Have you ever met someone that inspired you so much that you found yourself thinking what it would be like to live a day in their shoes? Or maybe you’ve day dreamed about what you might say to that person if you ever met them “in real life”. Well, we have, and we did!
Interview originally conducted by FAIRspot - May 2008
We asked famed international designer and illustrator Radim Malinic, a.k.a. Brand Nu, the questions everyone wants to know but were afraid to ask. And hey, even if they aren’t exactly what you would ask, it’s a great look into the life of a major trend setter that has helped propel us to where we are today. Enjoy it!
FAIRspot: What’s the more difficult role, Designer or Art Director?
Radim Malinic | Brand Nu: Hmm … Art Director talks more, Designer creates more. If you do both, you talk while designing 
FS: What makes someone a “great” designer?
RM: A pair of hands, eyes and legs … oh and the rest of the body, obviously .. hehe. I don’t really know what the secret recipe is to be a ‘great’ designer. If you are open to new things, willing to observe and keep up with the time and pace around you, maybe they are the key ingredients. Maybe not, who knows. I would only say, stay true to yourself …
FS: Why have you chosen to be represented by an agent as opposed to representing yourself?
RM: I’ve been freelancing for the best part of 5 years now and thought I’ve come to the point where I reached all the possible options on my own. When I released my showcase book, the interest from agents was quite a thing:) It was definitely a good door-opener. Being represented by agents on both sides of the pond bears great benefits of taking the skills to higher level and opportunity to work for bigger clients.
FS: Is there a method to your madness when it comes to choosing color?
RM: Nah, I don’t have a set plan at any time, I just go with the client’s brief. Although I get very open commissions where I just do what I want. There’s a little technique I’ve developed with PSD brushes where by overlaying strokes colour becomes more vibrant.
FS: How long does an “average” print piece take you from start to finish?
RM: I hardly work on anything for more than a day or night. Depending on a brief or image it could take 2-4 hours.
FS: How do you know when a piece is finally “done”?
RM: When I run out of time or space:). There’s a feeling when the image contains the right amount of detail, colour vibrancy and looks strong. Also, when you start smiling in the middle of the night when your piece starts making sense and you’re happy. But sometimes, I find myself working on a piece that I feel isn’t working. The next day though, it makes perfect sense. It’s quite important to leave things to digest.
FS: The Sloanes Interior Murals are insane. What was it like producing such a large scale piece and how were the final images transferred to the wall?
RM: These murals were my first 4GB files ever. Although created at 100dpi this was quite a mammoth of a job. Sloanes wanted to bring the outside inside with a play on the English Country garden mixed with music elements. For example, each piece didn’t take longer that one day to illustrate. It was enjoyable from beginning to start, client wasn’t chopping and changing at all, which made it really easy to finish. Then it was sent to a specialist printer who do wallpapers and that kind of tricks. I believe it was then down to interior designers to paste it all up and apply each strip of wallpaper.
FS: What items do you carry in your pockets every day?
RM: My P990i, which is a crap of a phone and my cash cards. I never had a wallet in my life, so occasionally some loose change. I could be spotted with my man-bag where I drag about a couple of copies of my book and other needed promo, just in case.
FS: If someone paid you $10 Million dollars to quit designing today, and you couldn’t do anything design related for the rest of your life, would you accept the offer? If so, what would you do instead of design?
RM: I guess there a little hole in your proposal, hehe. I would possibly accept the offer, use the money to open a design studio and art direct all the work. There’s some great designers and illustrators that I would hire and live a happy life.
FS: We heard you were in a killer band before! Do you still play? What music groups do you listen to the most?
RM: Yup, although my band days are over I still occasionally play my guitar, usually to pick up a song. It was fun back in day when we played very heavy rock with me on the mic in the front a few hundred people. We then mellowed out and played more grunge Alice in Chains type of stuff, but then I started djing and found it more rewarding. When you’re in a band it’s always politics of what direction to take. Djing was much easier as I played what I wanted. Easy as that, hehe. These days I still love discovering new music of any kind really. Right now I’m searching of a perfect deep house mixtape and some minimal beats. My collections counts more that 600 - 700 CDs and there’s at least the same amount I would love to buy. The only problems is that I’ve run out of space in the house. On a normal day I listen to Fink, Ben Westbeech, anything from Sonar Kollektiv, Blind Melon, Incubus, Erykah Badu, occassional Jamiroquai, Reef, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Terry Callier … anything with a nice beat and feel.
FS: The next time one of your fans catches you at the bars in Southampton, what drink should they order you?
