October 5th, Lahr, Germany (Lived there 6 months)

What was your childhood like?

Pretty good, I had alot of fun. I was an hyperactive little kid for a long time, and I did alot of pranks, up til I was 16 years old. Some of my best childhood memories include trying to dance like M.C. Hammer and Vanilla Ice in my friend's basement, countless hours spent on video games, my first kiss in the tool shed with the neighbor, sliding off the principal's Corvette, numerous water balloons thrown on passing cars, etc...I wish I could go back to those years. Ignorance IS bliss. :-)

What inspired you to pick up graphic design (Include age)?

Initially I really got attracted by some Flash sites in 1998 I think (17 yrs old), so I started to fiddle with Flash and it turned into a brand new hobby for me. I never had any real interest in art before that, aside from hours wasted on doodling in high school (you should see my "notebooks"). That was my web design period.. I got into graphic design as I am doing today a few years after. I had to learn how to do actual design, I was tired of using Flash for my "designs". I'm very lucky to have found this interest somewhere inside of me, because I really had no clue what to do with my life at that time (I dropped out of college after a year and that's when I got into Design).

What was your first paying job?

Outside of design my first paying job was paperboy. It was hell. Utter hell. I did that for 4 yrs, how I did it, I don't know.

My first real contract in design was doing work for an internet gaming group (from Diamond Multimedia/S3).. I was a webmaster for their web team.

Where do you draw your inspiration?

I don't know where it comes from really, I just get into these moments where I can close out everything in my mind and then I can freely express whatever is inside of my mind.

Are there any particular artists that you would call your favorites, or at very least respect/admire?

David Carson was a huge inspiration to me before, and although I don't draw inspiration specifically from him anymore, he is still the designer I respect the most. His body of work is quite impressive, and I love his design philosophy. It doesn't have to be totally clear, it doesn't have to follow the rules or guidelines set by everyone, and best of all he includes purely artistic aspects to his commercial work, and you have to respect that. He revolutionized the world of graphic design in the 90s, and you can see Carson influences all over the place, just go look at your local magazine stand.

As far as design studios go, I very highly respect Jennifer Sterling. I am in love with their work, and you can definately see the Carson influence. I highly believe that design, for any type of client, should make you stare, make you think, and inspire. Communication doesn't have to be straight forward, and stapled with the usual square-box thinking. Of course some projects require a bit more of a corporate approach, but there's always a way to make it original and a pleasure, not a bore, to view. JS has been able, for years now, to go out of the paved road, and has made some very interesting work that stands out from the cookie-cutter work you see out there.

Is there a certain philosophy that you follow when creating (or even brainstorming) a design?

I don't really have a philosophy no. I am very intuitive so i just go with whatever happens at the time. I trust my eye. I think more people should do that, instead of wondering if this and that "works".

Did you go to college for design?

Nope. I did one year of college in Architecture, then dropped out. I got refused in Graphic Design so I had to pick something else.. and it didn't work out. I am considering going to university next year (UQAM - Graphic Design), not because I need to, but I think it would be a great experience for me to have. I don't think education is really needed in the field, but it does help in some areas, especially the technical aspect. They can't teach creativity. I think that you either have it or you don't, although that can be worked on with time.

Are you currently an employed designer? Do you have (another) job?

I've been doing freelance work for 4 yrs now. I am getting at a point though that I want a full-time job. I have worked for 5 different studios so far, but nothing long-term. I have a few freelance projects to work on right now, and I am always looking for more. Soon though I will put a bit more time in finding a full-time job in a studio somewhere... either here in Montreal or elsewhere if I have to.

Is your art stricly done on computer? (Do you take your own photos, etc)

I take some of the pictures, not all. I do all the scans I might use. The rest is all Photoshop work, unless there's printing involved.

What advice would you give aspiring graphic artists? (Or even established artists)

Create design and art out of love and passion, only then can it speak volumes. Put everything you have into it, and shape it like you want to shape it, and not how someone did before, or because a book says it "works". Trust your eye, it's your best friend.

Do you have a favorite peice that you've done? What makes it your favorite (If you do have a favorite)?

I don't think I have a favorite piece. I dislike every piece I've done, in some way or another. I am never happy with what I do. After a day I think it sucks. I don't know if that is a good thing or not, but it keeps me from being content, which means I try to push it further each time I do something new.

Is there any signifigance to the name "Makeshift"?

None.. I just thought it was a cool word at the time, I didn't even know what it meant..I thought "make a shift" was nice, as I was trying to change my life around back then.

You are beautifully skilled (but not limited to) using seriff typefaces. Is there anything that you particularly like about the seriff fonts that you use?

Well I find that they usually fit my work very well, but I am adding all sorts of fonts to my work nowadays, as I broaden my style a bit. I am using different color ranges now also. It's all about constant improvement. You can't plateau or become too comfortable with your work.

Your graphics have a unique style to it, almost faded, often withered, desaturated, etc. When did this particular style come about?

>There's a piece I did a while ago called "Hope". It was my first real piece, the first I was semi-proud of, and the first one I ever did in that kind of style, dirty and organic. Ever since my work has evolved from those roots. That style reflects very well my personality and what's inside my mind. In the beginning I expressed my messages very clearly, it was obvious, but nowadays I prefer to make it more vague, and more distant. It can be interpreted in many ways.

Any last words?

"Do something pretty while you can, don't fall asleep."