RANDY HILL

Hill Design Studios is a Pacific Northwest based multidisciplinary design studio formed in 1986 by Austin, Texas native Randy Hill. Hill Design Studios specializes in developing cross-media branding campaigns that include identity systems, entertainment design, print and web. Clients include, Word Records, Nari Records, Lake Austin Blues Festival, Winthrop Records, Alvin Guggenheim and Associates, Texas Monthly Press and Key magazine.

When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?

It seems like I've always been interested in art. I started drawing when I was a young boy growing up in a farming community in central Texas. I was also attracted to typefaces at a pretty young age, which seems strange to me now. I loved looking at old posters and advertisements printed back in the 1800s. Growing up in Texas I was naturally attracted to anything having to do with the old west and country music. Music was another hugely strong influence on my life. I have played drums for various bands over the last 26 years or so. Some of my first design"projects" were for the garage bands I was in. I would come up with the band logo and all of the promotional materials. It just seemed to happen naturally. One of my first really "professional" projects was an album cover design for ABC/Word Records in London in the mid 1970s. One of my early dreams in elementary school was being a set designer for motion pictures. Weird dream for a 9 or 10 year old, huh?

Who or what inspires you?

My wife Dawn is my biggest inspiration. Sounds corny I know, but it's true. She gave me the self confidence to go in directions artistically that I would have never done on my own. I had a terrible self esteem problem when we first got married (31 years ago!) and she has always been my biggest cheerleader. She jokingly tells people that I give her a quarter for every compliment she gives me, but she has really and truly helped to make me what I am today.

Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?

I am completely self-taught. I have always tried to consciously make an effort to gain more and more graphic design knowledge whenever and wherever I can. After almost 30 years as a graphic artist I still sometimes feel like a second class citizen compared to someone who has gone to school to gain the experience. A traditional education wasn't meant to be for me and I entered a very long "school of hard knocks." I've worked on just about every imaginable project, LPs, CDs, logos, brochures, books, magazines, posters, websites and billboards. You name the type of project and I've probably worked on it at some point along the line.

How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?

I continually read magazines and books on the subject of graphic design. I love logo design, so I'm always looking at logo books and at various products and their logos. Compact disc design is another favorite of mine. I can spend hours in a book or music store looking at CD covers.

What are some of your current projects?

I just finished a CD project for a new country music artist by the name of "Becca" for Nari Records out of Los Angeles. I am also doing some work for an attorney in Austin, Texas and for a ministry out of Portland,Oregon that works with disadvantaged youth.

Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?

I have posted most of my favorite pieces on my website at http://www.hilldesignstudios.com/. I am particularly proud of my logo designs. I did a logo for a pest control company in Austin, Texas back in the 1980s that I thought came out pretty good. You can still see the logo on the side of their trucks today. It's satisfying to me to know that it is still working for them after all these years and I'm not embarrassed when I see it!

Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

I have yet to learn Flash. I will learn that application soon. I am a very visual person and theFlash manuals have gotten me absolutely nowhere. I need to actually watch someone working on the software to learn I think.

Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?

Always strive to do excellent work. Learn as much as you possibly can at every opportunity. Don't be afraid to try new software or new techniques. Ask questions. Be humble.

What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?

When I think I have arrived at a creative solution and the client agrees. There's nothing like seeing a client get really excited over something that I have come up with. I think it goes without saying that the ultimate test of success is how it performs in the marketplace.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

Sometime I get so sick of graphic design I could spit. That's when I turn to one of my hobbies to switch mental gears. I love drums. I love genealogy. I'm an avid photography buff. I collect arrowheads. Any one of these creative avenues can turn my burn-out around.

And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?

I love the show "Lost." I get bummed whenever I miss an episode. Other than that show, I love old reruns of Andy Griffith and the Twilight Zone. It's hard to beat a good Andy Griffith episode though! I will laugh at it no matter how many times I've seen it.

Related Links:

http://www.hilldesignstudios.com/

Recent Work:

MELISSA MORRIS

Hello, my name is Melissa Morris. I enjoy long walks on the beach, all Apple computer products, and peanut butter flavored ice cream. My turn ons include shopping at AC Moore, hot glue guns, and retractable erasers. My turn offs include making logos bigger, pms 349, and Bikerfox.