RM: Pint of black stuff…. hehe… Guinness please.
FS: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned since becoming a designer that you’d like to pass on to everyone?
RM: There’s quite a few actually, with being more patient as one of the most important ones.
FS: What should we expect from Brand Nu for the remainder of 2008?
RM: At the moment I don’t have much of a plan. I’ve just relaunched my website at www.brandnu.co.uk where finally I my work is presented in its full glory. My last site was good, but I didn’t feel I worked it out too well back then. Yesterday I’ve opened Nu Visual Language exhibition which was a major project in works, I’m still working with O2 Germany on all their illustrations this year, working with Heineken too right now and a few other projects that keep me awake at night. There’s a range of illustrations for perfume packaging which I’ve just finished, it was quite a nice change to apply my ideas into a new dimensions and I really enjoyed it.
News posted - Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 | Visit - Brand Nu's profile..
Michelle Thompson illustrated this for the May issue of Metropolis magazine.
Jay Taylor Featured in Top UK Illustration Magazine ‘Varoom’ on the art of self promotion.
Marta Antelo’s illustrates for “New Parent” magazine Spring -Summer issue.
Matt Vincent won The Association of Educational Publishers Award for Middle School Periodical Illustration for the ‘Middle School Maverick’.
Eva Tatcheva has just been sent the PDFs for a job she completed in February (an annual report (for 2007) for a company called Bridgepoint). One cover illustration + six inside illustrations.
Marta Antelo recently illustrated this piece for a magazine called Calle20.
Here are more images from Han Sipma images for the pet spa. The agency was DDB Edmonton, art director was John Halliday, and the client was White Mud Pet Salon and Spa. The competition was the 28th Ace Awards, Edmonton’s annual award show. They won distinction award for best Transit, best poster, and best Art Direction.
Nathalie Dion illustrations appear in the June issue of Glamour Magazine
This is the cover illustration Radim did for Wall Street Journal - the Classroom Edition. The issue was out a few days ago.
Via the photographer Hans Sipma, here are also some clippings from Saturdays Vancouver Sun Business section. His Rethink Communications shoot won Gold newspaper, 2 Silver newspaper single, 1 Gold for newspaper campaign, 3 Gold for out of home standard campaign, and 3 Gold for out of home standard single, and a Bronze for integrated campaign. The agency was Rethink and the art director was Ian Grais. Playland themselves were awarded advertiser of the year.
Chris Pyle illustrates the cover of CAI magazine and illustrates a 1/4 on the inside.
Michellel Thompson is interviewed and her worked featured in this months DPI magazine from Taiwan.
Katy Lemay in this months Clin d’oeil magazine.
This spread is one Clare did for Alberta Venture Magazine - it was out April 1st.
Andy Potts illustrates - Three full page illustrations for Retail Traffic magazine.
Marta Antelo has been selected in a constest (in illustration category) called “Vive para cumplirlo” organized by Mafre Fundation, the jury was composed by Oscar Mariné, Alberto Corazón, Javier Mariscal and Javier de Juanes,they are ones of the best designers/illustrators of Spain. The winners will receive a master class with Oscar Mariné, a catalogue publication and an exposition. The theme was about our dreams, illusions. Ten pieces of a total of 121 have been selected of which two are from Marta Antelo.
Janice Nadeau illustrates several pages of this months Plaisirs de Vivre magazine. The article is a special about dreams.
Gary Sawyer’s illustration in The Boston Globe.
Illustration by Gary Sawyer for Florida Realtor.
As far as I remember it was thru my mother’s ad agency when I was in my teens. I liked the buzz in their agency but didn’t like the type of jobs they had on at that time. Nonetheless, I started to craft little mishaps on those ancient computers with very basic software. I remember it being very intriguing and tempting. Back then, when I was in a band with my mates, we were doing all sorts of artwork for our demos, gig posters … then I stopped for a while to re-think what I wanted to really do and naturally picked up my passion for illustration where I left it off.
Which artists did you first look at for inspiration? Which artists do you look at now?
I love colours and shapes, emotions and feeling that any piece of work puts across. There’s stacks of incredible artists out there who amaze me on so many different levels, each in different way. As we work in the digital era not only it’s the idea behind the work that counts, but also the approach and finesse that keeps me intrigued, wanting to know more about the way of their thought. Personally I don’t have any favourites as such, there’s a handful of websites that I check now and then but mainly try to go thru blogs and portals to see what’s fresh out there.
