Meet Designer of the Week Maggie Griffiths, whose clean, minimal work perhaps reflects her way of living and seeking inspiration. Read on for a peek into her corner of the world.
Name: Maggie Griffiths
Title & Company: visual designer at Morningstar, previously at Dyal (in Austin, TX)
Location: Chicago, IL
Design school attended: BA in design arts from Lehigh University
How would you describe your work?
I would describe my work as being fairly clean and minimal. My illustration sensibility is the same. I like strong type, thick lines, and grids. I strive to create things that communicate effectively.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere—though it’s best if it strikes naturally and off screen. While it’s good to be aware of what’s happening in our field, I try not to rely on my contemporaries for inspiration. I put my phone away when I’m walking or taking the train—just being mentally present and engaged with my environment. It’s hard to be inspired when you aren’t ready to make observations.
Who are some of your favorite designers or artists?
It’s an eclectic list: Michael Bierut, Experimental Jetset, James Goggin, Sister Corita Kent, Paul Rand, Doyald Young.
Do you have a favorite among all the projects you’ve worked on?
Lately I’ve been trying to work more with my hands. I was into woodworking and welding in college, and I miss that dirty, tactile creation process. I recently tried this approach with an identity project. America’s Eroding Edges is a climate change storytelling project by Victoria Hermann that profiles our most vulnerable coastal communities as they struggle to cope with a changing coastline. I created the mark and corresponding animation with white glue and a scanner to make the type feel as if it were eroding.
Is there a project that stands out to you as having been the biggest challenge of your career so far?
I think there is a challenging aspect to most every project. I like working within constraints—whether that’s time, budget, content or resources. I think that’s why I struggle to create work for myself. I don’t like being my own client and setting those parameters.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
I guess I’d just like to keep doing what I love for interesting clients.
What’s your best advice for designers today?
Work hard, play nice, do your research and keep a sense of humor.
Sagmeister. Scher. Bierut. And you?
Entering the 2016 Regional Design Annual could land you among the greats of design.Be sure to enter before the final deadline April 29, 2016!