Graphic Designer/Art Director Paul Bergman and the rest of the team at Studio Paul Bergman constantly nail it with their typographic choices for each project, but here we chat with Paul about everything but the studio (well, maybe a little bit still)! He tells us about his teenage punk band, his current 5 favourite designers, and tells you to 'do your homework' when you're reaching out to studios/employers — we couldn't agree more!
Any hilarious stories about you as a kid being creative?
I grew up in a small town in the east of the Netherlands, where I used to skateboard, listen to punkrock and hang out with my friends. As a teenager, I started a punkband where I did vocals and guitar. I loved it, but needless to say my talent laid elsewhere, so I ended up creating band photographs, logos, t-shirts and demo covers etc. That’s when I started to develop a passion for branding and visual communication so I went on to study graphic design.
Give us the elevator pitch on what you do.
Studio Paul Bergman is a design studio with a focus on creating visual character for ambitious brands and projects. As a studio we define brand identities and shape visions: we build character through design.
What are your three must-read design books, blogs or podcasts and why?
I’ll give you one of each:
Book – How to be a Graphic Designer, Without Losing Your Soul by Adrian Shaughnessy
Blogs – Visual Journal OR The Brand Identity
Podcast – The Futur
Who are your top five design crushes right now?
Besides my eternal love for the works of Eike König and Stefan Sagmeister I am recently really drawn to the work of these designers:
1 - Bas Koopmans @basterandthefunkybunch
2 - Vrints-Kolsteren @vrintskolsteren
3 - Hamid Sallali @worksbyhamid
4 - Ruben Doornweerd @designbyruben
5 - Dana Dijkgraaf @danadijkgraafdesign
I always look for personality in a portfolio: a certain authenticity in the way that the portfolio is put together.
What do you look for in a great portfolio?
I always look for personality in a portfolio: a certain authenticity in the way that the portfolio is put together. Besides that, I check if some of the projects are realised, which shows a designer can do a project from concept until execution.
On another note, don’t send out the same generic email to multiple studios. When you send your portfolio, make sure you’ve done your homework and are actually invested in the studio’s work and design philosophy.
Any passion projects/collabs you would like to share?
Metamorphosis - A Paper Monument for the Old Timber Port
A project I made in collaboration with my first intern, Dan Cramer, for writer and photographer Robert Lagendijk. We ended up doing a crowdfunding campaign to get this publication realised.
What advice would you give students graduating in 2018/19?
Be open to criticism by anyone and learn from it, but at the same time, trust your own judgement.