Click here to read the full interview at
Illustration dot org
Andy Potts recently worked/still working on the branding for this years BBC Proms event which is a big series of London summer concerts mainly based at the Albert Hall. The guide was published last week.
BBC Proms 2008 - Main brand illustration for the BBC Proms Guide 2008 for London’s Royal Albert Hall and poster illustrations for UK Proms events.
Moira Milman illustrates for Cincinnati magazine.
Cincinnati’s cover
The May issue of Body & Soul was released yesterday. Nancy Tassone is the designer and the illustration is by Violet Lemay.
Chris Pyle recently completed the cover for the Hartford Courant. Time to dive in?
Kim Rosen was recently featured in Communication Arts fresh section!
CA’s cover
Isabelle Cardinal’s was recently part of an article about smart snacking for Biking Magazine.
Biking Magazine’s cover
Stephen Ledwidge and Gianluca Folì were recently feature in ‘The big book of illustration ideas 2′. Stephen Ledwidge’s work can be seen on the cover bottom left.
Visit - Stephen Ledwidge’s profile..
Visit - Gianluca FolÌ’s profile..
This year, Green was the theme for the AGM Christmas Coaster Promo. Anna Goodson Management donated 1% of their profits from January 08 and February 08 to the WWF a global environmental conservation group.
“Today, the environment is everyone’s concern and I feel a personal responsibility to do my part to make a difference,” said AGM founder and president, Anna Goodson. “It’s not about jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon but simply about using the creative tools at my disposal to generate awareness for a cause that’s close to my heart.”
Stephen Ledgwidge, Gianluca Foli, Mario Wagner and Hanna Melin were chosen to appear on the American Illustration website.
Look out for their illustrations.
Only 294 images were chosen from 7,500 that were submitted to AI.
Update: Plus Mario Wagner
Terry Wong illustrates a series of Books for Raincoast Books
Kevin O’Keefe illustrates for this months Backbone magazine.
Backbone magazine Cover
Norwich Union – What Does Your Life Look Like? - Create your own Potts illustration and download a desktop wallpaper with this interactive tool that visualises your priorities in life.
whatdoesyourlifelooklike.com
Esomar 60th Anniversary, Insight Track – 2 metre fold out illustration covering the history of marketing research in the context of world events from the last 200 years.
USPS – Two illustrations for branding the interior of USPS’ new retail labs.
Brand Nu Illustrates for the April issue of Solace Magazine.
AGM has just launched its 2008 (A simple notion) Spring Promo!
Please look out for it, we would love to have your feedback.
[VIEW IT] | [DOWNLOAD IT]
Terry Wong’s illustration appears in the premier issue of Best Health magazine, Spring 2008
Matt Vincent’s illustration is in this months Boston magazine.
Pablo, illustrates this months horoscope in Flare magazine.
Pablo’s illustration is in this months Cosmo Germany.
April’s Cosmo cover
Michelle Thompson’s recent cover for the Presbyterian Record.
Andy Potts illustrates Jewish Living magazine.
Isabelle Cardinal illustrations appear in this months CCCA magazines.
Michele Thompson did the illustrations for the recently released movie Sunday Afternoon. Her illustrations appear on the DVD cover, the poster and on postcards.
Lino’s illustrations appeared on the cover and inside the March issue of Hadassah magazine.
Dean has been illustrating professionally since 1992. His editorial work has appeared in a variety of newspapers and magazines, and he is a frequent contributor to ‘The Big Issue’. Commercially, he works in a range of techniques and approaches, enabling him to provide a tailored approach for a variety of corporate, retail and packaging clients.
Partial client list..
Penguin Books Australia, Australia Post, VicRail, Heinemann Publishing, The Big Issue, Carlton & United Breweries, National Australia Bank, Victorian Arts Centre, Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Since graduating from a masters degree at Kingston University, Tom now lives and works in London. He has been continually developing his visual language, illustrating a wide range of subject matter. His work embraces the digital process combining it with the more traditional techniques.
Partial client list..
The Guardian, John Brown Publishing, The Financial Times, Simplify Design, The Folio Society, BBC, Building Design Magazine, Readers Digest, Sort Of Publishers
Janice Nadeau’s illustration for ELLE Canada for the article “STRAIGHT TALK. Do gay men make the best relationship counsellors?”
May issues cover
Nu Visual Language is an innovative project by Radim Malinic (Brand Nu) designed to create visuals based on various songs and lyrics. Tracks have been chosen, the collaborators picked, our aim is to create a visual mixtape, a set of alternative artwork to accompany the music, the lyrics and the mood.
