I Used to Be a Design Student

Book description

This book offers a rare chance to read what graphic designers feel about their education and profession. Fifty influential designers give the low-down about their student days and their professional lives. A piece of their college work is shown alongside an example of current work. Each designer also offers a key piece of advice and a warning, making this a must-read for anyone embarking on a career in design.

The book looks at the process a designer goes through in finding their 'voice'. Topics addressed include how ideas are researched and developed; design and other cultural influences, then and now; positive and negative aspects of working as a designer; motivations for becoming a designer; and whether it's really possible to teach design.

Contributors include Stefan Sagmeister, James Goggin, Karlssonwilker, Studio Dumbar, Cornel Windlin, Daniel Eatock, Spin, Hyperkit, and Christian Küsters.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Imprint information
  4. Preface
  5. Comparison I Wake-up time then/now
  6. Comparison II Mode of transport then/now
  7. Comparison III Favourite food then/now
  8. Comparison IV Weight then/now
  9. Comparison V Exercise then/now
  10. Comparison VI Most valued possession then/now
  11. Comparison VII Student years then and professional years now
  12. Comparison VIII Portraits of the 50 designers then/now
  13. Student work of 50 graphic designers: Projects Then
    1. Andreas Gnass Hochschule Darmstadt Germany
    2. Andrew Stevens Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    3. Annelys de Vet Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht The Netherlands
    4. António S. Gomes Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade de Lisboa Portugal
    5. Ben Branagan Kingston University London United Kingdom
    6. Bernd Hilpert ENSCI Les Ateliers Paris France
    7. Brian Webb Canterbury College of Art United Kingdom
    8. Christian Heusser Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel Switzerland
    9. Daniel Eatock Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    10. Danijela Djokic Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd Germany
    11. Emmi Salonen University of Brighton United Kingdom
    12. Éric & Marie Gaspar Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design London United Kingdom
    13. Fons Hickmann Fachhochschule Düsseldorf Germany
    14. Hans Dieter Reichert Universität-Gesamthochschule Essen Germany
    15. Holger Jacobs Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    16. Hoon Kim Rhode Island School of Design Providence USA
    17. Hyoun Youl Joe Dankook University Seoul South Korea
    18. Isabelle Swiderski Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design Vancouver Canada
    19. James Goggin Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    20. Jan Wilker Staatliche Akademie der Bildenen Künste Stuttgart Germany
    21. Julie Gayard Camberwell College of Arts London United Kingdom
    22. Kai von Rabenau Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design London United Kingdom
    23. Ken Garland Central School of Arts & Crafts London United Kingdom
    24. Kirsty Carter University of Brighton United Kingdom
    25. Kristine Matthews Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    26. Lars Harmsen Hochschule Pforzheim Germany
    27. Laurent Lacour Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach am Main Germany
    28. Liza Enebeis Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    29. Lucinda Noble Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    30. Maki Suzuki Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    31. Marc van der Heijde Academy of Art and Design St. Joost Breda The Netherlands
    32. Margaret Calvert Chelsea College of Art London United Kingdom
    33. Marion Fink Royal College of Art London United Kingdom
    34. Martin Lorenz Hochschule Darmstadt Germany
    35. Matthias Görlich Hochschule Darmstadt Germany
    36. Michael Georgiou Vakalo College of Art & Design Athens Greece
    37. Nikki Gonnissen Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht The Netherlands
    38. Oliver Klimpel Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig Germany
    39. Paul Barnes University of Reading United Kingdom
    40. Prem Krishnamurthy Yale College New Haven USA
    41. Renata Graw University of Illinois at Chicago USA
