Nathalie Dion illustrates Eco Babies Wear Green, The 5th book from the series of “Urban Babies” Written by Michelle Sinclair Coleman is in stores now.

News posted - Friday, May 16th, 2008 | Visit - Nathalie Dion's profile..

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.

News posted - Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 | Visit - Michelle Thompson's profile..

Jay Taylor Featured in Top UK Illustration Magazine ‘Varoom’ on the art of self promotion.

News posted - Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 | Visit - Jay Taylor's profile..

Marta Antelo’s illustrates for “New Parent” magazine Spring -Summer issue.

News posted - Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 | Visit - Marta Antelo's profile..