Interview with David Airey

My thanks to the excellent David Airey – a self employed graphic designer and all round good egg for being the second in my short interview series.

David runs an excellent blog and I can only encourage you to read it if you have even an inkling of interest in design.

On with the questions then:

1. What’s on your current / recent reading list and why?

“Made to Stick” by brothers Chip and Dan Heath. If you want to improve on your copywriting, and learn why some ideas spread when others come unstuck,  this is an excellent read. My book publisher recommended it. Glad they did.

2. List one bit of advice you try to live by?

Be humble. I don’t mind when someone sings their own praises, but it’s very easy to overdo. If you think I ever get “too big for my boots” please do let me know.

3. Half-full, half-empty or static and why?

I’m an optimist, definitely. Although you can’t believe every statistic you read, I think there’s a good bit of truth in this one, “If you have change  in your pocket you’re richer than 70% of the people on this earth.”

So “half-full”, and very fortunate.

4. What would you say to a child / young person wanting to do what you do?

Don’t become a designer to get rich. Do it because you love it.

5. Name one thing would you like to do that you haven’t already?

Skydive. I was close to taking an intense crash course (no pun intended) in Brisbane some years back, but circumstances changed. I’d love to go!

[Ed: I find it interesting that my first two respondents both want to sky dive]