Timeouts are lightning-quick interviews. Five questions to help you get to know the players holding court at Dribbble. Many thanks to Nick for being today’s interviewee.
Who are you? Let us know where you hail from and what you do.
Hey everyone… my name is Nick Slater. I am an illustrator and graphic designer who mainly works as an in-house designer for Palantir by day and a freelancer by night. I am currently based in the Bay Area but, I’m originally from a wee small town called Sodus in Upstate New York.
What are you working on?
What am I not working on… Besides working 10+ hours a day at my job, I try to find time to still explore and improve my skills outside of work. Lately, it only seems to keep getting busier and busier. What I believe though as a designer: that design is not a career but, a life style. I live by trying to create one thing, once a day. It certainly helps me to stay sharp and still express myself. Lately, I have been making beer labels for a home brew with my dad and a website for ONST. I hope that I can share what I have been producing within the next few weeks.
Choose a favorite shot of yours. Why is it a favorite?
One my favorite shots is my monogram I designed for The Salvation Army Wardrobe. I just want to say that to have this opportunity to create a piece that is for a great cause is truly a privilege. I really had a blast exploring type treatments, color combinations and producing something that really is, in my mind, one of my best pieces. To be apart of something that has other amazing designers like Jon Contino, Drew Melton, Simon Ålander and Richie Stewart to name a few is simply… SICK!
Tell us about your setup. What tools did you use to create the shot(s)? (e.g. hardware, software, pens, paper, blowtorch, etc.)
This is where half the magic is made. I chose my office since a majority of my day is spent here and where almost all my projects are started. My process varies when I begin my projects. Sometimes, when I approach projects I start by researching and finding inspiration that helps me to get the gears turning. I develop a mood board with sketches and images of examples of what is “cool”. Or… sometimes I just draw it straight out of my head in Illustrator and figure it out until it works or it doesn’t work. A majority of my work is created 100% in Illustrator using effects, gradients and magic.
Choose a favorite shot from another Player. Why do you dig it?
There is always something amazing being produced by someone in this great community! I really try to reach out and support those that deserve recognition since they are doing some really fine work. I feel honored to be apart of this amazingly talented community. If I had to chose one shot though, it would be Emir's GSTV logo. When he first posted this logo… I nearly dropped my coffee. First off, bears rule! If anyone knows me I love bears. So this logo really had an impact on me. Secondly, the level of execution and colors are superb. What really makes it work is the use of negative space. It is so simple and I hope as I grow I can produce more fine work like this great piece. Cheers!
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