What difficulties did you face at the beginning of your career?
One thing that I remember is how insecure I was of acting certain of things. Now that I’m older I realize that no one is certain of anything and that no one really knows but we all act as if we do. Another thing that was hard was dealing with all the administrative stuff that needs to be done. Everything from insurances and accounting to contracts and various office stuff.
What should a young designer do in order not to get hired by anybody?
Act like a douchebag obviously. Act very precocious in every single situation big as small. Put a stick in your bum. Think that you know everything when in fact you don’t know anything at all. Be a very good anti-design designer with lots and lots of skill and experience to use drop shadows, Comic Sans, emboss effects and such.
Are there any things you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?
I wish I knew that clients are most often wrong. I wish I knew that ice coffee can be made very easily in the studio. I wish I knew that life after all is up to each and everyone of us to find, nurture bla bla some kind of bullshit here.
Are there any rules or habits that help you do your job more efficiently?
Most certainly. To always keep evolving and take things further, higher and to extremes. To constantly question the world around us including our industry. To always consume, create as well as be a part of the culture and time around you.
Would you recommend some books that young designers might find useful?
Karlssonwilker inc.’s Tellmewhy: The First 24 Months of a New York Design Company. Very humorous and honest. A great read. SNASK — Make Enemies & Gain Fans. Our own book about being a graphic designer and starting out (yes, I just wrote our own review).
Fredrik answered the questions on July 24, 2014.
The answers were published on July 28, 2014.
The answers were published on July 28, 2014.