On a more serious note, let's talk about hospice. Depressing? Uh, yeah, that's my life. I work as the inhouse designer for a pharmaceutical company that provides medication management to hospices around the country. My target audience? 50 year old hospice nurses. And according to my boss, they can't read anything smaller than 14 pt type. (oh, I am dead serious.) In my spare time, I try to actually do something creative. I went through a stint of making handmade cards. Here's a peek at that: http://www.melissahead.com/store.html But I think what I really need to do is finish my design website, http://www.melissahead.com/, and get myself some portfolio worthy design work!

When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?

Absolutely. I went to college to be an elementary school teacher. One day, the summer before my sophomore year, I was a hostess at Applebee's and this young girl came up to me and told me all about her dance recital. After that conversation, I realized I didn't really like kids! So, I was in the market for a new major. I liked to write and I liked to draw. I went back and forth between journalism and design. The only thing that scared me about design was the fact that I hadn't taken an art class since 6th grade, so I felt like I'd be way behind. Turns out I wasn't. I've had no regrets since.

Who or what inspires you?

Great design inspires me. Paging through a CA design annual and thinking about all the things I could do to get myself to that level. And my design friends, of course. They not only inspire me, they actually help me to achieve my goals of bettering myself in my profession.

Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?

Like I mentioned earlier, I was a design major in college. I got a BFA in design at The College of New Jersey. Not exactly known for its art program, but I still learned so much. Before that, I didn't have any training, other than elementary school "art" class. Since I was an only child, I had a lot of alone time growing up. Drawing was a way I occupied myself. I remember how I used to create "projects" for myself when I was little. After we got our first computer, I think I was 12 or so, I spent an entire day designing labels for my school books using Paintbrush. Much of what I've learned has been through trial and error....lots of errors.

How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?

The best thing I can do is observe. See what's going on in design books and magazines. See what my friends have been working on lately. Check out some interesting websites, much like this one!

What are some of your current projects?

Nothing good. Everyday it's the same at my job. Clean up someone's powerpoint or whip up some step down brochure in 2 hours. It's nothing that I would be proud of. Of course, the "outside of work" stuff that I'm working on will hopefully be much more fulfilling! I'm really trying to get back into sketching as much as I can. And you know, there's always that whole card-making thing which has sort of been on hold for now. I'm determined to build up my portfolio and since I'm not getting any portfolio-worthy work from my job, I need to create some projects.

Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?

I don't know if I've ever done anything I was really proud of. There were some school projects that I enjoyed, but nothing that I would be like, "Hey! You gotta see this!" about. I did this sketch a few days ago (and it's now my forum avatar), but I kind of like the way it turned out. Just something done quickly:

And the other day I made a few postcards. I just love sitting at a table with scissors, glue, ribbon and going to town. Sometimes I feel like I'm more of a "crafter" than a designer.

Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

Uh yeah, like everything! Anything not related to hospice! I'll tell ya, those pharmacists and nurses are nice and all, but they've got some ugly taste! I'd love to do something cool for once. Something modern. Something actually designed instead of thrown together. Something with an unlimited budget! ;-) One thing that I really want to try is screen printing. I don't know how to do it, or even how it works, but it seems like something I could have a lot of fun with.

Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?

Be humble. It hurts to get a critique sometimes, but people that have been in the business a while do know better than you...no matter what you may think! I'm still a novice, but when I look back even a few years I think to myself, oh god, why did I ever think it was a good idea to use that typeface!

What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?

When it gets the approval of other designers? Haha, just kidding. Actually, I'm not sure. This is one that I can't really explain. I can see if I like the way something looks, aesthetically, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's following proper design rules or anything. I hope to learn the answer to this question eventually. It could help me out.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I can't avoid burn-out. In fact, I'm at that point right now. My solution has been to sketch, relax, get some alone time, find myself. It's almost impossible to not let work stress you out, and I need to learn to leave work at work. But I'm trying. I also try to think about my goals. There are places I'd like to be eventually. I won't give myself a timeline, but I'll tell you this, I'm not staying at this company forever!

And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?

Hmm, tough call. Well, I'd have to say, as embarrassing as it is, I'm an OC addict. Watch that show once and you're hooked! But I'm a big fan of Scrubs and the Family Guy. Although while it's baseball season, I don't get much control of the remote.

Related Links:

http://www.melissahead.com/
http://www.melissahead.com/store.html