Interview with Ian Gale [elagnai]

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Interview with:

Ian Gale [elagnai]
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DESIGN

	What is your specialty? Footwear design
	Where can we view your portfolio online? www.styleportfolios.com/elagnai
	What made you interested in design? From childhood I always liked to draw, especially cars, so naturally I pursued a career in design.
	What has been your professional career path? Attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, graduating in 2004 with a BSc in Industrial Design. Since then I have been doing freelance footwear design, as well as trying to successfully launch my own footwear brand.
	Have you received any awards for your work in the field of design? Yes. I was voted as the Kickguide.com 2006 Artist of the year. http://www.kicksguide.com/articles/featured/ian-gale/Ian-Gale-2006-Artist-of-the-Year.asp
	What is your motivation? What makes you get up in the mornings? Just love of life itself. Knowing there's a purpose to be fulfilled. I must persevere until the goal is achieved.
	How would you define your design style? Since I truly believe that 'function determines form', my style is simple and practical, yet cohesive and difinitive. 'Sometimes, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication' - Leonardo Da Vinci
	How do you promote and move your work? I have an online portfolio which is highly visible, but I also promote my work on my facebook profile.
	In which new areas would you like to experiment? Although my focus is on footwear, I would like to experiment with designing Tee shirts and maybe some fashion design.
	Shapes, color, concept: where do you usually begin when conceiving a design? I usually start by establishing bold shapes and patterns within the overall design. A strong concept doesn't need color to define it.
	What are your sources for documentation and to generate ideas? TV, internet, magazines, sports, fashion
	Which festivals or awards in your field do you find most interesting? I find the bi-annual Las Vegas Magic show to be quite interesting as it is one of the most effective ways of promoting new apparel and footwear.
	What is your favourite type of customer? I prefer when a client has some idea of what they want. The best customer is always a satisfied one.
	To a certain point, is copying justifiable? They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but I'm all for originality.
	List some things you dislike seeing in design. The retro fad in the footwear industry is really exhausted, as well as poor quality and lack of attention to detail.
	Do you believe the newer generations are better at designing? The new generation of designers have better tools to work with, but I think sometimes that takes away from the creativity. Its also harder to be original since almost everything has been done.
	With which type of client would you decline in working for? A client who comes across as "shady" or seems not to know what they want.
	How do you calculate budgets for a design project? I usually compare and compete with current market rates. Each job is calculated on its own merit - time spent, difficulty in meeting client demands, etc
	Which professionals in your field -contemporary or past- do you most admire? Tinker Hatfield, Aaron Cooper and Eric Avar just to name a few.
	Which software applications do you most utilize in your work? Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
	Up to what point do your designs reflect your personality? They always reflect my personality and personal style. I tend to design what I would want to wear.
	How do you distinguish passing fads from mainstays in new trends? I have no idea, I just use my design intuition.
	If you weren't a designer, what would you be doing? I have no idea. I cannot imagine not being a designer.
	At this moment, what would be your dream job or project? To design a personalized sneaker for a professional basketball player.
	Can you see yourself in this field twenty years from now? Ofcourse I can. Hopefully, by that time I'll be a consultant more than a designer.
	Which design resources online do you frequently visit? Sneakerfiles.com, kicksguide.com, nikebasketball.com, karmaloop.com Anything to do with footwear and fashion