 |
Today's featured designer is Julia Hell. Julia Hell is the creator of iconic designs such as Eyesbound, Alpha Container and Mrs T. |
| We had the rare opportunity to interview the exalted designer Julia Hell who was recently announced as the Designer of the Day by the A' Design Award and Competition. Julia Hell is the creator of iconic designs such as Eyesbound, Alpha Container and Mrs T. We got exclusive answers to our questions about Julia Hell designs and design philosophy. |
 |
| Julia Hell, how did you become a designer? Julia Hell : As long as I can remember I was driven by the need to create something. As a kid growing up i weekly rearranged my room and redecorated it. My interest in art and design was fostered by my parents but never forced on me. They just gave me options to join them visiting exhibitions or plays. I joined willingly because I liked it even as a child. When I prepared a gift for a friend, I made most of it myself but always aimed for a professional look of it. Like something you can buy at a store but better and more individual. A mother of a close friend once gave me the essential hint, asking me why not become a graphic designer. After graduation from high school I was a bit lost in the flood of possibilities, so I went a different way. A way with many crossings that luckily led me back to the idea to become a designer after trying several thing I didn't wanna be. ... |
 |
| Julia Hell, what are your priorities, technique and style when designing? Julia Hell : At first I need to get an impression of the subject I am designing for. This is a mere cognitive process. I have to take some time and think about it. Sometimes I take some notes but most of it is in my head. Usually the next step is research followed by sketching ideas. Most of my work starts digital but nothing is more reliable than a prototype. I feel it is good to have build the thing you are working on at least once yourself to get a better understanding of the product.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, which emotions do you feel when designing? Julia Hell : I feel joy when designing. I enjoy the journey and that it is often surprising what happened to the first idea at the end of that journey. Usually I try to come up with three different ideas, when I start working on a new project. I scribble the visual possibilities of these three ideas and the most special part is, when I find my favorite in the set of those three drafts. This is the moment when it starts to get exciting: Will my client favor the same? What does it take to make the other two as strong? I challenge myself in order to improve my work.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, what particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer? Julia Hell : My passion for change shaped me most I guess. I still manage to rearrange my home every other month because I get visually bored. Plus I want to improve it. When I am done with one room, I have a new idea for the next one, because it appears to me to be more functional. That helped me understand visual problems and trained me to come up with solutions to them.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, what is your growth path? what are your future plans? what is your dream design project? Julia Hell : So far I preferred (and learned) not to plan that much ahead. My growth path is also more drawn by happy coincidences than strict plans. I just planned to work on my own, that I did. But the rest is about meeting people, finding opportunities and trying them out. The Master plan for the future is at some point to have my own agency with people working with me. But we will see how things come together.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, what are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career? Julia Hell : As I experienced the design business so far, it is a lot about trial and error. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to be able to make decisions on my own. That meant, I had to try working freelance. So I did. It worked. What I am trying to say is, that there are many possibilities. It is important to know what is important for you and how you feel comfortable working as a creative. One of the main positive aspects of this industry is it's flexibility - so you can create a work environment in which you can unfold your potential. ... |
 |
| Julia Hell, you are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects? Julia Hell : My suggestion is, not to rely on success. It is nice to be acknowledged and of course we all work to be successful and acquainted. But I am afraid to rely to much on success and commendation in order to stay independent and also be critical towards my own work.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, what is your day to day look like? Julia Hell : Regardless of where I am working, from my own studio or in-house at a clients office, I start with a cup of coffee and my e-mails before I leave the house. Currently I am working in-house on a daily basis, I go by public transport or bike. It is a nice phase to prepare for the day, think about the to dos for the day. I try to take a walk once a day, to clear my head or to think things through. I look forward to that little me-time once a day. ... |
 |
| Julia Hell, how do you keep up with latest design trends? to what extent do design trends matter? Julia Hell : Personally I am following design trends. It is hard to say wether or not to pay much attention to them. But following the happening of the business is important. I am not sure how much it influences me but in general it does for sure. In both directions. If I find something appealing, the impression sticks. It is very likely that I integrate such an impression in my work in my own way. So trend may also help to develop, inspire or spice up a style without changing the basic signature. It is a fluid process every person with a strong visual influence is subjected to.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, how do you know if a product or project is well designed? how do you define good design? Julia Hell : When it comes to evaluation of good design, in my case the answer is a bit ambivalent. I am drawn to clear and functional designs. Things that are reduced to the vey essence with a functional purpose. In contrast, if a design is able to provoke a reaction, makes me laugh or cry it did a good job. ... |
