Today’s featured designer is all the way from Central Bristol and you might remember his name from one of our previous blog post’s TeachingShop, one of his latest masterpieces. We did a quick interview with David about his life and work, enjoy the read!
What & Where did you study?
I studied Fine Art (practice & theory) at Lancaster University. I went in specialising in true-to-life pencil drawings and came out the other end specialising in Video & Installation art. Somewhere along the way I lost my passion and felt I needed a reason for producing what I did – a brief as it were. Graphic Design provided me that brief and purpose.
Where did your passion for design start?
I have to say I’m a ‘late bloomer’ – I didn’t realise I wanted to do graphic design until after I graduated from university (with a degree in Fine Art), but looking back the signs were there… All my artwork throughout school, 6th form and university featured typographical elements and clean lines (you’d never find me with a paint brush in my hand!) so it seemed an awareness for functional graphic design was embedded in me somewhere.
Where have you been employed previously and where are you employed now?
After university I moved to the city of Bristol as Lancaster post-study had become a little stale for me. It was in Bristol that I got my first proper graphic design role at Bristol-based agency Fanatic. I spent four years here learning everything I needed to know and working my way up to Senior Designer. In December 2009 I left to become freelance and Lick Studio was born. After a busy year things are evolving and I’ve recently set up a new creative agency with web developer Oliver Gosling called Hype & Slippers. Although things are at a very early stage (finding time to work on the new company’s branding is proving difficult) things are going very well and I’m hoping to phase Lick Studio out by the Summer.
Which project to date has been your favorite one and why?
Either TeachingShop or Goslingo – both really allowed me the freedom and flexibility to explore creative routes. I feel that if a client trusts your judgement then you’re able to produce your best work for them. TeachingShop seemed to design itself – one idea flowed to another… I couldn’t get enough. I went way over budget, but didn’t mind whatsoever. I’m really looking forward to the main site launching later this year so I can shout from the rooftops about it!
I recently did some branding of a Marketing agency in London called ‘the New Black’ – it was a lovely little project to do and we designed some beautiful business cards to support the brand.
Do you have any advice for young designers out there?
Get your work on Behance – the amount of exposure if they pick up one of your projects is phenomenal. It’s a really great platform. And if you’re planning on going freelance expect to work around the clock. It’s been the most tiring 12 months, but also the most rewarding and exciting.
At the young age of 26 David has really made a big name for himself not only in the world of print but has gained huge respect amoung the web design community. We look forward to more fantastic projects from this talented designer, and wish him goodluck in his new venture with Oliver Gosling!
