Name: Daniel Savage
Website: somethingsavage.com
Education Background (school / self taught, etc):
B.F.A. in Graphic Design from SUNY Purchase (state school represent).
Where you first worked and when (visual/graphic design job, etc):
My first long-term job out of school was on-air design/animation for Comedy Central about 5 years ago. They were in a confused place brand-wise, getting tired of the paint splats and not sure where to go, so I got to experiment a lot with the logo. It was an amazing experience.
Favorite book ever (design or non-design related):
Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Archive Series. Animation, Design, and Story editions. (I have the Layout & Background edition on my Amazon wish list.)
Recommended design / thinking / creativity / illustration book(s):
See above.
1. What made you decide to do what you do?
I was obsessed with cartoons as a kid and wanted to be a Disney animator. My uncle always tells this story of me screaming “NO MUPPETS!!!” when they would try to watch Sesame Street. I ended up going to college for percussion performance, so things shifted a little bit. After realizing how much I HATED practicing the marimba 10 hours a day, I saw a skate video called “One Step Beyond” made by the guys that later formed Shilo Studios. It had tons of cheesy, fake infographics and effects—I was hooked. I downloaded a pirated copy of After Effects the next day and started looking into changing majors.
I want to add that my opinion on Muppets has changed, especially after seeing the Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of Moving Images!
2. What’s your process for conceiving new designs/projects?
If it is for a client, then I go about it traditionally: brainstorm, sketch, mood board, style frames, storyboards, animatic, test animation, and animation.
When I do my own projects, I like to “designimate”, meaning I start with an idea and let it evolve as I animate rather than having the design set in stone beforehand. The end result is usually something you didn’t expect… which is why it wouldn’t work with a client.
3. What do you regret not learning while you were in school?
When I transferred internally to the art program I was relieved of a few intro classes. I seriously kick myself EVERY day for not taking advantage of those. But I am currently enrolled in a figure drawing class at SVA; better late then never!
4. What’s your most valuable ability? i.e. conceptualization, hand/computer skills, etc.
Design for large scale installations and understanding interactive technology. Not many people are doing this, and I was fortunate to learn all this while working with the LAB at Rockwellgroup.
Click here to watch: Cosmopolitan Hotel, West Lobby.
Client: Cosmopolitan Hotel Las Vegas Agency: Rockwell Group
5. What, in your opinion, is the most exciting aspect of the art/design world right now?
iPads! There are so many possibilities to make cartoons interactive. I am in the process of conceptualizing my own.
6. If you could move anywhere right now, in consideration of the art/design scene, where would you go?
If I move anywhere, it would be to live for cheap so I could work on my own projects all day. PDX is always in the back of my mind, but the amount of opportunity in NYC is impossible to pass up.
7. What’s your daily routine?
Too inconsistent to list.
8. What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you, regarding design or otherwise?
“Watch your step.” – My Grandpa
9. Who would you call a mentor / attribute as the inspiration in how you work / do things?
Bill Deere, the team I interned for at SpotCo, and Salih Abdul-Karim was a huge inspiration for how I animate.
Click here to watch Visuals for Kanye’s Glow in the Dark tour
Client: Kanye West / Absolut Vodka
10. If you had just one piece of advice for students / new grads, what would it be?
Don’t settle on your first job. If you can, freelance there for a few weeks to make sure it’s the right fit. I went to 3 different studios / networks before settling in at Comedy Central.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask for more money.
11. How do you avoid getting discouraged? How do you get out of a rut?
I bitch nonstop to friends on iChat. Not sure how I get out of it, but it always works out.
12. What is the most unexpected thing you’ve learned since graduating?
It’s just a job, and that “cool” studio is most likely a sweatshop.
13. What are the unspoken rules in design? Are there things you simply can or cannot do? Are there any true taboos?
Stay away from tutorial sites that just show you trendy tricks—all student reels are starting to look the same.
Click here to watch GIF SHOP – animated .gif maker for your iPhone.