i’ve featured jim’s work on this blog before, but now it’s time to feature jim. jim hargreaves is a 26 year old designer living and working in denver, co.
dc: what prompted you to pursue graphic design?
jh: you couldn’t invent a better profession for me even if you tried. i studied fine arts as an undergraduate, but as much as i enjoy painting and drawing and the like, it’s the intersection of problem-solving, language, and imagery that really excites me. and i suppose it was meant to be… my mother was a music teacher and my father is a financial adviser – talk about right brain vs. left brain. i got a little of both.
i’ve always had a lot of curiosities too (evidenced by my discovery channel addiction). graphic design allows you to get a taste of whatever you’re working on. if you’re designing a restaurant identity you may get to follow the chef for a day. a poster for the elephant man? you get to study genetic conditions in 19th century britain. i love the process, and the discovery, and can’t really imagine doing anything else.
dc: who are your top three design heroes and why?
jh: it’s hard to say who my top 3 are – i have so many, but here are a few that come to mind. in no particular order…
a. herb lubalin – the guy was just ridiculously talented… cool, crafted, and beautiful design. all you had to do was give him a white page and a couple typefaces and he could construct the most wonderful compositions. furthermore, lubalin graph is one of my all-time favorites.
b. joe duffy – no explanation is really needed. duffy and partners hits a homerun every time, and their ability to integrate design and branding is unmatched.
c. armin vit – i just really admire what armin has done for the industry. the underconsideration network is such an informative, insightful, and entertaining resource for designers. and i just don’t know how the guy does it all! his dedication to speak up, brand new, quipsologies, etc. is stunning. if you want to talk about what the internet as a resource has done for designers, i think you should start with armin vit.
dc: what, in your opinion, is the highest possible function that design can have?
jh: design can inform. it can entertain. it can inspire. i’m not sure that any one given function is more noble or important than another. whatever the method, i think the goal of design should simply be to improve lives – whether it’s your clients’ or their customers’. that may sound generic, but so be it.
it’s easy to say that designing some great posters for the rain forest or improving the accuracy of ballots is the most worthy use of design, but if great design can help the little shop around the corner sell a few more muffins, and put food on the table and a roof over someone’s head, you should be greatly satisfied.
dc: what is your most miserable design experience so far?
jh: i’ve barely just started my life as a professional designer, so unfortunately my most miserable experiences are probably still ahead of me. though, i’d have to say that my search for a job was one of the most challenging experiences of my life: i worked my ass off in design school and came out with a great resume, a great portfolio, and the confidence of my professors and peers. i knew it would still be tough to land that “dream job,” but i figured i had a pretty good shot. eight months later, over one-hundred resumes delivered, and twenty-plus face-to-face interviews from philly to san fran, it still hadn’t happened for me. i would lose out to a local candidate, a studio would miss out on a contract, or the hire would just come down to a difference in styles. and i’m sure a few people just plain didn’t like me. it was devastating. the lesson: working hard doesn’t guarantee much, especially in a field as competitive as design. you’ve gotta be in it for the love of design. fortunately, i am.
dc: how designer-friendly is denver?
jh: denver is a pretty design-friendly town. there’s a big appreciation here for creative pursuits, as evidenced by DAM, MCA, the santa fe arts district, and the myriad of galleries, studios, and music venues around the city. we have a strong AIGA chapter, and a handful of great studios too. everyone around here seems to like designers too – we make a lot of noise with the foosball table at my agency, and the downstairs tenant has yet to complain.
dc: if you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
jh: i’d like to give the life of a brewmaster a try – belgian style ales in particular. i would of course design my own packaging.
dc: if money were no object, what would you dedicate your life’s work to?
jh: i’ve always dreamed about starting my own music channel and single-handedly destroying mtv (in my opinion, a primary cause of the downfall of society). wouldn’t it be great to see live concerts, interviews, studio sessions, and etc. all day long? you know, like actual music.
dc: what is currently your favorite album?
jh: well, i was going to say ray lamontagne’s til the sun turns black, but i think a more recent release would be of greater benefit to whoever is reading this. so, let’s go with fleet foxes’ self-titled album. it’s like a folk acoustic version of my morning jacket. just awesome. favorite track: your protector.
dc: what do you see for the economy in the next 5 years and how will it effect designers? (heavy question i know. just want your personal opinion)
jh: it’s hard to predict the next five months, let alone the next five years! for one, i think a lot of companies will have to streamline their operations and eliminate fluff. no more endless streams of mailers or bulky packages. marketing has to become smarter, more effective, and sustainable. in a way, massive cost-cutting may lead to a higher percentage of good design – there simply won’t be enough capital to waste on half-baked promotions.
secondly, i see the economy forcing design students to rethink their plans. even before the recession, the field was extremely competitive and the number of students coming out of school with creative degrees was rapidly expanding. there just simply aren’t enough studio jobs available, even for talented students, and soon there may be even less. students will really have to look for new in-house and alternative employment opportunities.
dc: planet earth, are we headed for apocalypse or utopia?
jh: neither. history has taught me that we’re probably just going to be another chapter in the story of humanity. i’m sure people who lived during the plague thought the end of the world was near. and if you ask my grandmother, she’d probably say the 50s were the pinnacle of society. things are never as good as they seem or as bad as we fear – and even if i’m wrong, i’d rather not know.