    42. Richard Walker Camberwell College of Arts London United Kingdom
    43. Sandra Hoffmann Schule für Gestaltung Basel Switzerland
    44. Sascha Lobe Hochschule Pforzheim Germany
    45. Stefan Sagmeister Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien Austria
    46. Sven Voelker Hochschule für Künste Bremen Germany
    47. Tim Balaam Camberwell College of Arts London United Kingdom
    48. Urs Lehni Hochschule Luzern Switzerland
    49. Yasmin Khan CalArts– California Institute of the Arts Valencia USA
    50. Yves Fidalgo ECAL–Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne Switzerland
  14. Professional work of 50 graphic designers: Projects Now
    1. Andreas Gnass U9 visuelle Allianz Offenbach am Main Germany
    2. Andrew Stevens Graphic Thought Facility (GTF) London United Kingdom
    3. Annelys de Vet Brussels Belgium
    4. António S. Gomes barbara says... Projecto Próprio Lisbon Portugal
    5. Ben Branagan London United Kingdom
    6. Bernd Hilpert unit-design Frankfurt am Main Germany
    7. Brian Webb Webb&Webb Design London United Kingdom
    8. Christian Heusser Equipo Basel Switzerland
    9. Daniel Eatock London United Kingdom
    10. Danijela Djokic Projekttriangle Stuttgart Germany
    11. Emmi Salonen Studio Emmi London United Kingdom
    12. Éric & Marie Gaspar ÉricandMarie Paris France
    13. Fons Hickmann Fons Hickmann m23 Berlin Germany
    14. Hans Dieter Reichert HDR Visual Communication East Malling United Kingdom
    15. Holger Jacobs Mind Design London United Kingdom
    16. Hoon Kim Why Not Smile New York USA
    17. Hyoun Youl Joe Hey Joe Seoul South Korea
    18. Isabelle Swiderski Seven25 Vancouver Canada
    19. James Goggin Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago USA
    20. Jan Wilker karlssonwilker New York USA
    21. Julie Gayard Jutojo Berlin Germany
    22. Kai von Rabenau mono.graphie Berlin Germany
    23. Ken Garland London United Kingdom
    24. Kirsty Carter A Practice for Every day Life London United Kingdom
    25. Kristine Matthews Studio Matthews Seattle USA
    26. Lars Harmsen MAGMA Brand Design Karlsruhe Germany
    27. Laurent Lacour Hauser Lacour Frankfurt am Main Germany
    28. Liza Enebeis Studio Dumbar Rotterdam The Netherlands
    29. Lucinda Newton-Dunn space-to-think Los Angeles USA
    30. Maki Suzuki Åbäke London United Kingdom
    31. Marc van der Heijde Studio Dumbar Rotterdam The Netherlands
    32. Margaret Calvert London United Kingdom
    33. Marion Fink Basel Switzerland
    34. Martin Lorenz TwoPoints.Net Barcelona Spain
    35. Matthias Görlich Studio Matthias Görlich Darmstadt Germany
    36. Michael Georgiou G Design Studio Athens Greece
    37. Nikki Gonnissen Thonik Amsterdam The Netherlands
    38. Oliver Klimpel Büro International London United Kingdom
    39. Paul Barnes London United Kingdom
    40. Prem Krishnamurthy Project Projects New York USA
    41. Renata Graw Plural Chicago USA
    42. Richard Walker KK Outlet/Kesselskramer London United Kingdom
    43. Sandra Hoffmann Robbiani Visual Studies Berne Switzerland
    44. Sascha Lobe L2M3 Stuttgart Germany
    45. Stefan Sagmeister Sagmeister Inc. New York USA
    46. Sven Voelker Sven Voelker Studio Berlin Germany
    47. Tim Balaam Hyperkit London United Kingdom
    48. Urs Lehni Lehni-Trüb, Rollo Press, Corner College Zürich Switzerland
    49. Yasmin Khan Counterspace Los Angeles USA
    50. Yves Fidalgo Fulguro Lausanne Switzerland
  15. Appendix 1 with additional information on the work experience and further influences of the 50 designers
  16. Comparison IX Past and present plan Bs (hypothetical)
  17. Comparison X Age of first design career thought and whether one would do it all over again
  18. Comparison XI Hours spent designing then/now
  19. Comparison XII Idea development and research then/now
  20. Comparison XIII Influential designers then/now
  21. Comparison XIV Influential design pieces then/now
  22. Comparison XV Influential authors and books then/now
  23. Comparison XVI Influential artists then/now
  24. Comparison XVII Influential directors and films then/now
  25. Comparison XVIII Likes and dislikes about working as a designer now
  26. Appendix 2 with addresses and contact information for the 50 designers
  27. Information about the authors of this book

Product information

  • Title: I Used to Be a Design Student
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: February 2013
  • Publisher(s): Laurence King
  • ISBN: 9781856698986