So, what do you call a seventeen year old guy who's a native Texan, a Junior in high school, an incredible graphic designer and enjoys a good game of Modern Warfare? You call him, Cole.
To my surprise, which might have not been to much of a surprise, he was an easy guy to talk to. At first I was thinking, "This guy knows his stuff, I'm a waste of his time." But oh no, he was more then pleased to speak with me. A small town kind of guy, with the joy of reading, writing, and designing. Multi-talented I'd say. So it surprised me when he told me that where he comes from isn't all that artsy. Well then where does he get his inspiration from?
Cole tells me, " I get most of my inspiration from just day to day life, as hypocritical as that might sound. I'd have to list my main sources as my friends, photos, nature, folk music, and the books I read. I get really inspired to create on rainy days, and when I'm listening to some really good folk music. As for my typographic inspiration it mainly comes from just my passion for writing really. " Once again, a little shocked; here Im thinking he's about to name some great artisit, when really he just finds it in his normal life. Which I found to be fantastic. And could you believe that he started all of this in just the Seventh Grade?
" I started graphic design around 7th or 8th grade actually because of Gaia. I tinkered with profiles and soon I began to love it, so really it's all gaia's fault that I love design. However writing has always just been a passion of mine, I just started getting really into it around my junior-high/high school year.. "
Plus, I had no idea he was a writer. Cole usually pushes forward his vector art, more then his writing to the public. But at least we had one thing in common, bookcases.
" Oh I love to read, and write, I do both rather frequently. I actually have a dream of filling up one of those wall-to-wall bookcases with books I've read. My favorite writers by far are: Orwell, Hemmingway, Palahinuk, and Kensey, perhaps maybe even Kerouac too. " Ah yes, who doesn't want to have a wall-to-wall bookcase? And if you don't, you should. But let's go back to the music, Folk? Who would have thought?
Yet, I guess I misunderstood because a few of the people he named, I listened to. I thought; bring out the banjo and a couple of tin cans. WRONG IDEA. He made me laugh and says, " My most played list would fall somewhere in this order: Bob Dylan, Langhorne Slim, Fleet foxes, Beatles, Fionn Regan, MV & EE, and Iron & Wine, with some other bands sprinkled into the mix. " What a casual guy right?
From there on, I asked him about a phrase that he had used on a paragraph about himself. Cole employs that, " Im a headstrong rebel without a cause." I myself am eh, considerably rebel; so I had to ask him just what he meant by it. He had a great answer.
" Most of that is sarcastic, It's almost as if I feel I'm not a rebel. But to some extents I think I am as well. I'm not exactly the social norm really. I'm one of those kids that likes to learn new stuff, enjoys writing, enjoys reading, and enjoys thinking of new ideas and what not; something all too-uncommon in my day-to-day life. I'd almost say I'm a rebel because I'm not fitting the standardization of a "rebel" I'm not all fuck the establishment and down with school, I'm more the opposite of that, "The establishment can be good", and "School is needed". I don't know, I guess I just see myself as someone who's actually looking for change rather than just preaching it. "
So I thought about such an answer as I sat there in awe, and ate some blueberries.
Now for Cole, It's simple; take something that people might see as weird, and turn it into something people like. It's just what he does. Let's look at one of my favorites, 'Shutter Bug.' Think of it without a little Cole flair. Eh, not that great right? Weird? Now place the sheet of Cole back on and hey, it's interesting. It's cute, it's fun. Who would have thought right? Where and how does he get the idea?
" Actually I love telling that story, because it always makes people shocked. Truth be told when I made shutter bug, I was just looking for something to fill in the gaps on one of my designs. I needed a header design for the flicker section, and my design was centered around colors so I just started making some random dude. Half way through however I figured out I liked it and just continued on. "
Now how does he do it?
" Honestly there's nothing too hard about it, truthfully I don't plan alot of my designs out, I just kind of do what I think looks right, what comes natural, and make a lot of changes throughout ya know? "
Is some of it accidental? It seems 'Shutter Bug' was, but that's the great thing about it. Cole doesn't stick to the rules, and his ways arre definetly his own. So to end this funny interview, I asked him a few questions, one that he favorited.
Favorite Video game: Um Final Fantasy 12 was pretty kick ass, um right now MW2.
Phrase: umm; lover, creator, easy going person...Is that a phrase?
Favorite color: Either pink or blue, I use them a lot in my designs.
Favorite food: Spaghetti for sure.
Best character on Sesame Street: I'm gonna start off by saying I love this question because I absolutely freaking love puppets. The grouch or Cookie monster
Pacman or digdug : Pacman because I've never played digdug ;3;
Thanks Cole c:
One of the best people I have ever interevied.
I need to have this guy make me something..