Creative License
By Reggie Tidwell
25 July 2007
1. What kind of designer are you?
I am a graphic designer. I earned my BFA in Graphic Design 1997
2. What did you want to do for a living when you were a kid?
I wanted to be an artist or a superhero. Though I chose art as my career, there is still time for the other. I think the pay is about the same.
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 feel that all the principals of design that I use on a daily basis come into play with my photography. Essentially, I look at design and photography through the same glasses. With the principal purpose of design being to communicate something to an audience through type and graphics, I find myself exploring the same opportunity to communicate with photography.
4. What do you find most challenging about your work?
Working as a designer and a photographer leave little time for much else, so challenging as it may be, I'm really fortunate that I absolutely love them both.
5. Do you have design heroes? Photography heroes?
Most of my design work is interactive, so I really appreciate what many of the new media designers are doing out there. Joshua Davis and Hillman Curtis are two of my favorites. My two most inspirational photographers are Ansel Adams and Colin Prior.
6. Name some unexpected sources of inspiration you've had.
I'd have to say that parenthood has been a very inspiring journey. Each turn reveals something new and something else to drive me. I created a group on Flickr called, Graphic Designers moonlighting as photographers (http://www.flickr.com/groups/graphicdesigners_shooting/) that currently has over 2500 members. I find it a constant source of inspiration. The discussion threads tend to be very resourceful.
7. Do you have any regular habits/exercises that make you a better designer? Photographer?
I like reading design publications, like HOW and Print and looking at all the great work that is out there and being created everyday. As a photographer, I find that having my camera close by at all times allows me to be able to document the unexpected things that unfold quickly before me. The most valuable thing that I've incorporated into my design and photography workflow is getting my work in from of someone whose constructive criticism has gained my respect before showing it to the client.
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