In our Crowdsource Designer Interview, we dig deep to get feedback from designers and illustrators from around the world on their experience of crowdsourced design. We shoot them some questions, they respond, and you get the lowdown - everyone wins. In today’s interview, San Francisco designer Andy Pitts!
Who are you?
Andy Pitts!
Where do you live?
San Francisco, CA
Describe yourself - likes / dislikes.
A tall lanky guy with an awful memory and a mellow/motivated personality. I’m a big fan of beer, coffee, skateboarding, art, drowning in side-projects, my dog Pants and my wife Ashley.
What inspires you?
I get inspired by absorbing all the things around me and then mushing them into something different. I love taking things out of context and seeing things from a different perspective or a new light.
What design tools do you use (ie: Photoshop, Wacom etc)?
Illustrator and Photoshop, (with a Wacom tablet), a Moleskin for doodles and notes, paint for making messes - gallons of paint for making really big messes!
Describe your design style?
My design style varies based on the project at hand - at work it will be very different than if I’m working on a specific tee contest or painting or piece of art. Style helps communicate the message - so it depends on what I’m saying and how it needs to be said.
Where did you study design?
Self-taught! The Internet is a wealth of information.
No die-hard favorites, it really depends on the mood I’m in - or what mood a design puts me in.
What category of projects are your favorites? (e.g: packaging)
Always t-shirts - but I also love skateboard art, silkscreened prints and traditional paint on canvas.
Which design platforms do you use (eg: Threadless, 99designs etc)?
For the sake of free time now I’ve slimmed my contest entries down to just Threadless - but I do shop designs around to other sites if I feel I have something that will work specifically for them.
What do you love about crowdsourcing contests/ what don’t you?
I love that you follow any idea you have and present it to the world - no one to answer to but your self for direction. Through crowdsourcing contests I’ve learned how to keep and grow from valuable input, and how to forget and ignore negativity. Important lessons when you are putting your designs on display for the world to judge
Has it become a sustainable source of income?
It’s definitely a nice chunk of side income!
Last word from Andy:
Thanks to everyone who digs my stuff! Feel free to say hi or give a shout:
