Designing Decay: Natalie Blom
By Natalie Blom
7 Aug 2007
1. What kind of designer are you?
Graphic [designer]
2. What did you want to do for a living when you were a kid?
An artist, an author and someone who grew trees. I suppose I wanted to be all that rolled into one. I remember that I didn't like the thought of having to decide. As a child you are allowed to keep believing that everyone ends up in jobs that they love doing.
3. What is it about your design work that makes your photography better? And vice versa? Where do you see parallels between the two?
There are many parallels between the two, mostly in fundamental understandings like colour theory, composition and concept development. I often question where the line is; where photography ends and design begins. I think that photography principles are
4. What do you find most challenging about your work?
The creation of something new. Design is very much about recreating not reinventing. But I like to push myself to create designs and photos that are a as unique as I can.
5. Do you have design heroes? Photography heroes?
I would have to say that I hold David Carson as a design hero, most probably because he made us question how far we [designers] can go with the content we are inputting into out work, particularly type. How left field we can be within the market.
As far as photographers are concerned there is always Cartier Bresson, for his ability to foresee, compose and capture. Though I respect any one who strives to capture things which mean something to them.
6. Name some unexpected sources of inspiration you've had.
I am inspired by pointing my camera into the sun. Often we don't see what is right there in front of us, until it is barely visible. I am also inspired by empty spaces.
7. Do you have any regular habits/exercises that make you a better designer? Photographer?
As a photographer I am more willing to experiment, where I sometimes find myself keeping to the safe side of the line as a designer. Going back to low-tech styles of image production such as pinhole photography has really opened my mind as a designer.
