Design Feast Series: Designer’s Quest(ionnaire)

Annaka Olsen

Graphic Designer

Primary design concentration:

Design for Arts & Culture

Most preferred tools for designing:

Adobe InDesign

Art + Design auction catalog for Wright

How and why did you choose to become a designer?

Honestly, I don’t remember even thinking there were other possibilities or choices for me. I was always building and making as a child, and from an early age, would tell everyone that I would be an architect (I don’t think “designer” was in my vocabulary in 3rd grade). I started taking art, graphic design, architecture, and photography classes as soon as they were available to me while I was growing up. I think every school project I was given ended up revolving around some sort of scale model or intricate infographic. In high school, I would take the train into the city after school, and pick up flyers and postcards for gallery shows. I would redesign the exhibition materials for each particular show based off the information I had from the flyers. By the time I was ready to look at college, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to art school to study graphic design and art.

Self-Initiated redesign of exhibition materials for Generative Art, part of Moscow Biennale

What are some of the challenges you encounter as a designer and how do you deal with them?

I think that a big challenge for me has been getting too close to projects and no longer being able to objectively assess its value or effectiveness. It’s hard when you pour over a design or a book system and you keep pushing further to a point where you don’t know which iteration was better or worse. I’ve found, if I don’t take some time to step away, approaching it again when my eyes and mind are rested, I won’t be able to present the work confidently and clearly, or move forward in the best direction.

What is your definition of an “elegant solution,” that is, good design?

Good design should always solve the problem it’s asked, but I think the “elegant solution” stays with the audience. Be it subversive, challenging, witty, immaculately typeset, self-referential, there are a thousand ways to the elegant solution, and you really only know it when you see it, and you can’t stop thinking about it after it’s gone.

From skills to values, what makes a designer successful?

Putting in the time and being nice. Nothing is more rewarding than working hard and staying a kind person.

How do you stay motivated and grow personally and professionally as a designer?

I can’t deny that it’s hard, especially through a Chicago winter. I think that when I’ve found it harder to go out to the lectures and gallery openings, I’ll try to keep up with reading and researching in my spare time. Continuing to keep design or art expanding in my life, even when I’ve felt more introverted has helped keep me curious and motivated to grow.

For those aspiring to become a designer, whatever the discipline, what is your advice?

If your passion is design, this is the best time to become a designer. The community around design is welcoming and nurturing, the world has become aware of the importance of design in our lives, and there are a million resources available to those just starting out.

Especially as young designers, it’s easy to get discouraged when we have access to a global bank of images and ideas to constantly judge ourselves against. As long as you keep working and learning, the work will keep getting better. Ira Glass has a good speech that I always come back to.

Website and logo design for Chicago Artists Writers, an experimental criticism platform

What is your quest in design, from a professional practice, education or evolution standpoint?

What I value most in this world is the creation of art and culture in our societies. If I can use my career and design practice to champion and support these communities and the institutions that protect them, I will be satisfied.

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