Interview with Flux Collective
Introducing Flux Collective. Created and produced as a fortnightly webzine, Flux showcases Brisbane’s graphic design industry with designer profiles, emerging talent, typography, and digital art.
On the cusp of hearing Kevin Finn’s inspiring talk at Creative3 last week about creating projects that are both meaningful and interesting, it is with great pleasure that I introduce the three individuals that form the Flux Collective.
Mish, Ben, and Jeremy are students at Brisbane’s Qantm College and together in mid-2012 formed the Collective as a way to give back to their local industry and connect with their like-minded peers. The webzine format allows each member to work individually and collaboratively.
Guiding the team, Mish leads the Flux brand, creates original typography, and develops the brand’s collateral, and original designs for each issue.
Ben has a keen appreciation for magazine design and layout which influenced the team’s decision to use the webzine platform. His talents also include digital art so Ben contributes something unique to each issue.
Jeremy is the web designer who developed and maintains the Flux website. Most of his time is spent optimizing the usability and accessibility of the site, and because this can be somewhat draining, he likes to mix things up a bit with also producing illustrations for Flux.
Follow Flux Collective on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Today’s mammoth interview coincides with the milestone release of Issue 5. Read all editions of Flux via their here.
Tell me about the Flux Collective. How did this come about? What role do you each have within the Collective?
We are three college buddies who were presented with the opportunity to have six months of creative freedom to work on a shared project—we all wanted to use the time to contribute something of value to a fresh and vibrant local industry that had inspired us.
We realized that the principles we all shared were an admiration of local designers, a yearning to create, and to be able to somehow use our creativity to contribute something of value to the industry. Our main hope is that we can inspire other designers to keep creating and contributing to the local industry in their own ways.
MISH: We take a democratic approach to our work but if there was someone whose role it was to oversee the collective creative output and hold the vision it would be me. I ensure Flux brand consistency as well as independent work on my own designs, which are contributed fortnightly to the webzine.
BEN: I’d say I have two key roles within Flux. The first of which is being the main administrator – so I tend to do all the organization, planning, deadline monitoring, etc. and I also do a fair bit of communication and social media work. My second role is webzine designer, which primarily involves composing the layout of each issue once I’ve received all the files and information that will be going into that issue. In addition to all this, I also create a digital art piece every fortnight for inclusion in the webzine.
JEREMY: My role is the web developer and I also help out the webzine by contributing illustrations.
Describe a little background on why and how you got started with a career in the creative industries…
M: I began designing before undertaking formal study, my first job was to create an entire concept, brand, and retail interior design for a business on the Gold Coast. Which won an award for business excellence and this is when I realised design was something I could continue. Since then I’ve completed 3 years of study at TAFE and University whilst doing freelance work (predominantly branding) for selected clients.
B: Basically, I completed my Certificates 2 & 3 in Information Technology during high school. During this, I found I really enjoyed using the Macromedia/Adobe programs. I grew inquisitive and loved experimenting with these programs. So as soon as I had graduated from high school, I began my Bachelor of Creative Multimedia (Major in Graphic Design) at Qantm College – of which I’m currently completing my second and final year.
J: I actually tried architecture straight out of school, I soon realised it wasn’t for me and so went back to drawing and music. To make ends meet I began designing posters and websites for people, eventually, someone asked me if that was my job. I soon found myself signing up for university courses in design.
In a few words, describe yourself…
M: Design addict. Typography nerd. Crazy laugher. French bulldog fan.
B: Tall. Weird. Obsessive. Pop music fan.
J: Charming, musical, arty, joker, philosophical.
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
M: Working on a few creative briefs for Qantm College including the concept, poster, and booklet design for the 2012 graduate exhibition.
B: Primarily working on issues of Flux Webzine and my own digital art designs for that. I’m also trying to learn some new digital magazine skills, which will hopefully be incorporated into the webzine. Aside from Flux Collective, I’m completing an internship at a local magazine publisher, Graphic Publishing – they publish a few magazines such as Queensland Brides.
J: I’m working on concept art at the moment, teaching myself to create concepts from nothing.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
M: A little bit of Pinterest surfing usually sparks some creative ideas. When approaching a brief I try and jot down as many ideas as possible before selecting a few key concepts, refining them then seeking feedback from people I respect. The process inevitably includes a minor bout of crushing insecurity and self-criticism but I manage to push through it and end up with a result I’m happy with. I need deadlines or I’d never finish anything.
B: Sadly I don’t think I have a ritual! If anything, it would be that I tend to listen to music when doing work – it’s not essential but I find it does help. I am definitely someone who likes to be able to sit down and complete something, I hate stopping and starting all the time – so I usually won’t start something if I know I’m going to have to stop during the process. It just annoys me!
J: I like to visit sites like Dribble and Wookmark, I love to get inspired, sets my day up to be productive and enjoyable.
What or who inspires you?
M: The Brisbane design community – there is some amazing talent out there at the moment. Neisha Phillips from Creative Emporium and design student Shaun Cruikshank are both super talented and currently inspire me. I’m also inspired by interiors at the moment having just bought my first house.
B: Definitely the Brisbane design community – people like Neisha, yourself, and others are great inspirations both personally and creatively. Aside from that, I love a good magazine or layout design – I don’t really have any particular favourites, I just look at as many as possible. My biggest designer crush would be on Tony Hung, he’s based in the UK and kind of elusive, but does some marvellous work!
J: At the moment, Feng Zhu, is one of the world leaders in concept art; his workflow is insane. I aspire to be as inspirational and productive as him one day.
What are you most proud of?
M: Flux Collective. We’ve been getting some really positive feedback from industry and students and it’s so nice to know that people appreciate your work – especially when it’s a personal project with no commercial motives.
B: Definitely Flux Collective. For me, knowing that I want to specialize in magazine layout/design, the webzine was an opportunity to create and contribute something of my own to the magazine world. So to get such positive feedback has been truly wonderful and encouraging!
J: Whatever I made last, I move on pretty quickly.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
M: Fashion designer.
B: Many things. Chef, teacher, writer – then eventually graphic designer!
J: I wanted to be an explorer; I love the outdoors and travelling.
