Stephen Woowat
www.woowat.com

Location: UK

Tell us a little about your background:
Student. In terms of employment, I used to work part time at a 'Hardware' Store selling nails and stuff. You can give me a question on woodcutting if you'd like...

Design Education:
I'm currently still a student of the system. I was given the choice of studying Graphic Design from the age of about 14. At 18 I finished school, went to College, and studied a broad Art Foundation course, confirming my passion for Design. I'm now at Staffordshire Uni, UK, half way through my second year of a BA in Design: Graphics.

How did you start out as an artist and designer?
Aside from the above, I always enjoyed creating in my childhood. I was lucky enough to grow up with a Mac in my house, so I had the opportunity to play on screen at an early age.

What inspires you?
Inspiration mainly comes from just keeping my eyes open, and aware of what's going on around me. I read the news constantly, filling my head with what's going on. Just seeing something small can often set off a chain of ideas. Being aware of what everyone else is producing also drives me. Design/illustrators such as Richard May, Jens Karlsson and KozynDan are particular inspirations.

Describe your style of design:
Playful. It varies from very loose sketchy illustrations to precise and clinical typography.

Music is a huge influence on designers, what is your choice of music?
The generic answer I guess would be a little bit of everything, which to some extent is true. Id like to *think* that randomizing the music varies the creative output of what I'm doing at the time. Having said that, Blues/Acoustic music is great to work to, as well as more electronic stuff, the Avalanches for example. Lyric intensive songs tend to distract me.

What is your all time favorite movie and why?
I don't particularly have a set favorite film, but I guess Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray has to be one of them. It's a comic masterpiece that also hits on a few other emotional levels. It presents a situation I think we'd all really like to be in, and would really hate to be in at the same time.

What do you do besides design?
Being a student, most of my activities involve alcohol in one form or another. Otherwise I'm playing pool, at the cinema, or occasionally doing something active, riding my bike, mountain walking, playing basketball, and lately, skiing. I also enjoy cooking.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Id like to think id be sitting in a nice cozy design studio drinking tea.

What is more important for a designer, artistic qualities or design education? Choose one:
I think a mix of both. Artistic ability provides the raw passion and enjoyment for the subject. Design education teaches you how to apply these traits in a way, which becomes functional. I suppose you could jump the whole education gun and dive into a studio and learn as you go. So in that respect, artistic qualities are the most important. But I think the most rounded designers are those who have gone through the motions.

What style do you see in the Industry that most designers tend emulate?
At the moment there seems to be a lot of traced/cut-out styled vector images flying about, particularly concerning portraiture and figure illustration.

What software's do you currently use?
Photoshop and Illustrator mainly. I use Cinema4D where 3d work is concerned, and Softpress's Freeway for web design. I should probably be learning Fireworks or something, but I've had no need for anything that advanced yet.

How would you describe something that is over designed?
Over-designing is my Achilles heel. In my experience, its not knowing when to stop working with something, which too often leaves me with an over complex piece, which has lost sight of what its actually trying to say. It can also be a case of having loads of great ideas, and trying to throw them all together, when you should just commit to one, and not compromise them all.

What is the most difficult thing you find in being a Graphic Artist?
Trying to find design solutions, which please everyone.

Do you prefer technologically advanced sites or sites with simple but good design?
Simple, well designed sites. These are often the most functional, and let sites content speak for itself. Technologically advanced *usually* means a distracting and over designed interface. Flash shouldn't be used just because its there, only when it's the most appropriate solution.

If someone gave you a stage to the world and told you to send a message, what would that message be?
Stop listening to me, I'm as important as the next guy.

Where do you like to go to get away from things?
Anywhere that doesn't have a computer screen. Mountains are great, but I don't get away to them as much as I'd like.

Stephen thanks again for doing this interview, any last comments you would like to share?
Thanks Marc for the opportunity to share some thoughts. PACDESCO is a great inspiration, cheers!

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