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EAST Interview: The Decoder Ring Design Concern
Saturday, November 22 - Saturday, November 23
Various Venues (Austin)
free, 10am-5pm both days
[info]
The Decoder Ring Design Concern is located at 638 Tillery Street and is participating in the East Austin Studio Tour on Saturday, November 22nd, and Sunday November 23rd.
Decoder Ring recently moved all its design and production to an East Side studio space, how's that working out?
Geoff: It's awesome. We were downtown for three years in a historic building, which was nice in it's own way but had drawbacks as well (like parking). Over here we share a space with Utility Research Garden, and the grounds are amazing. The comfort level of a bungalow has made a big difference in the studio vibe.
What will East Side Studio Tour participants be able to see or do at the Decoder Ring studio during this year's tour?
Geoff: Everything from Hold Steady and Modest Mouse posters to our Fine Art Series will be on display and available for purchase. And if we can get it set up in time, there will be some on site screen printing as well. Bring your Christmas money!
You had the opportunity to design for the Obama Campaign. How'd that gig come about and what was it like to be apart of the Obama juggernaut?
Christian: It was a huge honor to be involved in such a huge moment in American history. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to get the call. The campaign worked with SS+K to commission 8 artists to design a poster for the campaign’s youth voting initiative. Each artist was given 3 quotes from real voters on which the posters were to be based, expressing which issues inspired them to make their voices heard. I submitted 3 sketches and all three were green-lit for production— I was ecstatic.
Decoder Ring designs for a pretty diverse clientele - from Southwest Airlines to the Hold Steady to Real Ale - do you have any favorite types of projects or people to design for?
Christian: For us it’s more about the quality of the client than a focus on a specific industry. We love to team up with passionate folks who love what they do and deserve to be heard. Sometimes that’s a band, sometimes it’s a lifestyle brand or an airline. That said, we’re still looking for a brewery to partner with and help build from the ground-up. Brewmasters of Texas, take note!
What excites you most about the Austin art scene? What frustrates you? Paul: The number of young people that attend the openings and involve themselves in the art scene is great. At the same time the level of talent can be frustrating in a sense. You see guys like Michael Sieben killing it every time he makes anything and you say "damn I want to do that." But even that is positive because it keeps us inspired and striving to always be making quality work.
Describe any creative rituals (aside from beer drinking) you might have.
Geoff: That's the big one. My partners and I work slightly differently but we all approach each project in a similar way by immersing our selves in the client's culture. Whether it's listening to every Amy Cook song to understand her aesthetic or studying 1960's airlines to inform the King Airways identity.
Christian: I feel like the beer thing is coming up a lot in this interview.
Any beer related rituals?
Geoff: I always pop a coldie when we finish a print, always.
Christian: There it is again. I’d answer, but we need to pick up the keg for the studio tour— see you there.
East Austin Studio Tour
November 22 and 23, 10 AM - 5 PM both days
Tour Information and Map found at www.eastaustinstudiotour.com
