What did you study in college? I studied graphic design at the Allgemeine Gewerbeschule in Basel, Switzerland, for six years and graduated with a diploma equivalent to an MA here in the U.S. My education in Basel has definitely influenced my thinking more than anything else. Do you work primarily by hand or with a computer? Both. A lot of sketching happens away from the computer, in sketchbooks, on snips of paper, the backs of envelopes, etc. The computer then becomes a production tool, where alternative versions can be quickly generated and variations can be explored. Some ideas, however, are directly gener- ated with the computer, because they cannot be sketched, due to their complexity and the mechanics of their construction. Do you find that you have a process for initiating your design work? Yes, it’s called research. I learn about the client as much as I can, understand the problem from the ground up, who the competition is, who the audience is. Then comes thinking and doodling, exploring the visual potential, and always with a consideration of what the media is, making sure of the design’s functionality and appropriateness. When starting a project, how do you feel emotionally? I want this project to be the best I ever did. I want it to be different, groundbreaking; I feel very charged. The closer I get to a presentation, the more anxious I get, especially if I’m not convinced that I have yet found the solution. When do you know a project is finished? A project is finished when the client is happy and paid-up.
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