Interview with Shin Chan

I am freelancer, the company owned by me and run by myself only

Design is something express yourself, and something talking to others. A good design sending message to people, but a great design inspired.

i like to design something related to Nature

My favorite design is a Xmas packaging design for a Malaysia local coffee brand.

i remembered is a poster for comic rental to my friend, i barely finished it , cos i got no skill on adobe software at that time.

i like something rough, closed to nature material, like textured card. Platform is rtist.com, a local platform for artist to match with client by showing their portfolio online

Having a coffee and no other appointments after works, then play some soft music as background

1) story of brand/product 2) message to deliver 3) print finishing

A new design job normally make me feel excited but also brings some anxiety

worried at first, then heart feel completed and full of hope

a successful design should let people start "thinking"

The intention

we need to try our best to telling people about the important of sustainability and the beauty of our planet / earth life, no matter in any form or ways.

Design is no longer for “how it looks,” but for how it works, how it feels, and how it impacts society and the planet. In the future i hope design is not just creativity and eco-friendly , but also direction to empathy to our nature.

I never involve with any exhibition, but i hope one day there a chance to let me who how i embrace and feel grateful to our nature. and maybe not just in graphic. but also the touch of texture.

To be honest, many corporate ideas are come from pinterest, but recently i learn to get some inspiration from nature likes: the river , lawn, sky etc. i believe that we belong to nature and we need to back to our origins.

i dont have any certain style, but i like to explore and contact with new ideas and create something i never done.

I live at Johor, Malaysia. Maybe, Malaysia is full of mixture, not just race, but also religion, foods, languages and culture. Is good to have many differentiate , because you can see many direction of arts, but also a chaos in design senses.

I work remotely, basically my client is long term co-operate. Few are by project basis.

Companies need to know what they need, and simplify the tier to approved the design, majority of design rejected because of lack of communicate of inner management. By select a good designer, not only by their portfolio but also seeing the desire of the designer to work on the job. Passion or not.

Talk to client > understand client background > their competitors > research > mood-board > drafting

My favorite items: My Cats, dogs, plants, coffee, bed
My favorite design items: nope (maybe my working table)

Stay in bed > coffee > reply > ideas > daydream > design > petting > done

Do what you like and find your own style. For me graphic design is very hard to achieve this, cos it depends on client branding. Thats why is like to create a new brand start from scratch.

Positive: It's fun to create something, and can really see the outcome. Being appreciated by client and can spread positive message to audience thru the design. Can arrange your own timing.

Negative: Urgent, client with lack of senses, uncollectible bills, FA, FA_FA, Final_FA_FA (you know that)

A customer who knows how to be grateful, i will reject a job if the client is always urgent, unorganized and given an inch, want a mile.

Observation and insight

Design: Adobe illustrator / photoshop.
Ideas: Pinterest / Behance / My balcony
Sources: Freepik
Drawing: Procreate

Write down the stages of design, if the job took me 2 weeks, will tell client 3 weeks. Make sure the direction of art/design is correct (must communicate with client closely).

It depends, take this ChocoCoral as example, including research and studying till create visualization. It took me 4 days.

Sorry, can you send to me now, very urgent. (roll-eyeing)

I used to work in event company, and i learned a lot from there. Not only design, but production, setup, material, and man-power.

My client is not big famous clients, i work with SMEs. But sometime will work with some bank like Citi, Standard Charted, Hospital, Property Developer.

i like to design something related to inspired people or nature/sustainability. I feel warm and meaningful when design it. It's make me feel alive compare with design something corporate.

I slowly shift myself to Enamel craft. I already completed a short course in China, and planning to make it some at home first. After that will leap to advanced courses.

I work with me.

As mentioned above, i start my Enamel handcraft journey soon, and i very looking forward.

New client get know me thru Introduced by others, but if you means how to get me? just Whatsapp / ig and Rtist.com

i hope to get involved with this award again, but with different role, new role as a Enamel Maker, not graphic designer. thanks!