Aaron Lowell Denton - Interview

                       

What first got you into design?

I started working on show posters when I was in college.  Just local stuff, mainly shows that I was putting on for bands I knew or my own band.  Indiana University (the school I went to) offered a free download of the Adobe suite to its students.  So I was able to mess around on psd and ai a lot and experiment in a low pressure setting.

What did you do after leaving college, did you go into further education? 

No.  School is super expensive in the states so getting something like a masters degree in design was never an option for me.  After graduating at IU I spent most of my time making music and traveling.  Worked odd jobs that I didn’t really have to dedicate much time to and spent the rest of the time experimenting with art and music.  Mainly I was just trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.  I didn’t start doing design seriously until about 3 years after graduating.  

How did you develop your ‘style’ (if you think you have one)? And what advice could you give to aspiring illustrators/Designers trying to find theirs?

I think doing something again and again is the best way to develop a style.  In my experience I had to learn from just making stuff routinely.  My lack of technical know how I think leant itself to experimentation and finding my own way of doing things.  I’d advise aspiring designers to not be worried about finding a specific style…just look at art that inspires you and take on work that excites you.  

What goals do you have in relation to your practice? Have you achieved any so far?

The fact that I’m doing design for a living is still pretty wild to me.  My goal everyday is to make something new…so as long as that continues I’m pretty content.  There’s so much I don’t know in design that it feels exciting to have all these learning moments around the corner.  I learn new stuff all the time that changes my practice entirely.

Your work has a strong tie with music, how do you tend to explore the relationship between music and visual design?

I am a musician so I think I have a natural feel for the connection between music and its visual representation.  I tend to be able to pick up on what’s an appropriate vibe for a band.  Ultimately though I just make work I like and hope for the best that it can work with the group.

Have you always been able to work on commissions that you have wanted to do?

Yes.  I don’t take on commissions with people, bands, or companies I don’t respect.  I never want to think of my work as a chore.  It has to have a good vibe.  The human aspect of a commission is the most important thing to me…collaboration and communication on a visual level.  It’s powerful.

Are there any particular themes or subjects that you find your work communicating?

I’m interested in color primarily.  I love thinking about the relationship between form and color.  Ultimately though I don’t think my work is communicating a philosophy or concept…it’s more about exploring images that are pleasurable to look at.

What are the biggest hurdles you’ve faced in your practice so far?

The business side of freelancing has been the hardest learning curve.  Being able to manage jobs and handle the organisation is difficult.  I’ve been learning as I go.

What advice could you give to someone starting off as an Illustrator/Designer?

Do as much work as you can.  Value yourself and your time.  Only work with people you respect and who respect you.  Make work you’re proud to share.

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Aaron Lowell Denton is another important idol of mine! I'm so pleased that I managed to contact him and get some questions answered. His work lies side by side with music which is an element I'd love to see more in my own practice. Being a musician as well as a designer probably helps. Aarons stance on style and where it should come from is really motivating. It has helped me to realise that I just need to keep producing stuff in a way that works for me and that I enjoy. Then hopefully, through repetition of technique as well as play, something should come about. I do already feel as though I'm beginning to find a voice. It seems that being freelance has obviously got it's perks, but the organisation side is something to really consider and get to grips with as soon as possible. There is a lot of responsibility to be help here.