Happy !
We talked to Ed Martin of Ed Martin Design for this week’s feature! He not only does graphic design but also works in photography and fashion. We love that he aspires to use his creativity in as many ways as possible, and not stick to just one form of design or medium. The fact that he also can’t go a few days without doing some form of design shows he is in the right field. We love that he says, “Pursuing design is 24/7.” If you love something, you have to be totally devoted to it and Ed definitely is! Keep reading to hear about how Ed Martin Design got started and how he gets the inspiration to do it all.

:  Tell us about yourself.

: I’m 24 years alive. Enjoying the Boston scene. Working at Jackrabbit Design. Freelancing within design, photography, and fashion.

:  How did you decide you wanted to pursue design/photography? How did you discover you had a talent at it?

: It all came very natural. I’ve always been an artist. I was lucky that my high school offered a graphics class with an awesome teacher. Since I picked design up it’s been a passion I’ve never put down. Photography came a bit later. I’d owned a digital camera since I was about 19 but it wasn’t until a college professor introduced me to film photography. That’s when I found another love.

I’m not sure there was a point where it clicked that I had the talent. It’s something that has always felt second nature. The creative industry is my place.

:  What type of design projects do you enjoy doing the most?

:  I love logos and branding. The challenge to condense an entire brand image into a clean, concise mark is a fun challenge. Album and music artwork is always fun. Anything that I can incorporate other creative sides into the overall project is the best. I love pulling pieces from all different fields.

:  Where do you get your inspiration from?

:  Inspiration is 24/7. I’m constantly sending myself stuff. Photographing, emailing, screen capping. Its everywhere. Feelings, traveling, music, fashion, partying, etc. Participating in the culture I adore and being open minded creates constant influence.

Some visionaries I really look up to are Paul Rand, Saul Bass, Milton Glaser, Neville Brody, Alan Fletcher, Man Ray, Armin Hofmann. There are so many greats. Music is really inspirational while working too. I have a great collection of records if that’s what I’m feeling. What I’m listening to depends on the project or mood.

:  How would describe your aesthetic?

:  Hmm. It’s always the hardest to describe your own style. I weigh in on different styles between design, photography, fashion and so on but I’m always pulling pieces from each aspect to incorporate within each other. There’s part’s of minimalism, vintage, contemporary, abstraction etc. I’d say quality minimalistic with contemporary edge.

:  What are some of your long and short term goals for the future?

:  Long term goals are to cover all the industries that interest me. To work and live equally with the things I love. Have design, photography and fashion all on the same plane. At the moment my short term goal is to keep living in the now and continue to pull myself into what I want to be doing.

:  What kind of skills/characteristics do you need to be successful at what you do?

:  Persistence, creative judgment, problem solving, and hustle.

:  What drives you to continue to pursue design and motivates you to want to be a better designer?

:  Pursuing design is 24/7. It’s wired in me. If I go a few days without creating I start to feel really anxious and uncomfortable.

There are a lot of things that push me to continue becoming a better designer. People or businesses that are good at what they do but don’t visually convey it. My friends. The good and bad in the industry. Those who are mixing and building upon different genres of art, music, and culture. My mind works on a two part scale. Good design puts me in the mood to be great myself. And on the other side, bad design gives me the challenge to make it better.

:  What project are you the most excited about right now? How many projects do you work on at one time?

:  I’m excited about the logo project I just wrapped up for musician Beya Likhari. Also the calendar design that just got printed for Fitchburg Art Museum. But I’m most excited to be creating the artwork for my homie, Maka’s upcoming album.

At the office I’m involved in 3 to 7 projects daily. Freelance comes and goes depending on my schedule but I’ll usually have 1 or 2. And I always have a handful of personal projects in the works.

:  Do you have any advice for those seeking to become a designer?

:  Don’t force it. Study and learn the fundamentals but have fun breaking the rules with reason. Never box yourself in. And learn to feel inspiration no matter the situation.