ARTIST ARTICLE Vol.5
Josh Higgins
by Austin Cashell
We're trying a little different format here than usual. Josh Higgins is a friend and fellow designer. Just recently graduated from Texas State, I wanted to have a little Q & A session with Josh about what he loves to do. Josh is the perfect balance of fun and humor mixed with a professionalism about his work.
What are your earliest memories of being artistic?
Hmmm probably more along the lines of creative than artistic, but probably me and my brother playing with Lego's when I was about 7 or 8. We got 2 giant tubs of Lego's so we would just build giant cities and things all day.
When did you first receive formal training in art? What about design?
I had some art classes in jr. high but nothing special. And I didn’t do art at all in high school except the required Art 1, but all 4 years of high school I took classes in digital art and 2D & 3D design and animation. And what effect has that had on your personal artistic style? Most of what was taught in those classes was actual technique and production, like using adobe programs, mounting and presentation, so the aesthetics were mostly self-study. I think it gave me a broader range of styles, not so much as in copy and pasting, but encompassing bits and pieces here and there and taking on a different style in my own way.
So explain to me a little about this neat Retro-Style Summer poster.
Ever since I started working for campus recreation each year we designed the fitness schedule. I always wanted to do a retro style and they finally let me in the summer. It was really fun finding the old photos and making them fit together. I was trying to make it so when you see the poster you think less of working really hard, sweating and being sore, and more about having fun when working out.
How was the response on this piece?
Everyone really liked it. I got a lot of positive comments and the fitness people also asked me to do their staff shirt after this. It was a bright yellow shirt with a big star on it kind of retro as well.
As far as your personal work, where do you find your motivation or inspiration for your work?
I usually find it through association. I look at the project and try to get a feel for the kind of people this is aimed at and see how I can make whatever message I’m conveying resonate with them; a lot of free association and word lists. Sometimes the connection is bold but it can get to be more subtle.
What forms of creation do you do? And what title would you chose to describe yourself?
I usually call myself a designer when working with people. It’s just an easier term to grasp, but I think creative people are just that…creative people. It doesn't turn off and on, it’s always on. I wouldn’t call myself a painter though sometimes I paint. There’s not a lot of creative work I wouldn't do. I’ve done mostly print and web work.
This Sports Clubs piece, what is the story behind it?
Yeah, that was for Texas State University Sport Clubs. They oversee all the university's club sports. The theme for this year was pride and they needed a shirt/identity mark so I took all the names of the club sports and repeated them and overlaid the word pride.
What is your formal training in design? What do you like most about your area?
A lot of print and web based work but I've also had training in environmental design. [I’ve] done some indoor and outdoor signage done; some integrated media campaigns. I think I liked those the most, because you get to think real conceptual. Its beyond just getting copy for a brochure and figuring out how to lay it out. You get a chance to really create a strong campaign that can resonate with a lot of people.
So what are you currently involved in?
I just finished up some work for the Texas State Gymnastics club. I got to shoot and design a calendar and we just printed our new shirts. Other than that I have a couple photo shoots coming up and possibly some new clothing graphics.
What are your future goals as a designer?
I think as long as I get to make things that people can connect with and enjoy or be affected by and I'm not starving I think I’m pretty good. I'd like to try and get my hand in more and more things. I've gotten a lot of projects thrown at me that I haven't done before and it's fun to take those on.
Awesome. What's the creative process behind the homecoming piece?
I was thinking it would be neat to make it like someone had stepped on the shirt and left a footprint, and the tread was the details for the event. I pictured something very realistic but it looked too hardcore and serious, [It] would have worked probably for like a warrior dash kind of race but this is more of a fun run event so I did it with a more stylized approach.
Cool. Where do you see design heading in the future?
As a whole, I'm not sure. Lately there has been a lot of letting people kind of design things themselves Nike has its Nike Id shop and Adidas has its miAdidas store where you get to be a designer in a way. A lot more kids are growing up tech savvy and software is starting to carter to that.
Thank you sir.
We all see the world differently so it's refreshing to talk to others, especially in the same field, who can help you see things how you may never have.
To reach Josh Higgins for your every design need, and to see some of his work, click his logo below.
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