Should design studios be ’symbolically’ banned from practising for not complying with basic communication standards. Such as replying to emails from people who admire you. Sure, the market is saturated, design schools give away degrees like flyers. Sure, design companies are busy with their clients already, they have a job, they are talented designers. Is it difficult to setup an auto-responder, when you cannot handle every request individually? No it is not. It takes one minute to do it and everyone is happy.
Communication companies should take full responsibility and act upon it. It is not enough to produce stunning graphics for clients such as Nike, Sony, you name it. Been featured in this book, in that one too, oh that’s great! But how good are you at communicating with human beings? How honest are you? Be good, howver talented you are.

Posted by whatever on 21/03/07, 7:07 pm

What does your studio look like?

Posted by pesh on 22/03/07, 11:30 am

This may be of help to many other designers, who are struggling with their self-imposed, rahter than their clients’ restrictions: How did you leave the typical design ground behind, ultimately leading to the unique work you are doing now?

Peter Saville’s original record sleeve for “Blue Monday” had a die cut that cost more in it’s production than the profit the record company gained. So they decided to do the second run without the die cut.
A lot of your work is based on visually stunning and yet very expensive production techniques. How do you persuade your clients that it’s worth it?
(Having the pleasure to come across the “Red Snapper” sleeve in a record store, at least I know it’s more than worth it.)

With your very strong house style, do you find clients or vice versa? And if you do find the client, how do you convince them of your aestetics?

A more mundane question: How long does it take you to develop one of your custom typefaces? How long does it take now compared to your very first ones?

Designers obviously love your works and style. How do non-designers react to it?

What is the most rewarding experience for you after you finished a piece?

Posted by Simon Zirkunow on 22/03/07, 11:41 pm

How will graphic design change over the next couple of years?

Posted by matthew_day on 23/03/07, 1:09 am

how do you guys deal with clients that want tons of stuff in a very short time? do raise the price? or try to squeeze it in the schedule? or just tell them you need more time?

love ya work, by the way.

ciao,
akrok

Posted by akrokdesign on 23/03/07, 7:41 am

What’s your favourite pizza topping?

Posted by WOWBROW on 24/03/07, 10:11 pm

What does your own teamwork look like?

Do you both work on one project? At the same time or at different stages of it? Or does each of you have your own project that you work on and the other one helps with ideas or advice?

Posted by Simon Zirkunow on 27/03/07, 2:05 pm

nice work but why do you show your self with cut-off-heads?

Posted by Thor on 28/03/07, 8:04 am

If you had to make a pitch for your dream job what would it be and what would you say?

How difficult is it to make work without a cient?

we like you very much. ta

Posted by superwoofer on 28/03/07, 5:00 pm

Dear Mr Non-Format,

I have been tracking your work for many years, and as everyone says when they call in to your show, “Long time leader, first time kerner!” I hesitate to be a diacritic, but I am very worried about the colour of some of your letterforms. From what I have heard, you have been putting ALL of your characters on a forced-feeding diet, in order to obtain a more aesthetically pleasing, ‘fat’ look. This has me crazy as a counterform—surely encouraging your glyphs to gorge themselves on Bowl Burgers and Serif Soda will only be leading to a dangerous eating disorder! I’m worried that your glamorous look will cause whole cases of faces to pack on the pounds and could be the start of a dangerous Copy–Contrast fad!

Sincerely,
Steele N. Scheap

Posted by James Jenkins on 29/03/07, 3:58 pm

When you start working on a new project - how do you define your concept towards this project?

What are the concepts for “Black Devil Disco Club - 28 After” or The Chap EPs?

How do you rationalize and explain (to yourselves and to clients) the imagery that you create for these works?

Posted by stupidapp on 09/04/07, 10:51 am

Non-Format,

Do you ever get tired of kicking ass all the time?
Do you ever do something crappy, just to feel like everyone else… Or is it not even possible for you guys to do something crappy?

Are you always “we’re gonna do the best damn stuff you ever seen”, or are there days when you have to meet a deadline or a client request, and the best damn stuff is just not possible?

Cheers,
r

Posted by reedloar on 24/04/07, 4:16 pm