Interview
Have you ever met someone that inspired you so much that you found yourself thinking what it would
be like to live a day in their shoes? Or maybe you've day dreamed about what you might say to
that person if you ever met them "in real life". Well, we have, and we did!
We asked famed international designer and illustrator Radim Malinic,
a.k.a. Brand Nu, the questions everyone wants to know but were afraid to ask.
And hey, even if they aren't exactly what you would ask, it's a great look into the life
of a major trend setter that has helped propel us to where we are today. Enjoy it!
FAIRspot: What's the more difficult role, Designer or Art Director?
Radim Malinic | Brand Nu: Hmm ... Art Director talks more, Designer creates more. If you do both, you talk while designing :)
FS: What makes someone a "great" designer?
RM: A pair of hands, eyes and legs ... oh and the rest of the body, obviously .. hehe. I don't really know what the secret recipe is to be a 'great' designer.
If you are open to new things, willing to observe and keep up with the time and pace around you, maybe they are the key ingredients.
Maybe not, who knows. I would only say, stay true to yourself ...
FS: Why have you chosen to be represented by an agent as opposed to representing yourself?
RM: I've been freelancing for the best part of 5 years now and thought I've come to the point where I reached all the possible options on my own.
When I released my showcase book, the interest from agents was quite a thing:) It was definitely a good door-opener. Being represented
by agents on both sides of the pond bears great benefits of taking the skills to higher level and opportunity to work for bigger clients.
FS: Is there a method to your madness when it comes to choosing color?
RM: Nah, I don't have a set plan at any time, I just go with the client's brief. Although I get very open commissions where
I just do what I want. There's a little technique I've developed with PSD brushes where by overlaying strokes colour becomes more vibrant.
FS: How long does an "average" print piece take you from start to finish?
RM: I hardly work on anything for more than a day or night. Depending on a brief or image it could take 2-4 hours.
FS: How do you know when a piece is finally "done"?
RM: When I run out of time or space:). There's a feeling when the image contains the right amount of detail, colour vibrancy and looks strong.
Also, when you start smiling in the middle of the night when your piece starts making sense and you're happy.
But sometimes, I find myself working on a piece that I feel isn't working. The next day though, it makes perfect sense.
It's quite important to leave things to digest.
FS: The Sloanes Interior Murals are insane. What was it like producing such a large scale piece and how were the final images transferred to the wall?
RM: These murals were my first 4GB files ever. Although created at 100dpi this was quite a mammoth of a job. Sloanes wanted to bring the outside inside
with a play on the English Country garden mixed with music elements. For example, each piece didn't take longer that one day to illustrate. It was enjoyable from beginning
to start, client wasn't chopping and changing at all, which made it really easy to finish. Then it was sent to a specialist printer who do wallpapers and that kind of tricks.
I believe it was then down to interior designers to paste it all up and apply each strip of wallpaper.
FS: What items do you carry in your pockets every day?
RM: My P990i, which is a crap of a phone and my cash cards. I never had a wallet in my life, so occasionally some loose change.
I could be spotted with my man-bag where I drag about a couple of copies of my book and other needed promo, just in case.
FS: If someone paid you $10 Million dollars to quit designing today, and you couldn't do anything design related for the rest of your life, would you accept the offer?
If so, what would you do instead of design?
RM: I guess there a little hole in your proposal, hehe. I would possibly accept the offer, use the money to open a design studio and art direct all the work.
There's some great designers and illustrators that I would hire and live a happy life.
FS: We heard you were in a killer band before! Do you still play? What music groups do you listen to the most?
RM: Yup, although my band days are over I still occasionally play my guitar, usually to pick up a song. It was fun back in day when
we played very heavy rock with me on the mic in the front a few hundred people. We then mellowed out and played more grunge
Alice in Chains type of stuff, but then I started djing and found it more rewarding. When you're in a band it's always politics of what
direction to take. Djing was much easier as I played what I wanted. Easy as that, hehe. These days I still love discovering new music of any kind really.
