Real name: Alex Arinsberg
1. Tell us a little about yourself:
I live in a little cement room in downtown Los Angeles. Out the window i am watching the hustle and bustle of the city. I never dreamed that pursuing a career in what we call "communications" would lead to me spending the majority of my day alone, closed off from the world, burning my legs underneath a laptop computer that drags me through the aesthetic mud of "universal language" and "color theory". Actually, I enjoy it a lot. Graphic design was the result of a get-rich-quick scheme that didn't turn out to be so quick. It involved two years of design training at Art Center College of Design, a million hours of job inquiries and freelance pro-bono, and a lot of time spent writing, sketching, banging my head on a table, but it is what I love. We who share the compulsion to make the world beautiful find a venue for it in one way or another..
2. What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of working as a creative?
Before I decided to pursue design, I wrote a lot, and I made art a lot. For me, the transition from expressive, intrapersonal art-making, to that which functions as a social tool was a huge leap. At times I still need to step back and ask myself whether the direction I am creating is what I want to say or my client wants to say. Often the difference between those two messages can be drastic. In that same respect, it is fulfilling to have the opportunity to make things more pleasant to read, more expressive, more interesting, even though as designers our presence usually only lifts the eyebrows of those already involved in the industry.
3. Describe the creative process, do you have a working model that you follow?
At the end of the day, I believe that we can measure our success by how genuinely we communicate our ideas. With that said, when I am confronted with a design issue, I usually put it away and go hang out with my friends. We'll have a few beers and talk about the latest problems life has dealt us. Dialogue is our oldest and most direct form of communication; it's faster than sketching, it's faster than Photoshop, And for me, understanding the task at hand is half of the job. Its easy for me to get stuck in design. Realistically, if i am asked to design an ice-cream parlor, it is relatively easy because i know how i want to eat ice cream, but talking about it will bring up all the different flavors, the different little hats the employees could wear, all of the word-play associated with ice cream. Dialoge creates excitemet and abstraction, two things that I believe are essential to good design.
4. How has today’s technology helped you in your work?
I was more or less born in a computer age. I never had to cut out acetate or set up type. The pace that we design nowadays is expeditious to say the least, but I guess it is intriguing that i can do a months work in a couple hours. Also, the idea of user-friendliness is notable; design tools are becoming so much easier for everyday-folks to use, I imagine that craft and design theory will also transition alongside. Exciting.
5. What are your plans for the future?
Im going to have lunch a little bit later with my neighbor downstairs. I think we'll probably have Mexican..
6. Can you describe your ”dream client” or ”dream case”.
Its a hot Los Angeles summer afternoon, Im sitting in the park, thinking about employment. My phone rings and when I pick it up, i get an ear-full of familiar voices. Its a conference call of all my favorite local artists and musicians. They inform me that they've decided to start an art-collective and I have been nominated to be the creative director. "that sounds great!," I say "What does that entail exactly?" "Well, we definitely want to have an annual periodical published with our works, writings, just interesting stuff in general. We also want to do promotional schemes and things that will raise public awareness of the collective, you know, we gotta stay up!" "ok" "We also managed to get gallery/production space in Chinatown, you know, right above your favorite bar? We're gonna need you to put that together also" "That sounds great!" I say. And then I wake up.
7. How did you come into contact with Mypitch?
Aimlessly wandering the internet looking for work...
8. What are your thoughts about Mypitch – The good and the bad?
I am a bad interviewee, which is hard when one is looking for a job. I am also not really much of a "social butterfly", which isn't a prerequisite, but it certainly helps when your doing freelance. Mypitch is great because I don't need to be especially charismatic, I can just take a shot at a project and let my work speak for itself. It's a breath of fresh air, especially here in Los Angeles, where winks and handshakes dominate the business world.
9. Any tips for other creatives who are thinking of joining and taking part in pitches from Mypitch.com?
There's and expression we like to use here in Southern California: Put your pants on before you iron them. It feels great and leaves a nice crease!
Alex, thank you so much for your inspirational answers and we wish you the best of luck in our future creative briefs here on Mypitch.com!
/ Team Mypitch
