Robert Pilichowski
www.propellerblade.com

Tell us a little about your background?
Like a lot of designers I started off using traditional tools. My dad used to have his own darkroom in the house; well it wasn't much of a darkroom. He just basically set up some trays in the bathroom and made prints. My mom would complain about the odor from the chemicals, while my sister and I would bang on the door because we couldn't hold it any longer. That was my first exposure to photography.

Soon after that my dad got one of the first Sony Video-8 cameras. My friends and I started filming our own skateboard videos and mock commercials. I don't think any of us really thought that we would still be working on similar projects today, let alone getting paid for it.

Where are you from?
The nasty north, Toronto, Canada. The cool kids like to call it the T-Dot so I guess I should throw that in.

Design education:
I went to University and enrolled in a program called Media Arts. It combined photography, film, computer graphics and animation. It was there that I was first exposed to film. I made some experimental short films, which luckily got me my first job. I really didn't know what I was going to do after graduation but at that time there was a company in town that was creating some really experimental and unique work. That's where I first started to really get into design and using a desktop computer for graphics and animation.

Your demo reel is jaw dropping! What softwares did you use to create that?
Wow thanks for the compliment! I used desktop software to create everything on my reel. I predominantly used After Effects, Photoshop and Illustrator. I'm also playing with 3D packages such as Cinema 4D and Lightwave 3D. I used Cinema 4D to create the opening to my reel.

You seem to be highly experienced with motion design, what inspires you to produce such stunning work?
I know its been said so many times before but honestly, everything inspires me. This morning for instance, the frost on my car's windshield made these really interesting patterns and I thought to myself: "how could I re-create that visually". So really, everything inspires me from nature to architecture, travel, music, film, poetry, my peers, painters, friends, and photographers.

Before being a part of the Design Industry what was your very first job?
I was a buggy boy at a local grocery store. It wasn't fun, especially when you try to push too many buggies into the store and the front ones decide to go off somewhere other than where you planned. So you end up running to the front and then the back ones start rolling in the other direction. You end up with a lot of irate costumers. I wasn't there very long because I put one of the employee's aeronautical manuals in the trash compactor by accident.

How is it working with Discreet Inferno Composting Workstation?
It takes some time to get your head around the way things work in the Inferno but once you do, its really no different than any other desktop application. I find it's great if you have a tight deadline and need to turn something around quickly. I still prefer using desktop applications though. I like having the time and freedom to experiment and play around.

If there were one thing you could change about Adobe Photoshop what would it be?
I would like it not to crash after working on a file for two hours without saving. Honestly, wouldn't change anything about Photoshop. It does everything I need it to do and then some. I'm just amazed that they're still coming out with upgrades for such a great program.

Music is a huge inspiration for designers, what's your choice of music these days?
Music is so integral to my work, whether it be designing, painting or shooting a video. I'm constantly listening to something. A lot of what I listen to has to do with the project I'm working on. For instance if I was working on a basketball spot I would most likely listen to something fast paced, urban or even soulful. Urban Species has a lyric in one of their songs that has this lyric in it: "music is the blanket that covers me". I believe that to be so true but to answer your question, currently I'm listening to: Mae, Portishead, Story of The Year, Bjork, Talib Kweli, Anberlin, Massive Attack, Thursday, Emm Gryner, Dashboard Confessional, AFI and Cafe Del Mar.

What was the strangest request you ever received regarding your services?
A client requested for me to make an orange hue "a bit cooler looking".

What growing trend do you see in the industry that does not look like will last?
I think there will always be trends that will come and go. We've been seeing a lot of design lately influenced by the 60's and 70's. I think we'll start to see more 80's inspired work or even a whole new aesthetic emerging.

If someone gave you a stage to the World and told you to send a message with less than 5 words, what would that message be?
"All you need is love"

At what point would you be content in your life as a Media Artist?
Never. I'm never satisfied with anything I do or have done. I'm my own worst critic.

What is your all time favorite movie and why?
Oh, I'm going to have to cheat on this one. I can't really name one all time favorite movie, so here are a few: Ghost in The Shell, Vertigo, Chunking Express, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, La Femme Nikita, Cinema Paradiso, Leolo, Amelie, Pulp Fiction, Run Lola Run, The Killer, American Beauty, Un Chien Andalou, 8 1/2, Blue/White/Red, Trainspotting, Snatch, and Seven to name a few. All of these films have something that has inspired and connected with me on a personal level. Stirring my emotions and influencing my work in one-way or another.

What question do you wish I had asked, and how would you have answered it?
I wish you had asked about my yacht....yeah right.

Any new projects you can tell us about?
I'm currently working on a pitch to redesign a major Television network that I can't really discuss. I'll be shooting another music video for a group called Slan in the spring and I'm currently working on a feature length documentary on the art of breakdancing called "All Out War".

Final comments:
Thank you! It's been a pleasure.

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