INTERVIEW NO. 2 in INTERVIEWS WITH TOP BLOGGERS series.

Delighted to publish Spotlight Ideas’ second online interview – this time with David Airey, leading blogger on graphic / logo design (with brief bio. / details below).

What interview is about

• website design (impact on audiences)
• working with designers (getting the best work out of designers)
• logo (what’s it for)
  and more ..

David: How a website looks can have a huge impact on buying decisions. The most effective presentation for me, is one that is easy to navigate, easy to read, easy to find the info you’re looking for. I’d much rather read text on a white background than black (pet peeve). Some of the most common mistakes I see are not having readily accessible contact information, and not making use of images (text-only can appear quite dull and lifeless). A great website is one that fulfils its purpose. That might be to sell a product, to cater to advertisers with increased traffic, or simply to act as a playground for those wishing to express their innermost thoughts.

Spotlight Ideas: What are your main tips for getting the best work out of designers?

David: Give them creative freedom, and don’t show any negativity during brainstorming sessions. Every idea is a good one, as it offers something different. To be negative at this stage can lead to fear of speaking out.

Spotlight Ideas: What’s a logo for? / What makes a successful logo?

David: A logo acts primarily as an identifier – something people can associate a company with at a single glance. A successful logo should be appropriate, scalable, memorable, distinctive, practical, and simple.

Spotlight Ideas: What are your favourite logos of 2008?

David: CultureBus, by Kit Hinrichs. More info here: http://www.logodesignlove.com/culturebus-logo-by-pentagram. It follows the previous criteria for what makes a successful logo. Great stuff.

Spotlight Ideas: What are some of your favourite websites at the moment?

David: Those I visit most often include Google Reader (where I track around 50 or 60 blogs), Liverpool FC (where I keep up-to-date on my favourite football team), and BBC (for news stories). I chose Google Reader as my first site because it’s important to keep an eye on what other designers are doing / talking about. Life working from home can be lonely, so communicating on others’ blogs can help break the isolation.

Spotlight Ideas: What do you to get into a creative frame of mind?

David: Tidy. I can’t work in a cluttered environment, and find it stifles the creative mind. I’ve always been that way, and think I get it from my mum. I also find a good run / walk outdoors can help blow away the cobwebs – especially with the current weather here in Northern Ireland!

Biography
David Airey is a Northern-Ireland based, self-employed graphic designer and design consultant, specialising in identity projects (logos and business stationery). Portfolio.
About David Airey blog
David Airey (blog) contains a wide range of interesting articles around the subjects of design / typography / logo. Some of his best posts (listed in Features, top of page) include: ‘design pricing and when to talk money’, ‘how do you write a graphic design brief?’, ’the five hats of graphic designers’, ‘typography resources’, ’13 excellent typefaces for graphic designers’, ’what’s your logo worth?’, ‘what makes a great logo’ and many more.
David Airey blog is ranked (as of the published date of this post) no. 47 in AdAge Power150 advertising & media blog list.

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