Visit - www.nuvisuallanguage.co.uk
Two double page spreads by Andy Potts for SIGnature magazine about Bluetooth technology in the home and for exercise.
Brand Nu (Radim) recently illustrated an article for the Best Health magazine.
April’s Issue of Mixmag (Illustration for the Teenagers Album review by Jay Taylor).
Moira Millman recently illustrated the ad campaign for Sobey’s Organic with Rethink Communications.
These illustrators of AGM have been selected to be in Ill 08, The 3×3 illustration Directory.
Michel Thompson, Conceptual and Figurative
Mario Wagner, Conceptual and Figurative
Chris Pyle, for Children
Phil Wheeler, Decorative
Brand Nu finished quite nice editorial illustration recently to go hand in hand with an article about the Facebook phenomenon. The illustration was commissioned by DV8 magazine, which is monthly publication in South England.
Born in Bulgaria, Eva Tatcheva moved to London at the age of 20 where she gained a 1st class BA(HONS) Illustration degree followed by a 2 years Masters Degree in Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art. Since her graduation in 2000, Eva has been working successfully as an illustrator. Her versatility and commitment to providing high quality service allows her to work in a flexible manner for clients, from magazines and newspapers to publishing, advertising and design companies. Eva has also written and illustrated several children’s books that are sold in the UK, Europe and the USA.
Some of Eva’s clients include…
Addison Design, BBC, CCT Design, Bridge Point, Attitude Magazine, The Independent on Sunday, The Times, The Guardian, Playboy Magazine, Editions Nathan, Practical Low Magazine, Sainsbury’s Magazine, Sum & Substance, Erotic Review Magazine, Vital Magazine, People Management Magazine, Bloomsbury, Tango Books.
A number of the AGM’s fantastic editorial illustration commissions never make the news on this site, but we do keep record of them. Here is a snapshot of a selection of the most recent ones. Listing the illustrators featured in no particular order:
Mario Wagner, Terry Wong, Gary Sawyer, Monica Hellström,
Michelle Thompson, Chris Pyle, Matt Vincent, Marta Antelo and Katy Lemay.
Isabelle Cardinal has been featured in DPI, a Taiwanese magazine.
Stephen Ledwidge has a four page interview and profile in the February’s issue of Korean magazine monthly W.E.B.
Michelle Thompson illustrates the cover of the Family section of The Guardian. This is the first time that they have used an illustration in this section.
Stephen Ledwidge has illustrated two pieces for the February issue of Esquire magazine (Russia). Stephen was among a number of illustrators asked to create a pencil self-portrait for the fashion section including clothing from the newest collections.
Failure, an exhibition at The Lab at Belmar that explores the creative potential that lies in the concept of failure. The Lab’s third Poop Deck Project, Failure will include single works by 35 artists mounted on existing panels in the Lab’s poop deck, an informal space dedicated to experimental exhibitions and live programs and performances. Continuing the investigation generated by the earlier exhibition Better, which explored multiple interpretations of the concept of improvement, Failure considers the social, theoretical and material expressions associated with malfunction, breakdown, disappointment, and rejection. It will open on Valentine’s Day and run until May 11, 2008. Artists participating in Failure have been selected for their ability to capitalize on the rich currency of the concept. The punk rock aspiration for freedom through a continual posture of unqualified rejection forms the most vivid historical backdrop for current discussions affirming the creative possibilities of failure.
Look out for Jay’s work, on the floor!
For more info, please visit www.belmarlab.org
News posted - Thursday, February 7th, 2008 | Visit - Jay Taylor's profile..
Gianluca Folì has been featured in DPI, a Taiwanese magazine.
View it! [PDF] 1.1MB | Download it! [ZIP] 950KB
News posted - Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 | Visit - Gianluca FolÌ's profile..
This is Katy Lemay’s colorful illustration that was done for Châtelaine magazine for the article ”Everything you need to know about the pill.”
Here is Andy Potts’ double page spread on Green Futures for the latest issue of Martha Stewart’s Body+Soul magazine.
Andy Potts did the content direction, design and animation for the broadcast film at the Royal Opening of St Pancras Station in London which was presented to over 1000 dignitaries including PM Gordon Brown and Her Majesty The Queen.
Brand Nu worked with VCCP and Stanleys Post on a very special campaign for O2 this January to kick off 2008!
Anna Goodson Management is thrilled to announce the opening of its first overseas office.
