Roman Sidorov
www.sidorov.com


Location: Riga, Latvia

Tell us a little about your background:
Born in Riga, Latvia. It's in Europe my dear friends :) Cuz many of you don't know wtf its located :)

Design Education:
Meanwhile I'm a self-educated as many other designers.

How did you start out as an artist and designer?
1995. In the beginning I was trying to find myself in this new world. Sometime later I have found exactly what I was looking in this world - computer graphics. I began trying myself in 3D modeling and animation. After two years and accomplishing some success in this direction, I discovered the Internet. I got all curious about a tiny part of the huge Internet - web design. I spent a lot of time on web and graphic design since then, and I am still doing it.

What inspires you?
A long time ago, it was pretty popular person Oleg Paschenko aka Cmart. P.S. now he is popular too, but... its not something that makes me scream anymore. So, now I think its not only designers, its also photographers like Erwin Olaf, Jonathan Clark, Eric Myer, Serge Danyshevsky. Design and photography is very close if we are talking about inspiration and if we're talking about professionals ;)

Describe your style of design:
Mostly I do commercial design. It's clear, unique and good-looking. But I love some kinda of trashy design too. Some people call it alternative design.

What are your bad design habits?
Oh, sorry, can't say anything about it.

What are your thoughts on today's New Media Designers?
Well, some of them are pretty cool. I love it.

What do you do besides design?
Sleeping :)

How would you compare today's Graphic Design Styles from 40 years ago?
New technologies, new styles, new possibilities. But some old designs are much better and creative than some modern ones.

What is more important for a designer artistic qualities or design education? Choose one:
Artistic qualities for sure. Education is nothing, if you don't do your job from the heart. Even fast PC doesn't mean anything. If you really want to design a good thing - you'll do it no matter what.

Identity work can be difficult for some, any tips on how to create the right identity for a client?
Well yeah, its difficult, you are right. You must feel the customer, feel his working style.

You must understand the industry he is working in. Font style, logo sign, all at once must explain to potential or existed customers what given company produce, how it works and give a feel to everyone that working with this company is a great chance for you! Like, its unique! That's why cost for Identity design is often high.

I like your style, it seems to steer more towards the grunge / organic style would you like to comment on that?
I like doing my non-commercial design in the styles you've mentioned. But my commercial designs are mostly more corporate, clear and stylish. I like minimalism. Is more difficult to work with empty space than with a lot of graphic objects and details.

In your portfolio under your 2D DESIGN / 02 there's a piece that has a bloody American flag and a little girl, is there a message behind that?
Heh :) Just in case - mow this section calls "Non-commercial design". Well, people ask me about that illustration. Especially from US. Yeah, for sure there is a message. And this message was dedicated to the girl I loved for many years. It was the meek love. After secondary school she has left to US. So, on that illustration you can see her photo in her childhood. Rose - is symbol of love and beauty. US flag - is her future. And dark room - is my feeling at that moment. I was alone, at night, in the office and in the whole building, designing that illustration.

That's the story :) And there is nothing connected with NYC incident.

I just interviewed Andrey Shabelnikov of DA and I've noticed he just got through interviewing you, how ironic? What are your thoughts on Designers interviewing Designers?
Andrew is my pal. We've visited OFFF festival in Barcelona last year together. It was a cool trip. About interviewing - well, I don't think its something strange, lets say, why not? :)

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Five years... Big term. To be honest, I don't know what will be with me in 2 days :) But I hope I will be still graphics designer and professional photographer. And I want to travel the world and work in different countries for some time.

You got any design tips for our viewers?
Sure I do, but it takes time to explain them all, or even one of them. As many of us (designers) currently I don't have time for it.

Your "About" section talks about Harry Potter can you elaborate more on this:
:) I think its funny, nothing more. Very often, people put in this section boring information. Like, I was born, I like, I don' like bla bla bla... And one of my best friends, his nickname is Yarr (he is one of the best flashers and illustrators in Riga) told me, hey, put there something special. And I decided to put there text about Harry :) He is wizard, well, I'm a wizard too :)

Thank you for taking time out to do this interview, is there any last comments you would like to share?
Thank you! Well, I hope we'll meet sometime on some kind of design conference. It's very interesting to meet designers from the world. So, lets keep in touch everybody and share the experience! :)

Roman.

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