By Jordan Irwin

6 August 2007

1. What kind of designer are you?

I have a degree in web design. However my passion for photography, made me understand and study the idea of design in general. I gravitated toward Graphic Design, and decided to make a career out of it.

2. What did you want to do for a living when you were a kid?

When I was a little kid I wanted to be involved with animals some way shape or form, veterinarian, marine biologist, zoo trainer, etc.

3. What is it about your design work that makes your photography better? And vice versa? Where do you see parallels between the two?

I really believe they work together, when shooting photos you design with your eye, you compose the elements you are given. My photography broadened when I learned the elements & principles of design; Line, Shape, Size, Texture, Color, Value, Balance, Harmony, Unity etc. After I learned about these examples, it allowed pushing the boundaries and photographing examples of these. It's always a competition with my self to shoot the best example and push it to the limits. My design improved and made me aware that creative photography is a must in good Graphic Design. If you can master the elements and principles of design, you will be an amazing photographer. Learn the rules, and then break them! I think this parallels in photography, if you can adapt your design there are endless limits to the photos you shoot.

4. What do you find most challenging about your work?

For me, I find it the hardest to shoot great photography when forced to shoot, or for money. That's why I try to keep photography, something I do to enjoy life better. I find it to be more than a hobby and short of an obsession. My best photography comes out when I relax and SEE the world around me and not LOOK at it. My graphic design is challenging when I feel I don't have the right photography for it. That why I try to let my photography lead my design.

5. Do you have design heroes? Photography heroes?

I don't really have any particular heroes, but I look at it like this. You are hero to me if you are great at what you do and it shows! If you constantly look for new ways to shoot, be different and have confidence. To be quite honest, I feel like I have a handful of photography heroes on jpgmag.com! You don't have to be famous to be a hero in my book.

6. Name some unexpected sources of inspiration you've had.

Two names that were my biggest inspirations for both photography & design were Mike Hanson & Ed Giardina. I know this question isn't asking for names; however they were the tools that made me find inspiration in everything, or inspiration in nothing. Traveling always drives me, meeting new people, and really bad photography and really bad design, and YES it's everywhere.

7. Do you have any regular habits/exercises that make you a better designer? Photographer?

I think to be good or great at either of them, you have to be relevant. You have to be in the now! But still know your history and what's been done before. So I try to exercise new ways to present or think. But you have to shoot all the time and design all time!

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