Interview with Seth Weisfeld

Hello there, please tell us your short biography, how did you get into design and what inspired you.
I’d always enjoyed drawing and art in school but didn’t start graphic design until the last two years of College in 1998. I developed my own major in graphic design for the Internet. I think my first moment of inspiration came from a week-long visit to the office of Cahan + Associates in San Francisco. They specialize in high-concept Annual Reports and the experience really opened things up for me as far as taking a conceptual approach and having that shape the messaging and design. I came home, bought my first Apple computer and started taking on freelance jobs during the dot.com boom.

Where are you located and where do you work? Current projects?
I’m currently located in New York City. The industry is doing really well right now, so I have been staying busy with great work for clients like Nike, Absolut, Giorgio Armani, J.Crew, and Hewlett-Packard. I just got my first major print design project, so that should be a good learning experience.

What is design for you?
Design for me is a way of life. I can’t walk past a billboard or a store-front or a messenger bag with a nice lining and not take a moment to look at the concept or typography or texture. Sometimes I have a hard time turning that part of my brain off. In the market, I buy food with the best packaging labels. I’m a sucker for good typography.

You mainly do illustrations, why not flash, photo, motion?
I spent a year at Juxt Interactive and was exposed to some really great illustrators there. With illustration you can do anything. I like the freedom and creativity of it. I am comfortable doing flash animation, but the scripting side of flash waived goodbye to me a few years ago. I would like to start learning After Effects and begin animating my designs for broadcast and web-based projects.

What are your goals?
I’m working on putting together a small network of friends and colleagues to collaborate with. As opportunities grow, I’d like to create a small, flexible studio to work with the larger agencies as well as directly with clients. It would be great to make a small place for people who really want to jam on fun, creative projects in a casual and friendly environment.

How did you come up with your site name? In8design
Back in college, I was brainstorming with a friend of mine and at the time having a number in your name was considered cool. in8 is another way to say “innate”. Which means knowledge that you are born with. I didn’t get much training in college and I was self-taught with all the software, so it seemed like a good way to describe my design sensibilities. In client meetings and some marketing materials I have, I would tell clients that my approach is to bring out the potential in them as well, to bring out the best in them in a way that was always there but maybe not shown effectively.

Why freelance? Not to go to work in a team, fulltime.
I decided to go freelance after years of working at full-time positions. I felt that I had a decent amount of experience and training and wanted some more opportunities to work with many different studios and talented people. Working in a team on a daily basis is great and can really create a good synergy, but I am enjoying the opportunity to work with a much larger number of people. Working independently also allows you to be more involved in deciding what projects you want to work on. I have really learned a lot since I went out on my own and its been a very challenging and rewarding experience for me.

How do you see webdesign in 5 next years? How do you think it cant be changed?
With the recent merging of Adobe and Macromedia, along with the increased bandwidth, I think we are going to see a lot more video and flash on the web. The flash 8 player has some really great advancements and the video quality may rival the standard formats that are currently available. More and more web campaigns are using video to communicate their message and I think that trend will continue to grow.

Other hobbies? What do you do when you don't work?
I just got a digital SLR camera, which is keeping me busy right now. When I’m not working, I like to spend time walking the streets of New York with my wife. There is such a diverse collection of people here and a really strong energy to this city. Its inspirational on so many levels. When I can, I try to go check out some of the museums here. I just went to look at a Verner Panton exhibit which was truly inspirational. I also play piano and really enjoy seeing and playing music.

Do you care about your health from youth? Don't smoke, don't drink?
I actually just joined a gym to try and get a better handle on that. I do drink and smoke and have always had a fun night-life. But its always best to try and do things in moderation. Sitting at a computer all day and partying at night is not a very healthy lifestyle, but you can balance it out with a little exercise and activity.

Do any sports?
I like to play basketball a lot. I have a bike that I ride and I always enjoy skiing in the winter.

What would you suggest to young people who start their careers in design industry?
Its important to have a thorough understanding of your tools. Know the software in and out. When deadlines are looming, there is no time to spend learning the programs. But you can’t stop there. In the early part of your career, be hungry. Try to get your hands on as many different projects and clients as you can. Push yourself to try new styles and techniques. Do your research and try to take a conceptual and thought out approach to design projects. When you’re looking for a job, search for some studios and figure out who you want to work for and how you might be a good fit for that studio. Once you have a good foundation, organize all your projects into a portfolio and try to market yourself in the same way that you would market one of your clients.

Your favorite website? Why?
I don’t have a favorite website. There are so many that inspire me for different reasons. In a way, sites like Newstoday are my favorite because they bring so many people together and create a lot of opportunity for sharing and collaboration. Online design communities have really helped the industry evolve quickly and break down the barriers that geography and distance can create. I’ve been able to meet and interact with so many people that I would never have met if it were not for these sites.

The most beautiful woman on the world?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I would have to say for me, its my wife. She’s got such a great style and she’s a great inspiration to me. I’m lucky to have her as my partner in crime, and she’s a hot little French girl too!

Well, that's all for now, any last comments?
You get out of it, what you put into it. If you’re really passionate about design, and you put that energy into your work, then good things will happen. Always try to grow and push yourself to the next level and always find time to take a break and unplug.

Thanks for the interview!