Q: Brian, you designed our 2008 poster (a gift for $100 donors) and recently won the t-shirt contest for This American Life's pledge drive. It seems like you've got pretty good taste in clients! How much does the cause factor into your decision to take on a project?
A: Well, first I’d say you’re giving me way too much credit! Taste? Decisions? I’d say blind luck and stumbling serendipity are the usual factors that lead me to interesting and worthwhile projects such as the NaNoWriMo poster and the t-shirt for This American Life. Not that I don’t leap at these opportunities when they arise—who could resist designing a poster or a t-shirt for organizations that are all about storytelling? I, for one, could not.
However, I’m not exactly walking the earth, like Caine in Kung Fu, trying to bring justice to the people via my design or illustration skills. Sadly I’m not that altruistic or tough. Instead I’m more often than not putting together a brochure about drywall so that I can pay my rent and purchase groceries from Trader Joe’s. So while drywall and its associated construction materials (that’s right, I’m talking about you, adhesive sealant) are subjects that don’t necessarily get the blood stirring, they do help the cash flow.
Like a lot of people, I am often balancing the needs of the soul with the requirements of the stomach. A client’s cause is certainly important and I relish working for people and groups whose interests, values and passions are aligned with my own. I also do my best to avoid working for companies who directly or indirectly harm human health, human rights or the natural environment. But most of the time money and morals aren’t a factor and I’m just hoping that the work will be interesting and challenging. So far, I consider myself fortunate to have worked on so many projects that are both.
Want to see more of Brian's work? Visit his website!