Jacob Cass Designer Interview

Designer Interview With Jacob Cass

Designer Interview With Jacob Cass

Today’s designer interview is with Jacob Cass who is a Graphic designer and founder of JUST™ Creative a design studio and wonderful graphic design blog resource for designers. The business specialises in corporate identity (Logo) and branding design as of March 2015 Jacob is travelling the world while freelancing and i must say that must be amazing!

Designer Interview with Jacob Cass

The Logo Creative – Thanks Jacob for taking part in a designers interview its great to have you be a part of it.

Jacob Cass – Yes Thanks Andrew

The Logo Creative – What was the turning point in your life when you decided to become a designer and how did you proceed?

Jacob Cass – Although I was always interested in the creative subjects at school, I only really realised that I could become a graphic designer as a job after seeing my careers adviser at school. They introduced the idea to me and then I researched it further and settled on studying Visual Communication at The University of Newcastle.

The Logo Creative – What does your day consist of?

Jacob Cass – The past few years has been quite unique as I have been travelling the world, while working. My wife and I explored 54 countries between 2015 and 2016, so this meant our days never had a regular schedule. We’d have tourist days, chill days and work days, and in between these days was regular email maintenance and blogging.

The Logo Creative – What was the first logo you ever designed?

Jacob Cass – I recently found a workbook from a year 10 graphic design class, at aged 15. This was my first ever logo, for ‘Time Flies’. Look at that negative space!

time-flies - By Jacob Cass aged 15

The Logo Creative – What is your favourite Logo you have designed? 

Jacob Cass – My favourite logo that I’ve designed would have to be the personal logo done for my wife and I’s wedding. It combines a j for Jacob, e for Emily and/or c for cass, while being a heart.

JC-Cover

The Logo Creative – What is your favourite Logo of all time?

Jacob Cass – My favorite logo would be the I <3 NY logo by Milton Glaser, simply because it works on so many levels. I actually loved this logo before I was even a designer, and strangely enough did end up in NY… and do love it

Designer Interview with Jacob Cass

The Logo Creative – Can you describe or give us an overview of your logo design process?

Jacob Cass – I’ve written about my logo design process in detail here

The Logo Creative – In your opinion regarding Logo Design pricing do you prefer working on a fixed rate or customer budget and can you explain why?

Jacob Cass – I prefer fixed rate, but this rate changes depending on the client’s needs.

The Logo Creative – How long does it take to complete the average logo design project from start to finish?

Jacob Cass – On average, a logo project lasts between 2-3 weeks. 

The Logo Creative – Are you a MAC or PC User and is there a reason for your choice?

Jacob Cass – I was a PC user up until University in 2007, and then I changed to Mac and have not gone back. I prefer Macs for the overall user experience.

The Logo Creative – Which software do you use frequently?

Jacob Cass – I use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Lightroom the most. Chrome, Tweetdeck, Skype, Spotify too. See here for more software I use.

The Logo Creative – What is your favourite style of logo design? And why?

Jacob Cass – I prefer clever but meaningful logo designs, for real companies, as these are much harder to pull off.

The Logo Creative – What is your daily inspiration when you design?

Jacob Cass – Everything around me inspires me, especially travel and galleries online. Everyday I see mind blowing work that is being produced around the world and that in itself is super inspiring!

The Logo Creative – In your opinion what’s the best and worst part of your job been a designer

Jacob Cass – The best thing about working as a freelancer designer is having the freedom to travel and work your own hours. The worst part is the maintenance… emails, invoices, paperwork and ongoing marketing.

The Logo Creative – Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?

Jacob Cass – Gary Vaynerchuck is one unique personality whose energy alone, inspires. Total opposite of my calm self. His books Crush it and jab,jab,right hook are must reads!

The Logo Creative – Who is your favourite Graphic Designer and why?

Jacob Cass – I don’t have any one favourite designer, but early on my career, Paul Rand, was one mind I instantly related too.

The Logo Creative – What’s your favourite design quote? 

Jacob Cass – “You only get out, what you put in.” This goes for everything in life.

The Logo Creative – In less than 10 words what is graphic design?

Jacob Cass – Solutions. Thinking. Creativity. Conceptualising. Language. Everything.

The Logo Creative – What steps did you take to start your graphic design business? Did you have to make any sacrifices on your journey?

Jacob Cass – Building up Just Creative was a steady process that evolved from a hobby to a journal of my studies, to a moonlighting freelancing business, to a full-time studio and blog. Time was the main sacrifice but the payoff is there now, in terms of now having my own platform to live off.

The Logo Creative – Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you would have changed early on in your career? 

Jacob Cass – It’s unfair to look back and say what I would have changed, based on my knowledge now. What I was doing at the time seemed right, even though it may not have been. But I do wish the internet was invented 10 years earlier though. It would have made things a hell of a lot easier in terms of self education and the resources available. I also wish that I knew about graphic design as a career earlier on.

Get a mentor. For a great book on how to do that, see Ram Castillo’s How to Get a Mentor Guaranteed.

Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn, cause no one else will. It’s marketing, not arrogance.

See here for my detailed Advice for Graphic Designers.


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