 |
| Julia Hell, how do you decide if your design is ready? Julia Hell : There always comes a point in my design process, where I can't look at my work anymore. This usually indicates, that it is ready and I can't do more at this point. In general I would say, yes, a design can be complete for a certain period of time. At some point you will have to make adjustments or rejuvenate the look of a brand or product to keep it attractive.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, what is your biggest design work? Julia Hell : My biggest work so far is the corporate design for Mrs T, a Hamburg based manufactory creating delicacies with tea as an ingredient. The company is growing since we started together in 2016. The design tasks get more complex and it is nice that we step by step improve the brand's look. Besides that I am working on a new issue of a paper I am publishing together wit a close friend. It has a literary topic and we are about to release our fifth issue this spring.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, who is your favourite designer? Julia Hell : In the current landscape of creatives I'd pick Konstantin Grcic and Stefan Marx as both, individuals and artists. I like what they do and how they relate to their work. ...Julia Hell, would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture? Julia Hell : I live in a very inspiring city that is the epitome of change. Berlin is vivid and so variable in itself. Plus it is very intercultural. I love that. Culture has an effect on design and design on culture. Good design may even be used as a communication tool. If a design is considered to be good, the positive feeling about it often crosses borders. So yes, I think it is necessary for advancement of society.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy? Julia Hell : I love my job, that makes it pretty easy for me to work. I prefer a mixture of teamwork (working in-house with a team a few days a week) and on my own on other projects the rest of the time. Experimenting with different solutions, this has proven to be the most comfortable way to work for me. I am a very solution oriented person which I think is important as a designer. Being able to come up with quick, good solutions for several tasks on- and offline is my everyday business at the moment.... |
 |
| Julia Hell, what are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect? Julia Hell : I already did pro bono work and I am still open to that idea. It is important to see that there is more than a monetary aspect to creative work. Of course everyone needs to earn money but sometimes the work process and the outcome are so different if there is no money involved. It is not necessarily better or worse but different, maybe more free in the creation process. ... |
 |
| Julia Hell, what positive experiences you had when you attend the a’ design award? Julia Hell : Attending A' Design Award is interesting for me because it is very international. The Award makes my work accessible to an international audience by showing the winner designs on different exhibitions and fairs around the globe. The promotion through an award makes sense to me since it gets harder to draw attention to ones portfolio. Participating in design competitions helps being noticed not only by potential clients but also by fellow designers. And the other way around. I became aware of many interesting projects, that I might have missed out. I am happy to be picked as Designer of the Day.... |
| Julia Hell, can you tell us more about your company / design studio? Julia Hell : I am a one woman design studio. Currently I am working as a freelancer in different positions. 2-3 days for a larger client inhouse and the rest of the week for my other clients from my home studio. I really enjoy the different ways of working on those projects. Personally I like the experiences in the very different work environments, being around other people at the office twice a week and also having the solitude of my home office. These are two very different ways of working but it really is a mixture of those completely different things that inspire me the most.... |
| Julia Hell, what is "design" for you? Julia Hell : Design is something functional, which doesn't mean that thats all about it. It has to be appealing and unique. It's something in between these three corners....Julia Hell, what kinds of works do you like designing most? Julia Hell : I am really into corporate designs. Creating a Logo for a client goes hand in hand with a typography concept, which leads you to create the business cards and papers and finally a website. It is a beautiful process of creating something, often starting with a simple idea, that grows stronger and becomes someones identity. ... Julia Hell, thank you for giving us the opportunity to interview you... To learn more about Julia Hell and check more designs by Julia Hell as well as to see more Julia Hell designs such as Eyesbound, Alpha Container and Mrs T visit designeroftheday.com/?161276 |
 |
| We hope you enjoyed our interview of Julia Hell. This interview was made possible by the contributions of A' Design Award and Competition - The World's largest and most influential design accolade. A' Design Award is an annual, international design award open to both concept stage and realized works by designers, artists, architects and brands worldwide. A' Design Award and Competition aims to create a public awareness and understanding of good design by promoting the best designers such as Julia Hell and their design works worldwide. Visit designaward.com to learn more. |
 REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY:
https://competition.adesignaward.com/designer.php?profile=161276 https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=45698
https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=53240
https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=60957
|
|
|
| |
 VIA:
designeroftheday.com/?161276 |
| |
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: |
|
|
CLICK HERE TO SEE EVEN MORE |
| |
SEARCH
|
| |
|
This article was added on Monday, 24th of September, 2018 at 10.20 am by author 
