8 Questions: Designer Derek Gabryszak
8 Questions is a new feature where we ask designers, artists and illustrators the same 8 getting-to-know-you questions (sort of like the web series 7 Minutes In Heaven but without the closet and awkward kissing). We’ve chosen questions we think will elicit informative, character revealing and insightful answers, allowing readers to learn from and get to know these lovely people a little better.
Derek Gabryzak is kind enough to be our first guinea pig from the wild and wonderful design community. Most recently he’s contributed to the second annual Bad Dads show put on by one of our favorite pop culture galleries, San Fransisco’s Spoke Art (we got a sneak peek at his fantastic Fantastic Mr. Fox print and previously, the Fargo print you see below).
Derek recently added Fargo and Suspira to his poster shop. Fargo is a 24×18-inch, 4-color print on French 100lb. Starch White Speckletone paper, and has an edition of 50, and runs at $35. Suspira is a 24×36-inch, 2-color print on French 100lb. Red Hot Pop-tone paper, with an edition of 40 and runs at $40.
And now, 8 questions:
Helplessly devoted to nonsense.
I’ve been a designer for almost 4 years. I graduated college about 4 years ago…and then moved to New York a bit after that. But I started designing, or having an interest specifically in design when I was around 13. Me and a friend were both really into Nirvana, and he made fan websites about Nirvana and Kurt Cobain, and I thought that was cool, so I started doing it too.
Oh boy, lots of things… movies are a big one, maybe the biggest. They are the combination of every art… the image, and composition, how that image looks, how it moves to another image, whats happening in the image, and scene, dialog, writing, music, the score, lighting, directors, actors, etc, etc, etc… They have everything. I love that. But also music, nonsense, comedy, posters, other designers, coffee, David Byrne, beer…the list goes on.
The scope of it. I focus on designing for movies, and film, and entertainment, but each week could bring up a completely different genre or industry to get to work for and learn about. And because of that, I pay attention to lots of other advertising as well. Over the summer I researched Lucha Libre masks for a project, next month I might need to study up on tooth paste packaging or dog food or something…who knows.
Dishwashing? Unfortunately I don’t have a terribly exciting story here… I always thought working in restaurants was a great thing though…theres something fun about it. There’s a unique camaraderie…
I’m all over the place… Shepard Fairey and Stefan Sagmeister were the first people that really stood out that made me want to make things, or at least that made me want to remember their names. Saul Bass is always huge. Those may be obvious, but they definitely influenced me. As I grew beyond them, the entire gig poster scene always amazed, and still does amaze me. Aesthetic Apparatus, Print Mafia, Little Friends of Printmaking, Patent Pending, Delicious Design League, Hero Design Studio (they taught me how to print)…I think my two absolute favorites are a designer from Amsterdam called Parra, his colors and lines never disappoint me. He’s also very much into nonsense. And John Heartfield. Everything about John Heartfield is amazing. I love the variety in his career, and he has a great story. He took some very non-traditional steps during his career. He was inventive, original, talented, funny, dedicated, honest… he was amazing.
I have the Jules and Jim poster in my living room, the one of them running on the bridge. That’s one of my favorite movies ever, but I love that poster too. That shot of them is beautiful, and after seeing the movie, you realize how much of it’s essence really is in that picture. I love posters that can do that. The One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest poster does a very similar thing. It’s quite simply an image from the film, but one that defines it perfectly. It’s wonderful.
I don’t know if I’m a particularly qualified to answer this one, but you have to be hungry. This type of design (printing and posters and silly stuff like that) is rather niche, and often doesn’t pay well, so have backup plans or other things to keep you busy. It’s even tough finding more traditional office-type, advertising design work, so you have to think of new ways to get yourself in front of people.I can only speak in reference to my experience, but I think there are a lot of closed doors in the world, so you might have to find other ways into the room that has the company you’re after. And make friends once you’re in.
Thanks Derek! Be sure to check out more from him at his website thatsthewayitgoes.com and buy some prints!
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