Many of us use different methods to achieve our creative vision. In this months article, we’ve opened up our toolkits and we’re giving you a peek inside. Learn how we work and some of the tools we simply can’t live without!
Craig:
Is there anything in your toolkit you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Why?
Probably my A&W Root Beer, because I have to drink something to keep me going.
Is there anything your toolkit items can tell us about your personality, hobbies, or the process of your work?
I collect robots (or starting to collect). The ones in my office don’t compare to my collection at home. I’m still beginning my collection and hope some day to build my own.
If you had to give up one item in your kit, what would it be?
I’d give up the blue toy robot in the upper right. I got this robot years ago before I started collecting them, looking at it now, I realized how dumb this one is. It doesn’t puff smoke, sharpen pencils, or even have moveable legs and arms.
Doug:
Is there anything in your toolkit you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Why?
My White Out of course! Because it’s my selfish way of painting over my pencils.
Is there anything your toolkit items can tell us about your personality, hobbies, or the process of your work?
Caffeinated 24/7… lots of sketching, then over drawing with technical curves and ovals.
If you had to give up one item in your kit, what would it be?
My non-photo blue pencil, if I have to.
Paula:
Is there anything in your toolkit you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Why?
I’m going have to go with the iPhone. I hate to say it, but I’m really attached to it. I went without it for a half a day last week, and it was not good. I felt discombobulated. I especially missed it at the gym. I like to listen to music and play Words With Friends while I’m on the treadmill.
Is there anything your toolkit items can tell us about your personality, hobbies, or the process of your work?
The PMS book and the loop definitely help my work process. I often have to match a spot color with CMYK inks, or I have to try to match color to a printed piece. So, I look at tiny ink dots to get an idea of how other packages are printed. I consider how inks will lay down on the substrate, in what order, and how I can match the designer’s intent without using too much ink. I am an illusionist.
If you had to give up one item in your kit, what would it be?
That’s a tough one… I think I could live without sunglasses, well, until it gets sunny. The shoes I could do without, I have others at home. Plus it would give me an excuse to buy more! I could do without the candy that is in the tin container. I only bought it for the packaging.
Ken:
Is there anything in your toolkit you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Why?
My iPhone! I’m not a techie person in any way, shape or form. This thing has seriously become an appendage, an umbilical chord if you will, to me and my existence.
Is there anything your toolkit items can tell us about your personality, hobbies, or the process of your work?
I’m all over the board. I’m crafty, I carry jewelry tools. I’m multifaceted, look at the collection. I like short nails and no hang nails. I like smooth lips. I’m a responsible pet owner too.
If you had to give up one item in your kit, what would it be?
One of my rings. I can’t imagine not having one of these things at my immediate reach.
Lindsey:
Is there anything in your toolkit you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Why?
My headphones. They help me block out the world when I work… and it’s torture when I forget them at home.
Is there anything your toolkit items can tell us about your personality, hobbies, or the process of your work?
Hairstyling is a big passion for me. I carry my scissors almost everywhere because I never know when someone will need a little bang trim or an impromptu cut. My little black book I keep around for doodling and tracking my schedule. Lastly, I’m pretty habitual about passing out Thank You notes whenever it deems necessary.
If you had to give up one item in your kit, what would it be?
I could probably go without the mini clothes pins. I like those for hanging inspiration on the wall.
Betsy:
Is there anything in your toolkit you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Why?
My Bose Headphones (although they aren’t pictured). The music I listen to determines the type of day I’m going to have.
Is there anything your toolkit items can tell us about your personality, hobbies, or the process of your work?
I love natural textures; anything wooden, stones, or feathers. I’m a big goofy kid and love anything quirky and immature. I love anything that reminds me to be zen: yoga, stones, my Buddha art.
If you had to give up one item in your kit, what would it be?
My coffee cup. While sometimes I need a lil’ pick me up, caffeine makes me shake like nobody’s business.
Trent:
Is there anything in your toolkit you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? why?
Life-wise I’m sure it would probably be my iPhone. Design-wise though I think it would have to be my Western Digital passport (external hard drive). The time spent cultivating the references and resources on there has made those precious gigs into my own little goodie world of design nuggets. As long as I have my passport I can pretty much plug and play wherever I go without missing a beat.
Is there anything your toolkit items can tell us about your personality, hobbies, or the process of your work?
Combined my items probably give the impression that I’m the office utilitarian – fairly mindful about the usefulness of things, very keen on simplicity, and ardent about how essential each item is – which is pretty accurate. More than anything though I think my sketchbook tells most of “my story” on it’s own. Sure, it’s a little rough around the edges, nothing fancy, and it’s very minimal, but it’s super easy to work with, always accessible and full of big ideas.
If you had to give up one item in your kit, what would it be?
This one’s tough considering how essential all of these items are to my daily use. I guess if I had to give one thing up though it would be my Pilot razor point pen (2nd from the right). When I sketch I tend to build up line weights from thinner, lightweight pens to bolder, heavy markers. That way, with just a few strokes, I can quickly show depth and the level of importance of something in the hierarchy. If I absolutely had to I could probably cut my sketching down by a line weight.
Bryan:
Is there anything in your toolkit you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? why?
My Pantone Color Bridge fan book. You can see the CMYK and Solid versions of each color. Oh, and both my Wacom tablet and post-its. I’ve been on a Wacom for almost 15 yrs and it’s just a superior device to any mouse in my opinion… and post-its are just post-its!
Is there anything your toolkit items can tell us about your personality, hobbies, or the process of your work?
Well, the Wacom to me feels more like a traditional artists tool as far as computer input devices would go. I started as a fine artist for years and years before I ever used a computer for the first time. My camera… it’s my eyes in a sense. When I concept, I don’t restrict where the idea originates. It might be inspired by writing, or an image first. Both of which I am not shy about trying to create along the way to support the final idea.
If you had to give up one item in your kit, what would it be?
My Darth Tater Potato Head. He’s super cool but really doesn’t contribute much… at least not until you put a little fan under his cape… then he’s pretty inspiring.
