Meet Our Very Own Nick Hoople

How old are you?

31

Where did you go to school?

University of Wisconsin-Stout

What is your job at BAKER?

Graphic Designer

What made you decide to become a designer?

Drawing, painting and generally just creating things was one of my main interests since I was 3. I knew early on that I wanted a career in a field where I could do what I love. Being a starving artist didn’t seem all that appealing to me so I decided when I was 18 that I would be a graphic designer. It worked out pretty well, I think.

How many years have you been designing?

If school counts, then 12 years now, but professionally for 6.

Why did you choose to work at BAKER?

When I interviewed here the people seemed to be exceptionally nice and fun to be around (they still are). Also, it was an exciting opportunity to work on brands that are universally loved and recognized (it still is).

Do you have any side projects or passions that you work on when you’re not designing at your job?

For the past year most of my projects have involved fixing up my house that I bought last year, but beyond that I still like to draw when I can make the time.

Where do you find inspiration? Any specific blogs or sites?

I check a lot of different design related websites for inspiration, probably too many to bother listing. But I guess I could give a shout out to some of my favorites like NOTCOT.org, thefoxisblack.com, thedieline.com, welovetypography.com, and gigposters.com.

What are some typefaces you love?

I try not to fall in love with any typefaces so that I don’t get my heart broken when I see them being abused. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. I have some favorites or “go-to” fonts, but I’m always keeping my eye out for new favorites. I’m a floozy like that.

Do you have any pets?

I have an awesome dog named Oliver. He looks like a miniature version of Chewbaca. So naturally, he was Chewbaca for Halloween.

Where do you get your hair done?

I get my hairs cut at Lindsey Bennett Salon (pronounced Lindzee Benawt Sehlawn)

What do you love most about your job? least?

I love that most days I get to do some creative problem solving and be around like-minded people. That and I get to play board games over the lunch break. I least like that I get the feeling that designers are sometimes undervalued and misunderstood by a lot of people. Maybe because the results of our work are hard for most to quantify? Everyone can interpret the look of things differently while numbers and straight facts are more black and white.

Are there any cultural references that inspire your work?

I think media and technology have influenced our generation more than any in the past. Video games, TV shows, music videos, etc. We have been bombarded with so many different messages and outside influences since birth that I think we’ve been trained to be a little more savvy when deciding what to trust. I guess what I’m trying to say is, my brain is crammed with so many different references and influences that it’s hard to pin down just a few that influence me most.

What are some of your frustrations with being a designer?

Being in front of a computer screen for most of the day makes me a bit antsy sometimes. I think that’s why there’s been a big movement in the last several years back towards making handmade things. Also, it irks me a bit when people that don’t know much about design think that art and design easy for us “creative types” because we’re “artsy fartsy”. I think more than anything I just hate those two terms because they sound derogatory.

If you were given a chance to travel back in time which time period would you choose and why?

Oh, so this is only a backwards time machine?! If only we had hover boots and flying cars by now I would have elected to stay put. Otherwise, I could go back to the time of the Flinstones where I would have a pet dinosaur, a wooly mammoth that vacuums, and a pelican that washes my clothes.

Where can we find you when you’re not at work?

Probably at home with my wife and my dog. Yes, I’ve become very domestic lately. But I do still get out.

What’s your new years resolution?

I’m going to do more projects on my Gocco press and I plan on using any number of my wife’s cameras to get out and experiment with some photography.