Interview with Karo Akpokiere from The Seek Project
Seek Project Illustration
Interview with Nigerian based designer and illustrator Karo Akpokiere.
First of, Design Nigeria would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
Why did you chose to be a graphic designer and illustrator? And why did you chose to go freelance?
I love to draw and the realization that I could build a career off of that love coupled with my desire to be close to computers, moved me to make the decision to be with these disciplines. Graphic design and illustration offer me a lot of range when it comes to what I can achieve with my ability to draw. Honestly, I don’t think I have the capacity to be committed to any other discipline, I believe this is what I have got to do.
On going freelance, I was dissatisfied with my job in advertising and I wanted to have more time to develop my personal portfolio of work, more time to focus on building and promoting my website. It was about watching diligently to see where all of the developing, building and promoting would take me in terms of opportunities for networking, work and learning. I started on this path August of last year.
What is your background- education and work experience?
I am that guy who drew a lot in class. I grew up on a robust and consistent diet of saturday morning cartoons, comic magazines and drawing time. At a time in my life, I dreamt of being a computer scientist and began my ill- advised foray into the world of science however, I got jolted back to reality in ’98 and subsequently enrolled at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos where I got two diplomas, one in General Art and the other in Graphic Design. My 9 – ’5′ existence has seen me spending time with Dove Media Ltd(TV), Warroom Soulsight(brandmarketing) and BrandWarriors Ltd(advertising) all based in Lagos.
Spindly Gang
How do you work? What is your process?
If I am working for a client it goes like this:
Meet with client – This could happen online, via phone or in person. I get as much information about the project and we discuss terms, project deadline etc. I could send a questionaire, but some clients prefer the face to face conversation.
Documentation – I make sure to document the details of the meeting highlighting my requirements and theirs afterwards, I send the client a copy so we are on the same page regarding the project and in other to keep a paper trail. Its not impossible for a client to forget they wanted just a logo and not a business card and logo.
Research – After the initial deposit gets paid, I start gathering information that might help the work, either by reading a book or being firends wth google, wikipedia etc
Sketch, Sketch, Sketch – based on research and clients requirements and then send some of them(sketches) to client for approval
Scan sketch (after approval), trace sketch or create design using sketch as guide.
Get final approval from client then send files and my invoice.
If I am the client:
Research(sometimes) and then sketch for extended periods. Scan. Sometimes I go on to trace and color on the computer and sometimes I color without the computer.
Cloudy Highway wallpaper for the FWA
Do you work in an office or from home?
I presently work from home as this is a more cost effective option for me right now
What do you think are the pros and cons of being a freelance designer?
Pros
You have the capacity to set your own work schedule and to determine your workload.
You have the ‘time’ to do what you love to do and the time to develop yourself and learn new things.
You determine where you want to work and how much you want to get paid.
Cons
Granted, freelancing exposes one to other disciplines( accounting, marketing etc) , but sometimes you just what to do what you love to do alone.
Sometimes large companies want to deal with equally large companies not freelancers.
As a freelancer, there may be times when you will wonder were all the commercial jobs have gone, and this period of wonderment could sometimes be on extended play and remember no one is handing you a pay cheque at months’ end. Downtimes can be stressful of ones ability to manage money and budget properly is faulty during the freelance boom periods. However downtimes can be used to get lots of personal work done(pro).
Freelancing takes up a lot of your time and demands a lot, it’s hard not to think about work most of the time. At the end, freelancing is a wonderful opportunity for one to grow and learn.
The Hundreds
What factors affect your design process the most?
The project deadline, the money and the client.
Do you find that running a design blog helps you land work?
I have gotten a fair bit of work from having a design blog. The having of a blog keeps your work in the face of people and definitely gives an edge when it comes to them making the decision to choose a designer, however you have got to actively promote it for work to come.
Illustration for Design is Kinky, Australia
What are the design tools that you couldn’’t live without?
Pencils,markers,pens, paper and finally a computer (mac preferably) running Illustrator, CorelDraw, Photoshop, dreamweaver etc.
