Irene Fenollar is an illustrator from Valencia. She is currently  finishing a Masters at the University Politéctina of Valencia

Do you prefer to work from your own ideas or storyboard?When I create personal projects I follow my own ideas. I’m very intuitive and experiment very much with forms, textures and colors. When I create a work for a client I am more careful, and prefer having a script as detailed as possible. I have the script nearby always, I read it often and remember the aims of the work. I always try to do the best possible, even if I don’t like the topic.

Is illustrating for an animation a different process than for static images, do you have to simplify them a bit? To create an animation is very different to making a static image. In general the process that I follow in a static image is: I look for images and articles about the topic that I am going to depict, and near to what I want to express. Then there’s the phase of design and study of composition, in which I try to form my ideas in many sketches until I find the one I’m looking for. The last step is the digitalization of the handmade drawings and I usually color with a graphical tablet.

To create an animation the process is slightly more complicated because you must add the preparation of a storyboard, and study the movement. Every character must have a different personality according to his or her physical and psychological characteristics, and it must be reflected in his or her way of acting.

Are blogs and other social media important tools for sharing your work?Yes, I think it’s very important because it offers you the amazing possibility of showing your work worldwide. It is a great advantage to be able to communicate with other designers, artists, or companies of any part of the world, particularly for creative fields. Without Internet, and especially without blogs, it wouldn’t be possible.

Your favourite illustration and why?My favorite illustration of all those I have done till now is ‘My obsessions’, I think I have expressed the tension without losing empathy.

And the last meal you ate….

Sushi.

Are you really a ghost?Not really. (laughs) Im Rafael Castilho Monteiro, Brazillian graphic designer. (Nice to meet you!)

My inspiration seems to come only after six o clock in the afternoon, so like all the ghosts I prefer the quiet of the night to create my spooky stuff.

But I like this name, you know? I thought about it like I was creating the name of a band, looking for something that really sticks in peoples heads and I think (hope) that ” the atomic ghost” has pop appeal.

Eye eye, what’s this about ‘the end’ project.I like to create things that really call people’s attention. I think that’s the most important thing about design and art in a general way: provoke a reaction.

So THE END its something like this. Disturbing characters announcing the end of the world, two antagonic forces getting ready for a final fight with their army. And I enjoy the fact that none of them seems to be “good”. (laughs) Not in a literal way at least.

Its like we are between them thinking “ok, who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy?!” It kind of reflects the way we all feel everyday, trying to understand if we are taking some good or bad decisions, if what happened in your life is a blessing or a curse.

What’s the last film you saw and hated?Good question… I really don’t know… (laughs) Because I’m a TV guy you know? I grown up watching sitcoms and dramas on cable and I don’t have patience to watch any movie so if I think its gonna suck, I’m a really selective guy on this.

I couldn’t watch Richard Kellys ‘The Box’ until the end. I thought it was just boring. And that cast… Cameron Diaz? Cyclops? They’re just too beautiful to be in trouble. (laugh)

On the other hand, the last film I watched and loved was THE ROAD. I think could be a little more scary but at the end its was really powerful experience. I want to watch again when I have my kids, I think it will become even more touching and intense.

Which is you best piece of work, & why? Sounds cliché but I’m always in love with the last work in doing. and right now that would be some collages and a dysfunctional family of freaks that I’m working on.

But I also have to mention the Samurai Reptile Warriors. I never expected they would have such a cool reception; the Behance first page, showing up in so many websites. So this work will always be the “first hit”.

Describe your creative process.Pure chaos. (laughs) I like to keep things really organic, let the ideas come, the inspiration flow. I love to look for good references on the web and let my mind open to all influences possible. Music really inspires me. Movies, comics, tv, my personal life… sometimes you find a cool picture and that only thing inspire you to create a series of cool works.

But I want to be a more complete professional, so right now I want to make some works using vectors, make some illustrations, learn to create some cool and crazy websites and animations. and paper toys! freakin love paper toys.

I don’t see myself doing just one kind of work in the future, I really want to be able to walk around in a lot of different areas and, at same time, having a particular style, something that people can see and understand thats my work.

Who would win, Samurai Reptile Warriors or a sumo wrestler?I think each samurai reptile warrior could take care of five or six sumo wrestlers. at least. Seriously, it would be a blood bath. I don’t even want to think about it. :-/

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As part of our new blur Designs blog, we want to continue the spotlight designer series begun on our network. This is where we’ll get a chance to find out more about the great designers we have in our community and to gain some great insights & inspiration, continuing today with Jonathan Wong.

Jonathan Wong is a freelance designer based in Limerick, Ireland whose clients include Mazda and Hewlett Packard. We are very grateful to Jonathan for giving us his time.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a designer?

I don’t think I ever really had a certain point where I said I wanted to a designer. I think it was just a natural process. I almost fell into the design world to be honest. I was always a very creative and visual person but I was never really aware of the opportunities.

It was only until I began messing around in Photoshop that I began to find out. I would such for tutorials and be on message boards. Then you begin to look at other designers who are getting paid for their work and I thought to myself; that is what I want to be!

Then everything just fell in to place and here I am now.

What have you found to be the best methods for getting your work recognized?

Definately through having your work online. Setting up a website was the best thing I have ever done and I would urge any young designer to do so. Just get your work seen and you never know what might happen. There are plenty of easy website builders on the web like indexhibit and cargo. They are fantastic for showcasing work.

There are also blogs like abduzeedo and cpluv that provide an invaluable for your work to be seen by many other like minded creatives and potential clients.

Do you have any new years resolutions?

New years resolutions… I suppose I would like to start making more time for personal work. I haven’t been able to do so because of college work and client jobs. I guess just be happy as well and wake up everyday with a smile! : )

Tell us about the work you are doing right now?

At the moment, I am working on a book illustration cover for the Penguin Design Award. It is a college project and one I’m quite excited about!

You have achieved a great deal already in your career, but what are your ambitions as a designer?

Just keep growing as a designer. I still think that are areas that I could work on and fresh opportunities I can pursue. I’m always looking for new ways to make my ideas come to life.
Working with video and motion would be another step forward for me and something I am quite excited about!

I would love to some day open my own studio too but really if I keep doing what I love and get paid for it, it’s all I ever want.