Making their Mark: In-house Designers

In this issue, designers from two AAPPAC centres share about their work, and how they let their creative juices flow to deck up the arts.

Adrian Cowell
Senior Graphic Designer
6.5 years experience in Adelaide Festival Centre, Australia

I am privileged to work in such a dynamic and creative environment as the Adelaide Festival Centre. As senior graphic designer I am constantly asked to produce world-class designs for an incredibly varied and diverse range of performances that encompasses everything from dance, theatre, music to just about anything else you can think of. Along with two other designers, the Studio produces a vast array of both printed and electronic media that ranges from a 25mm button badge to a 24-metre rooftop banner, and everything in between.

The challenge comes in continually creating ‘something’ from ‘nothing’, - cats for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival through to cartoon characters to represent our 3 – 10 year old “Something on Saturday” programme. We generate the imagery and designs for our international programme of festivals that also includes the Adelaide International Guitar Festival and the OzAsia Festival.

Inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere and usually never the same place twice. I keep a library of visual journals and books that continues to grow at a rapid rate. I also find listening to music an inspirational trigger.

It’s very difficult to single out just one or even a few designers/artists, as there are many who I respect for many and varied reasons. I enjoy the sheer beauty of the lithographs of Michael Parkes, through to the random, hand-drawn quality in the work of Nate Williams. I am currently exploring how to get the most into my design and illustration with the least amount of noise. I fear it may be a life-long process of learning.

Cathy Toi
Senior Designer
7 years’ experience in Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore

I am in charge of establishing and guarding the branding of Esplanade as well as the design of the Corporate/ programme collaterals and onsite décor for festivals. Esplanade allows me to be creative in every area every time when I’m assigned a project. That is why I love this job. I’ve learnt to work with constraints and still be creative. Every project assigned to me is never the same, hence it makes my job interesting, exciting and less boring.

I am inspired by anything and everything I see; from books to films to music to people-watching, and even daydreaming too! Frankly, designs are everywhere and anywhere and we just need to be more observant and let our imaginations run wild.

There’s no one particular designer I see as role model because I learnt different things from different designers and from there, I hope to develop a style of my own. I particularly like Asian designers especially from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China because of their cultural background and history, their works are always very artistic and beautiful in the images and typography.