A Web Design Blog.

An interview with graphic designer Anna Anjos

Posted on a web design blog by Jordan in Interviews

I’ve personally been a fan of the work of Anna Anjos for a long time now so it was very exciting for me when she agreed to do an interview for a web design blog.

Question 1.  Firstly, thanks a lot for speaking to A Web Design Blog, we are big fans of your work!  How did you get started in design and how long have you been doing it for?

Firstly I would like to thank you and say that I am really excited to know that you like my work.  I began studying graphic design in 2003 at Belas Artes de São Paulo and since then I work as a designer for editorial and advertisement markets.  However, lately, I have been working a lot more as an illustrator than as a designer.

Question 2.  What’s a typical day in the life of Anna Anjos?

My everyday is exciting everytime. I must confess that I am a “night person”, when it comes to work. I like to wake up late and go to sleep late too. Fortunately or unfortunately this is necessary in our profession. And I like it.

Question 3.  Has graphic design changed since you started out?

The world, in general, is always changing. Therefore, the ideas and the concepts also follow this change. Is up to the designer to be alert to these changes, so he can develop a project in the best way possible.

Question 4.  Do you have any main influences for your work?

Yes. My main influence comes from the surrealism; I have a passion towards Lynch’s work! I have also as references to my work, the urban cities and music. By the way, almost every time the music that I listen to influences in my work.

Question 5.  How did you come up with such an original style, are there any techniques you regularly use?

I honestly do not know from where it comes from (lol). All that I can say is that I love what I do and I do my work with my soul.  I frequently use the nankeen pen for the first draw of my illustrations, and after that I finalize the colorization on Photoshop. I like this mix that combines the manual and the digital work.

Question 6.  What hardware and software do you use to design?

I frequently use in my works the Photoshop to the colorization, always digital. Sometimes I also use the Illustrator.

Question 7.  In your career so far, do you have a favorite project you’ve worked on?

Actually I have lots of affection for all works I have developed because there’s a little of myself in each one of them. However, there are 2 special works that were very cool to be developed: my first children’s book, where I could create my entire universe to the plot and the last children’s book which I have illustrated some week ago which is the theatrical version of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”. Since I was a child it was my dream to illustrate a children’s book; I hope that many more still to come!

Question 8.  What’s been on your MP3 and DVD player lately?

Nowadays I’ve been listening to brazilian songs (Northeast region) like, Nação Zumbi, Lenine, Siba e a Fuloresta and Zé Ramalho. I also have been listening to The Smiths, which I enjoy a lot. I like to listen songs that in a certain way aggregate something to me, and in a certain way makes feel some kind of good feeling, because this is the sensation that I try to transmit on each one of my works.

Question 9.  Finally, is there advice you can give to graduates starting out in the graphic design industry?

All that I can say is that you must always have the desire, courage and determination. This applies to all segments, not only the professional. The current design and illustration market is full of good professionals with interesting portfolios, and a lot of dedication is necessary to work in this area. I don’t even have to say that a lot more than those three items; passion is the key “ingredient” to what you do. If you dislike what you do, you cannot reach anywhere.

You can see more of Anna Anjos’ work at her website, www.annaanjos.com.

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