She won the good design award of 2007

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Two weeks ago, on a wednesday, I sat in front of my computer on for a solid two hours, searching through MICHAEL PERRY's website. After sorting through his work and eventually downloading a pdf of it, I had a million questions swarming in my head. Naturally, I thought it'd be fitting to email him. So what if he designed the 2007 MTV movie awards site, illustrated the logo on the cover of the urban outfitters catalog that comes to you in the mail, written two books, owns his own design firm in brooklyn, has his own magazine, and makes me want to projectile vomit with amazement and jealousy. I had some questions that needed to be answered. An hour or two later, I casually checked my inbox only to find that he'd emailed me back! Twas an exciting moment indeed...nearly succumbed to geekdom for all eternity that night.

I wrote out my questions and just got the answers back tonight.

My interview with Michael Perry:

me: From your clients point of view, your work is a selling tool. Do you view your work similarly, or do you consider it to be more like artwork?

MP: The lines are so thin in my work. More often then not clients want me to remake something I made as "art." But to me it is all the same. I enjoy making. And sometime the challenge of a brief is a good thing. Limitation makes you HAVE to innovate.

me: Your work has taste and style written all over it. Would you say that there's a specific style to your work?

MP: The style is that it is made by my hand and comes through my brain. My hand and brain are always growing and changing just as my work will always evolve.

me: How did you start out in the design industry?

MP: I had some amazing faculty in college that helped inspire me to be a designer. But my first real design job was at Urban Outfitters.

me: what inspired you when you first began doing what you do? What inspires you now?

MP: Most of my inspiration comes from the world around me. I am always inspired by my friends. We are always pushing each other to grow our work. From there I am inspired by walks through brooklyn, antique shops, old book stores.

me: I find it extremely interesting that you are able to pull off your "signature style" of art direction among a wide cross-section of material, from MTV to Urban Outfitters. What elements do you attribute this to?

MP: Its really just simple design. Doing what is appropriate for your client. I make things look different for everyone.

me: Has there ever been a time that you've struggled to show a client an idea?

MP: Nope

...oh yea, he is good....

me: With each project you work take on, how do you keep yourself focused on the task at hand?

MP: Deadlines are deadlines. If I don't get the work done I can't pay my rent.

me: Nowadays, it seems that I could major in anything and still be able to achieve my goals of having a rad design career. Do you think that this is true? How has your educational background effected what you're doing today?

MP: My education has been very important to me. And the way the Minneapolis College of Art and Design taught Graphic Design was a pivotal part of my education and I use that knowledge every day. I would not be here with out that education.

Michael perry, you are a renaissance man.

Yours Truly, xoxo. me.

CREAM, Limits Campaign

CITY QUEENS CAMPAIGN, DIEGO10

CREAM, LIMITS Gent CAMPAIGN - graphic design

try to check out everything...it all ends up being rad.