Right now I'm searching of a perfect deep house mixtape and some minimal beats. My collections counts more that 600 - 700 CDs and there's at least
the same amount I would love to buy. The only problems is that I've run out of space in the house. On a normal day I listen to Fink, Ben Westbeech, anything
from Sonar Kollektiv, Blind Melon, Incubus, Erykah Badu, occassional Jamiroquai, Reef, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Terry Callier ... anything with a nice beat and feel.
FS: The next time one of your fans catches you at the bars in Southampton, what drink should they order you?
RM: Pint of black stuff.... hehe... Guinness please.
FS: What's the most important lesson you've learned since becoming a designer that you'd like to pass on to everyone?
RM: There's quite a few actually, with being more patient as one of the most important ones.
FS: What should we expect from Brand Nu for the remainder of 2008?
RM: At the moment I don't have much of a plan. I've just relaunched my website at www.brandnu.co.uk where finally I my work is presented in its full glory.
My last site was good, but I didn't feel I worked it out too well back then. Yesterday I've opened Nu Visual Language exhibition
which was a major project in works, I'm still working with O2 Germany on all their illustrations this year, working with Heineken too right now and
a few other projects that keep me awake at night. There's a range of illustrations for perfume packaging which I've just finished, it was quite a nice
change to apply my ideas into a new dimensions and I really enjoyed it.
Like what you see?
All works above are produced by and copyrighted by Radim Milinic | Brand Nu.
To view more of Radim's work, please visit his online portfolio at brandnu.co.uk. To purchase some of his prints, visit the brand Nu online store.
Other Stuff
Competitions
Submit your art for the chance to exhibit at the 1/1 Art of Football Show in Basel, alongside some of the world’s most respected talents. Just one rule: Be True.
Deadline: May 18, 2008
Wolda is the high-profile graphic design awards scheme that rewards the best logos and trademarks designed throughout the world.
Deadline: May 20, 2008
Buy any Adobe Creative Suite 3 Premium edition and you could win a copy of the Master Collection.
Deadline: May 26, 2008
Design the Official T in the Park Tee! This tee will be sold on the official stalls and worn by millions… well thousands at least.
Deadline: May 30, 2008
Sappi awards $1 million annually to support causes that matter to the design community.
Deadline: May 30, 2008
Bring the Loop'd brand to life and win $500 cash by redesigning their logo/identity!
Deadline: June 1, 2008
On a quest to identify the top 50 brightest young professionals across myriad creative disciplines.
Deadline: June 2, 2008
Any design project printed, published or aired for the first time between June 3, 2007 and June 1, 2008 is eligible.
Deadline: June 2, 2008
Any advertising project printed, published or aired for the first time between June 3, 2007 and June 1, 2008 is eligible.
Deadline: June 2, 2008
JPG 17 will feature the theme Street Fashion, candid street photography showcasing the styles of real people around the world.
Deadline: June 2, 2008
Submit your work in any visual medium relating to the theme "Days and Weeks" for the chance to get published in Issue 7.
Deadline: June 15, 2008
Nation wide search for photographic excellence. Winners will have their work presented in a massive scale photo show on buildings in NYC and more!
Deadline: June 17, 2008
Students are asked to create a cover to fit the theme, “DESIGN CULTURE YOUTH,” the focus of PRINT's New Visual Artists issue.
Deadline: June 30, 2008
Any interactive, interface or motion designs for the web, for kiosks, for broadcast or for use on Macintosh or Windows platforms.
Deadline: July 15, 2008
Re-design the mascot for NI-Limits and win $300USD, blog recognition and a possible job position.
Deadline: September 30, 2008
Any interactive project created for digital distribution on the World Wide Web, CD-ROM, interactive kiosk or handheld device is eligible.
Deadline: January 16, 2009
Events
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May 18-21, 2008
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May 20-21, 2008
San Francisco, California, USA
May 22-23, 2008
San Francisco, California, USA
May 28-29, 2008
London, UK
May 29-30, 2008
Chicago, Illinois, USA
June 6, 2008
Sidney, Australia
June 12-13, 2008
Buffalo, New York, USA
July 15-20, 2008
Galiano Island, Canada
August 3-8, 2008
Galiano Island, Canada
August 10-15, 2008
San Francisco, California, USA
August 18-19, 2008
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