand could do with a bit of a makeover, I would keep the umbrella but just bring it into the 21st century.
The life and times of a Pro Designer
What did you do before Graphic Design?
I was at art college studying graphic design, I have always been a designer
What was your first paid gig like?
My first job was working in a studio in a local newspaper, it was before the days of computers and everything was done by hand, Letraset and even hand-drawn fonts etc. It was a great place to work.
What advice would you give to a younger you? (the aspiring designer to be)
Find another career, being a freelance designer is very hard and stressful, but good fun.
Whats an invaluable resource for learning about Graphic Design?
The internet.
What advice would you give to someone looking for work experience in the design industry?
When contacting agencies try and speak to the creative director, be confident but not pushy... you'll probably get a lot of knockbacks, and don't give up.
Last night a Wacom saved my life! Tell us about the tools of your trade…
What hardware/software couldn't you live without?
My Mac, the Adobe Creative Suite, Firefox and Mac Mail.
What hardware/software was a "wow, I wish I'd known that sooner!" moment
I've recently discovered PowerPoint and I really like using it, still lots of features to try.
What kit advice would you give to Designers on a budget?
Go second hand, they're plenty of good quality machines out there without buying brand new.
What piece of gear do you have your eye on?
I have the latest 27" iMac but I'd like to increase the memory...
Managing clients – Is it better just to leave the phone on silent?!
How do you meet their expectations and keep a smooth process?
It's all done via email it seems, so it's easy, just keep a good line of communication and everything should be fine.
What's the weirdest request you have had?
Ummm, can I get back to you?
What advice would you give to someone looking to hire a designer?
Take a look at the designer's testimonials, there's nothing better than hearing what other clients think, this will give you a good idea of the type of person you will be hiring.
What do you wish you could say to clients, but cant!?
Say thank you more often...
What (if any) productivity/project management tools do you use? Any advice?
I don't use any tbh.
What brand would you love to work for and why?
I love charities, WWF would be great, it's always nice to work for good causes and not just helping big organisations make even more money.
Lastly, whats a normal day look like?
Get up, commute to my office which is next to my bedroom, (via the bathroom of course), check my emails, the news, the football results from the night before, go back to my emails, work for an hour or two, have a cuppa, work for another hour or two, have lunch, check emails, the news, football gossip, work for the rest of the day, evening, late evening, have dinner, etc etc…
Are you looking for a designer to work with?
Mike is a freelance graphic designer/art director from Luton in Bedfordshire. He has over 25 year’s experience working in design, advertising and direct marketing agencies in the UK and overseas.
If you're looking to work with an experienced, creative, and easy going designer, you can get in touch with him on his website www.mikeyoungdesign.co.uk.
You can also find him on FaceBook and Twitter.
Do you make cool things on your Mac? Are you a ‘digital creative’ we could interview? Then what are you waiting for - get in touch!
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