We find so many amazing people through our #TDKpeepshow tag and Jorge León from Séptimo is one of them! We were super excited to see more of Jorge's work and get an insight into Séptimo. National Geographic, team scaling, and Nike are just a few topics we get into — so dive in and have a read.
What are some of your earliest creative memories and what lead you into design?
I was not that kind of child who loved to spend the day drawing… I’ve never had the patience for that, but as I was growing up I started to draw letters and strange geometric figures in my notebooks in high school. By that time, I had become interested in books and magazines, and due to my parents’ jobs (my father is an architect and my mother is a geography teacher), I discovered a bunch of publications such as national geographic and some architecture and interior magazines.
I grew up in the Canary Islands, where there’s not much of a design culture. In some way, I believe that’s what probably pushed me to travel more and be interested in other cultures, places and disciplines. I grew up really close to the sea and was inspired by surf culture and its graphics, so ever since I was a teenager I knew that was the path I’d like to follow in the future. The combination of all these things was what lead me to become a graphic designer.
What do you look for in a great portfolio?
Clear ideas, bold concepts and flexibility.
Any passion projects/collabs you would like to share?
I’ve recently had the opportunity to work on a photobook for Nike as a freelance graphic designer. Skateboarding is one of my biggest passions so working with a company like that has been a great experience in several ways.
Who’s on the team, what are their roles and why do you love them?
Nowadays at Séptimo, we are a mix of ten to fifteen (depending on projects’ needs) professionals including an account manager, a creative director, a project manager, strategists and copywriters, developers and designers. I feel really comfortable working with them on different projects or disciplines and the work environment is really good, which in my opinion, is a vital aspect to feel good and give your best at work.
Work hard, be patient, share, talk to others about what concerns you
What career advice would you give your 16yr old self?
Work hard, be patient, share, talk to others about what concerns you. Keep working and never lose the interest and motivation.
What is the design landscape like on your city and where do you fit in?
Barcelona is known for having a big background in terms of art and design. There’s a bunch of well-known studios and agencies here and the market is getting bigger and bigger every year. This is something really positive since the studios and agencies make an effort to change and evolve in order to fit in the industry. That’s what happened here at Séptimo; the company started as a graphic design studio mainly focused on print 10 years ago, and over the past two years we have evolved more towards a branding office by incorporating developers and brand strategists to our team, so as to offer more services and focus into digital. Taking this in mind, we have had the opportunity to reach new markets and clients.
Where to find Séptimo online.
Website: septimo.co, leonjorge.com
Instagram: @septimo.co, @jorgeleon
