Design Feast Series: Designer’s Quest(ionnaire)

Scott Marshall

Designer and Owner of Omakase Design

Primary design concentration:

Print and Web

Most preferred tool for designing:

I start with pencil roughs and tend to finish on one of the Adobe applications on my Mac.

How and why did you choose to become a designer?

I was already a writer and had taught myself how to draw; I wanted a job that would allow me to combine those skills and learn new ones.

Challenges you encounter as a designer and how do you deal with them?

Clients often don’t know how to explain what they want, only what they don’t like when they see it. Staying flexible and not falling in love with your own concepts or procedures is important.

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

I like things that are actually useful and intuitive, since that is so rare these days; but fine-art design is also nice, if you can find a client who is willing to finance it. The best designs are a bit of both, I think. I remember when I got my first iPod, one of the original ones; I was floored by how simple it was to use, and yet how powerful and how full of potential underneath. That kind of design comes from a lot of trips to the drawing board, not from trying to imitate someone else or meet a certain cost-per-widget ratio.

From skills to values, what makes a designer successful?

Unfortunately, some designers are successful in the “I make a living” sense by just imitating others’ work or cranking stuff out that they know the client will like. because it’s in their comfort zone. To me, being a truly successful designer means that a client comes to you, because you know what you’re doing, they trust you to create something that will meet their needs, and the end user’s needs while still being interesting.

As for the skills behind that philosophy, a designer should understand the fundamentals of drawing, layout, typography, photography, and colour; depending on your field, it may also be useful to know about painting, fabrics, screenprinting, sculpting, film... the list goes on.

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

Finding the right clients makes a huge difference. A client with vision can make even the most pedestrian work, like a three-fold brochure and matching website, an interesting experience. If you’re not feeling challenged by clients, create a sample client and design what you want to design—then show it to others as part of your portfolio. Give them something to aspire to.

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

Look at the design of everything around you, especially things you take for granted. Is your television well-designed? Your car? Your plates? Immerse yourself in it and develop a critical eye for the tension that exists in good design. When you do work for others, understand that it is a collaborative process; rejection of your concept is not about you. Find a way to make it work and be the conduit between your client and the object that they need, but can’t create all by themselves.

What is your quest in design?

To create products that are a win/win/win proposition for myself, the client, and the end-user.

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