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Interview with Rigwell Laryea Akorsem |
Home > Designer Interviews > Rigwell Laryea Akorsem |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Rigwell Laryea Akorsem (RLA) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Rigwell Laryea Akorsem by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
RLA: I have been drawing since I was a kid and grew up with that habit, even though my parents don't like the idea I still pursued my dream. Always wanted to be an Illustrator and Animator but the journey has not been easy, yet still I'm moving on to be the I can ever be in the art industry.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RLA: It is not actually a company but its just me as a freelancer doing my own thing. Bearing my art name Rigwell80, in that manner I can get hired by bigger companies if they think a great deal of my designs.
FS: What is "design" for you?
RLA: Design is a way of life as art is. Everything is designed and without the effort of bringing out some amazing through craftsmanship, whether it might be digital or physical is like adding more life to life itself.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RLA: Illustration for T-shirts, mugs and others.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RLA: A fan art I made after I watched the animated music video, Birds by Imagine Dragons. It was so amazing I decided to make a speed art of the main character with the song as a sound track.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
RLA: It was a teaser for a church program, I was still in school and was not perfect but have to bring awareness to the program because it was getting near so I designed a teaser and it turned out nice, people loved it.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RLA: I prefer to work on both windows Laptops and Desktops with a good system to help it run fast.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
RLA: Usually when I'm alone a the weather is cool.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RLA: The sketches because it's like blue print of the design, not getting it right makes the design harder and does not become a walk in the park but rather walk in the dark.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RLA: Usually anxiety and happiness at the same time. Anticipating how it would turn out great and also the fear of not bringing my imagination into reality. Even though these that happen a lot I always break through.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
RLA: I feel elated to know that my artworks means something to people and that I can share it's creativity and imagination with others.
FS: What makes a design successful?
RLA: When approached a design with the spirit of passion you always end up bringing out something great, caring less about your weaknesses and flaws.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
RLA: First is the colour psychology. The choice of colour means a lot in designing, how it communicates with the human mind to bring attention to itself.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
RLA: Creativity is for beautifying, marketing and educating in the world we live in and I think that's what a designer can offer.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
RLA: Design is moving rapidly in the sense that it used to be only traditional (physical) but now also digital as well (soft copy). The fact you can make great editing on a hand held device a say it's going well.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
RLA: I have not actually have an exhibition and in the near future I plan on doing say it memorable as possible.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
RLA: Mostly get inspiration from animated TV shows and movies. Behance and other art platforms have helped me to know I become better because others are leveling up and above my own imagination have been a great tool in this journey.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
RLA: I have always known I have a Japanese and american cartoon style of drawing but like to also explore semi- realistic Illustrations.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
RLA: I live in Ghana, Accra and mostly watch western and japanese Animations a lot. I always try to add African dark skin to characters I create but I have always known that the idea is to make it globally recognized to suit every culture.
FS: How do you work with companies?
RLA: Reaching out to companies helps a lot, showing them a proposal you have for them and how it would benefit both you and the company because mostly sitting down waiting to be called does not always pull through even though that is what usually like. It let know that your employer things a great deal of your work and want to work with you.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
RLA: They should make research about the designer, how consistent he is and passionate about his work. The art style is very relevant in hiring a designer because you don't to hire someone with an art style you can't work with.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
RLA: I love to have pencil feel of what ever idea I'm having as sketches on a sheet of paper before scanning or taking a shot with a camera. Dragging the jpeg image of the sketch in vector based software like Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw and then I trace, give it the suitable colours then if it looks fine I export into a jpeg image or any suitable file format. If the Illustration needs to be animated then the document is exported into an animation program compatible to vector like Adobe animate cc for it to be Animated.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
RLA: Three printed portrait poster artworks (the three queens) and two T-shirt prints of the happy ones
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
RLA: Waking up and switch on the PC to sure I finish commission before it's deadline. Apart from commissions I spent time on person al projects or spend time with family.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
RLA: Everybody is on a journey, some people reach their destination quickly due to the resources the have at hand yours might keep long but don't throw your hands in despair. In the industry it's like that, work harder than you work the day before and be consistent. Believe that your passion and practice of design is all you need.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
RLA: Positives: you get to brand companies and have your designs as the face of institutions. Negatives: when friends ask for commissions but do not pay because of friendship sake. It kind of pulls you down and does not make your design pay off as you wanted
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
RLA: Passion and consistency
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
RLA: The ability to draw and use colour is key
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
RLA: I love vector base programs but usually work with CorelDraw Graphic Suite. Windows operating system is fine with my HP machine (Desk top). In the program the key tools I use from my tool box is the pick tool, shape tool, rectangular tool, interactive tool and most of all the convert to curves (Ctrl +Q) which helps to trace my sketches by creating nodes on the converted shape which I drag with the shape tool to complete my design.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
RLA: If you don't want to let down the client and reduce your reputation as a designer you try to do your best to deliver. More over your rest is also important, I mean good would it do the client and you if you get I'll and can't finish the work.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
RLA: For a doodle I would say 10 hours, that is from sketch to digital Illustration but still depends on the type of Illustration and how much I need to put into it.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
RLA: Can you do some for me and how much will it cost?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
RLA: My first internship a brands marketer (graphic designer) at a travel and tour agency. Willy gave me the cooperate feel of showing what I can do.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
RLA: Kenneth Osei - Agyemang of Margken beads and clothing. Result Oriented Professional devices. Bethel Methodist Church, West Adenta. Easy morning logo for Redina foods.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
RLA: Love work on vector Illustrations for t-shirts and for other souvenirs, designing music cover art and animated music videos. Why, because i enjoy doing them and know matter how difficult it becomes I always prevail, it turns out great.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
RLA: Having those equipments at hand that can help me work faster and efficiently is one of my greatest plans and also to get a scholarship to study in one of the best Animation schools in europe, so that I can improve my skills.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
RLA: I work mostly alone but don't mind once in a while teaming up with like minded creative people. I create my designs myself and like to some times redraw other artists design as a fan art.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
RLA: Yes, I working on a short animation story I called the drop which I'm praying I finish this year. Its about two aliens, one a king and the other a black little creature meeting on an inhabited planet. There is more to it though.
FS: How can people contact you?
RLA: Email: rigwell80@gmail.com
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
RLA: I enjoy making speed art Illustrations for my YouTube and sell most of my art as merch on Spreadshirt.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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