What are some of your inspirations?
I am inspired by hip-hop culture, Genesis 1, screen-printing, animation, sneaker design, t-shirt graphics, history, geometry, music, symbols, Apple computers, designer interviews etc.
What other designers / illustrators inspire you?
Saul Bass, Keith Haring, Paul Rand, Stefan Kanchev, Shepard Fairey, Saki Mafundikwa, Faith 47, Tayo Odutola, Swankone, Jon Burgerman, Jeremyville, Nate Williams, Matthew Moore (MWM), Stefan Bucher, Taksashi Murakami, Tomer Hanuka, Benny Gold etc.
Do you follow any designers/bloggers online? What are your favorite 5 websites, and why?
Designer/bloggers
Hazel Dooney – hazeldooney.blogspot.com, David Airey – www.davidairey.com, Scott Hansen – blog.iso50.com, Hugh Macleod – www.gapingvoid.com, Penelope Trunk – blog.penelopetrunk.com, Von Glitschka- artbackwash.blogspot.com, Nate Williams – www.n8w.com
Favourite websites
www.thehundreds.com – This site chronicles the day to day activities of The Hundreds clothing brand. Its a huge resource base for anyone interested in starting a clothing label.
www.thefwa.com – this site archives some of the most beautiful and effective flash sites from most part of the world.
www.behance.net – features designer portfolios, designer interviews,personal development and business articles.
www.davidairey.com – David Airey has got depth when it comes to logo design and logo design and design related issues, think of it as logo design university.
www.formatmag.com – offers a comprehensive take on urban youth culture and the various subcultures that flow from it. The site has got a deep handle on sneaker culture, graffiti, lowbrow art,street art, urban fashion etc. It comes with interviews and features.
Starface with the Exception Headgear
Would you call yourself a type enthusiast? What fonts do you like?
Yes!, I am very much interested in type and I have a preference for hand drawn type because it is more original and smells of individuality. However, on the formal side of things I love the muted elegance, staying power and cult status(amongst designers) that Helvetica has. I also like Baskerville Classico.
How long does it take you to make things?
This depends on the project and it can be from from 1 hour to many weeks.
We’ve seen that you’ve got many cools works in your portfolio. Which is your favourite, print design, illustration or typography?
I will have to go with illustration as I get to draw a bit more in that area.
Picking a favourite project for a designer is like picking a favourite child for amother. But what has been one of your favourite projects so far and why?
I will have to pick the SeekProject logo as the logo represents a period in my life when I got exposed to artists like Keith Haring, Takashi Murakami, Shepard Fairey and Dave Kinsey via the book: 100% Cotton, it represents a time when I got my first computer, having the computer and been exposed to the work and philosophies of these artists helped shaped the direction of my talent and my thoughts of what art and design is and can do. It represents a time when I was discovering some things and people for the first time, a time when my mind was opening up artwise.
The SeekProject logo itself is a product of discovery, I stumbled on it while working on another logo for a school project.
Inhale, exhale (give love, take love)
What is the best piece of advice you would give someone just starting out in design?
Focus on building your creative thinking skills by reading a lot and sketching a lot. Read about design and art history and about areas other than design. Know about the elements and principles of design. All of the reading and sketching will enable you birth ideas that you can take to computer-land. Learn how to use the computer but be friendly with the books and the ‘paper’.
You can and should study and be inspired by the work of others but also focus on discovering yourself and be in tune with your interests, passions and as time goes on be unafraid to let your interests and passions influence your work.
Never look down on your work, always be grateful for where you are and what you have got design-wise. There always will be people who know more than you do and people who don’t know as much so be open to learning from those who know more and be open to helping those who don’t know as much.
Thank you Ebi for having me interviewed, I appreciate it.
To read more about Karo and his work please visit www.seekproject.com where you will find his blog and portfolio.
We’d love to hear your thoughts or to ask any questions please drop a comment here.
ok! Finally am in awe!!!!
Thanks man!