Bianca Zen heads up the Singapore and Asia Pacific branch of Anna Goodson Management. The former Editor and front runner of TAXI Design Network boasts vast experiences in Advertising, and Marketing. From Editorial to Public Relations, and Business Development, versatility is clearly an understatement when querying her skill set. Bianca has been invited to present at School of Visual Arts and has worked closely with D&AD, ICOGRADA, AIGA, New York Festival, and National University of Singapore. She now serves as an AGM Representative, representing AGM in the Asia Pacific region. In addition to being highly involved in the creative industry, Bianca is also an avid poet.- biancazen@agoodson.com
News posted - Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
Tina lives and works in Berlin. Her artwork combines the strengths of collage, painted textures and handmade pencil drawings to create the finished illustrators! AGM is pleased for her to be one of the newest additions to the AGM roster. Tina’s impresive client list includes the Financial Times, BBC Radio, VITRA Design and the Australian Financial Review Magazine…
The ‘030 illustrator’ book is out now.
It’s a collection of some of the best Italian illustrators working today and features our very own Gianluca Folì.
A picture speaks a thousand words, which is why Radim Malinic of BRAND NU is the go-to illustrator for all advertising and personal needs. His pictures, posters and debut publication are filled with spunky, pulsating layouts that have given him international attention.
His current clientele include
Smirnoff, AOL and more recently ADOBE Design.
Radim let Art Nouveau Magazine get a snap shot of his world.
Art Nouveau Magazine: How did you get started?
Radim Malinic: Possibly as anyone else, I was intrigued by the whole process. I wanted to know what goes into it and how to achieve the results.
ANM: How would you describe your business?
RM: As Brand Nu I take on various briefs from music packaging to fashion illustrations and magazine art direction to identity development. It’s fun to keep the diversity going on, doing too much of a same thing could be a killer. We live in a throw away society [and] people want more all the time. We (industry) are producing stacks of work everyday, people aren’t interested in CDs anymore, they want new music in mp3 and a lot of it and the same kind of applies on the design scene. I am a full time freelancer and…
Click here to read the full interview at
Art Nouveau Magazine dot com
Isabelle Cardinal’s illustration titled “To Kill a Hummingbird” for Colorado Avid Golfer Magazine. Has been presented one of three outstanding achiever awards at the International Network of Golf Media Awards Presentation Press Conference at the Orange County Convention Center.
Pablo has recently illustrated the cover of The New Republic, depicting all the candidates for the US presidency.
Stephen Ledwidge has two pieces in this months Harvard Business Review - the article is titled ‘Transforming Giants’. The article concerns large corporations and how in the past the have been seen as lumbering giants but recently some multinationals seem to be transforming themselves by engaging employees and introducing innovations that show their connection with the world.
Radim Malinic is an internationally renowned innovative illustrator, with an extensive international high profile client list, based in Southampton, the United Kingdom. He’s been working under the name of Brand Nu for the last few years and prides himself on his artistic sensibility. His work has been described as imaginative, sophisticated, sensual and sexy. While his goal is to fulfill the needs of his client, he creates contemporary visions that are a complex montage of layered photographic and colorful elements. His award winning creations have been used in books, magazines, interior murals, corporate identity, CD’s and DVD’s, posters and fine art picture collections list full of returning custom.
Radim released his debut showcase book in October 2007 which earned him critical acclaim from the design community, collectives and has been featured in vast number of magazines.
News posted - Friday, January 11th, 2008 | Visit - Brand Nu's profile..
Hanna Melin was born 1978, Sweden. She moved to England 1998, and after finishing her MA Communication at the Royal College of Art in 2004, she now lives and works as a freelance illustrator in East London.
Pablo’s illustration was selected to be published in this years American Illustration 26.
The book is available in stores now.
Hans Sipma shot one of the winning Consumer Newspaper Ads for Playland with Rethink Vancouver in this months CA Magazine’s Advertising Annual.
Photographers Roth & Ramberg launch their beautiful new calendar for 2008.
Shot entirely at the world famous Coney Island Amusement Park, this beautiful calendar captures the essence of a fun filled day at the park.
View it! [PDF] 1.97MB | Download it! [ZIP] 1.87MB
News posted - Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008 | Visit - Roth & Ramberg's profile..Search by artist..
All images are copyright of the respective artists and cannot be reproduced without the consent of AGM & the individual artists.
- Brand Nu Interviewed for FAIRspot
------------------------ - Michelle Thompson - Metropolis magazine
------------------------ - Jay Taylor Featured in Varoom
------------------------ - Marta Antelo - New Parent magazine
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- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
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