23 Questions!

For the love of the craft that came naturally, a pension for beautiful printed publications and the influences that helped her along the way. Katie shares with us her creative journey.

What sparked your passion for design?
Wanting to emulate all the amazing artists I was obsessed by as a teenager.

How creative were you as a youngster?
Art and drawing were never a forced thing for me, I just did it. It happened organically, as part of every day, it wasn't really a conscious thing.

Do you come from a creative family?
No, not at all, I was the youngest and the only one who thought pens and pencils were more important than sport.

Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
Of course, my Mum was the one who initiated the first official entrance into 'design' as a career, by enrolling me in 'A day in the life of a graphic designer' course.

What sort of education and training have you had?
I studied design through high school at Billy Blue College of Design, then continued this into a Bachelor Degree straight after finishing high school. You could say Billy Blue nurtured me from the very beginning.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
The Face magazine, even though it was defunct, I couldn't get over how much I loved and admired the magazine, I wanted to bring it back.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
I guess my first major project in the industry was designing T-shirt graphics for 'Alfies Friend Rolfe', they had wonderful ideas and I brought them to life through typographic based designs. This was the first time I could harness the love of creating typefaces and see them take on lives of their own on these cool T-shirts.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years?
Obviously for me this question is quite simple, Adobe Creative Suite on Mac, is there any other way? It hasn't happened in the last five years, but my most vital piece of technology is the scanner, it plays an important part in every project!

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
This is a question I have been asking myself lately, I guess on an emotional level I hope it wont as my passion lies in print, but maybe realistically looking at things I guess its already started moving that way. But that is the nature of technology isn't it, always evolving and fazing out the old with it.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
Honestly I could be here all day reeling off names of those who inspire me, but we don't have time for that, so here's a few; Anthony Lister, an artist who is never far from my mind. Alex Trochut, his typeface designs are unlike anything else, his level of creativity is something I aspire too. Jeremy Fish whose quirky illustrations can transport me to another place. Lastly, Australian fashion label Romance Was Born, they ooze creativity, originality and a way of thinking completely left of centre.

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you?
Michael Killalea, senior director of killanoodle, he taught me the in's and out's of publication design and I also had the pleasure of watching him illustrate some wonderful posters. His way of working and his process definitely had a positive influence on my own design aesthetic.

How would you describe your work?
Quirky, fresh, playful, with a strong influence of hand generated elements.

What are your plans for the future?
I would love to work in an environment of like-minded individuals with a similar design aesthetic to myself, with wonderful clients whose products I already admire and for ideas that always get through. Ah, we can only dream!

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
A company that holds dear the passion for designing beautiful and effective pieces that constantly set out to excite and inspire the community. A place where originality, risk-taking and fun are all encouraged.

What is your opinion of Australian design?
A strong community of individuals and agencies, doing their best to do it better than the rest.

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
Best thing, its a small industry where word of mouth plays a major role, good to get your stuff passed from person to person, bad if you find yourself without an entrance into this world.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future?
Staying ahead of the curve.

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
To be honest everything I do links in with design and creativity at some level, whether it be watching bands, checking out what's on the catwalks, or creating my own little zines, I try to constantly keep moving and gain momentum along my way.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
I only moved to Melbourne a month ago, so everything is still new and I certainly haven't explored enough yet to answer this question conclusively. I have had the pleasure of drinking coffee at Empire, a cafe on Sydney Road where Melbourne’s finest street artists have been let loose.

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
ThreeThousand
Lifelounge
Marilyn & Sons
Australia InFront
Resident Advisor

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
I can't stop listening to Deep Forest, really good tram riding music, and yes it is extremely good!

If I was a font, I’d be...?
One of my own creations! Completely new and a bit skewed!