[Call for entries: The HOW Logo Design Awards closes Monday night]
Meet PRINT’s latest Designer of the Week, Joe Wright, cofounder and creative director of Sibling Rivalry Studio. With a background in both graphics and photography and a talent for exploring a range of emotional aesthetics, his body of work features a diverse visual style. Some of his recent projects include the graphics, signage, website design and other touchpoints for the art exhibition Desert X, and the total branding and design for both the 2017 and 2016 BET Awards. A selection of his work is also part of the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York.
Name: Joe Wright
Name of Firm/Studio/Company: Sibling Rivalry Studio
Location: New York
Website: siblingrivalrystudio.com
Design school attended: Saint Martin’s School of Art
How would you describe your work?
I think that there is a simplicity and purity to my work. I’m always looking to refine an idea, to strip it back as much as possible while still conveying the message. Coming from a design background I am drawn to graphic framing and composition, but feel that an emotional connection is the most important aspect of any communication.
Where do you find inspiration?
All over the place really. I am also a photographer, so photography has a big influence on my work. I would say artists are my other big inspiration, especially painters and sculptors.
And then there is my son. He’s only four and a half, but he has this amazing way of looking at the world. Very pure and uncomplicated.
Who are some of your favorite designers or artists?
There are a lot and from very different disciplines. Here area few: Carlota Guerrero, Dieter Rams, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, John Pawson, Candida Hofer, Irving Penn, Taryn Simon, Olafur Eliasson.
Do you have a favorite among all the projects you’ve worked on?
Hmmm … that’s a difficult question. I’m going to say an identity and branding project for Desert X. Working on this Desert Exhibition of Art allowed us to create online content, a website, book, merchandize and on-site signage. It was a truly holistic package, in a desert environment that felt limitless.
Is there a project that stands out to you as having been the biggest challenge of your career so far?
We have recently completed a number of projects in the Calatrava building in downtown Manhattan. The sheer scale of the screens (the largest is 280 feet long) required a rethink of how we produce content and the way in which we portray storytelling. All good problems, but definitely a challenge.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
To do great work, stay inspired, and be a good parent.
What’s your best advice for designers today?
Stay true to your beliefs so that you establish your own voice and aesthetic. Don’t try to be someone else. Be yourself.
New to web design? Then this workshop is for you.
Click for more information and to enroll today for $39.99.
Workshop runs Nov 27 – Dec 4, 2017.
