Reply from Alex Lin

I was lucky enough to recieve and email back from Alex Lin quite quickly and he was very kind enough to answer my questions :

Hi Michele,

I'd be delighted to answer your questions.

What made you initially passionate about design?

I took an elective in graphic design during my first year in college at the university of the arts. It was to design a John Coltrane album cover, I enjoyed it so much that I decided to change my major from illustration to graphic design. Creating something through hard work and thought keeps me passionate about design.

What designers influence you in your own work?

-Stephen Burks (http://www.readymadeprojects.com/) for his keen eye for what is modern and fresh

-Made Thought (http://www.madethought.com/) for their incredible attention to detail and exquisite taste

-OMA (http://oma.nl/) for their concept and program based architecture

What design book do you often look at, or is your favourite?

"Ogilvy on Advertising"

How many designers work at your agency?

just me with 1-2 interns or design assistants at times

Also. Living in England it is extremely hard to get a job in the design industry as there are a lot of students graduating from University who all want the same job. Is this the same in America?

YES! Many many talented graduates lacking in experience...

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you,

Michele McKee

I then replied back to Alex to see if it would be possible to meet for a portfolio viewing once we get to New York he replied to say this would be fine and to let him know nearer the time!

'It's up to you, New York, New York'

After finding out that this year all pathways will be heading to New York for their annual design trip, I decided that their was no time like the present to get researching into some New York design agencies.

One agency that appealed to me was Studio Lin which is the graphic design practice of Alex Lin.

I decided to email Studio Lin to ask some questions about the industry and to give me some advice.

Dear Alex,

My name Is Michele McKee. I am currently going into my final year of University studying Graphic Design in my home town of Stockport in England.

I came across your website when I was browsing through Form Fifty Five's blog. My main attraction towards your agency was the ability to be thoughtful towards the design process, I really liked the attention to detail especially in the work for Artecnica (2007 - 2009) print campaign. I am very interested in the typography aspect of design and found that this piece of design was my favourite as the contrasting typefaces played with one colour worked really well.

I know as a design agency you must be extremely busy but I wondered if you could spare five minutes of your time to answer some questions. It would be very helpful and much appreciated.

What made you initially passionate about design?

What designers influence you in your own work?

What design book do you often look at, or is your favourite?

How many designers work at your agency?

Also. Living in England it is extremely hard to get a job in the design industry as there are a lot of students graduating from University who all want the same job. Is this the same in America?

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you,

Michele McKee

Michael Perry

Michael Perry works in Brooklyn NY making books, magazines, illustrations, drawings and even teaches when he gets chance. His first book was published in 2006 titled 'Hand job'. The book is a collection of 50 most talented typographers who draw by hand. I was first introduced to this book when producing work for a typography elective where I, like the designers in Perry's book drew my own typeface.

For me, the real reason why I love this book is because it's nice to see typographers still drawing by hand other than using computer generated graphics. Each piece of work featured in Perry's books shows hand drawn work carefully executed. Composition is carefully enhanced by unplanned 'accidents' of line shape and colour.