Tell us a little about yourself and what steps you took to get here:

I loved to spend hours drawing and playing with legos as a kid but never imagined you could have a job drawing or creating things. Even throughout middle school and high school I took as many art classes I could but it was always just for fun -- the thought never occurred to me that art/design could be a course for my life until I went to university. On my first day of college registration, I was walking to a meeting for the undecided majors when I ran into a friend from high school who was headed for the art department meeting. I think she said something like "Hey, you should come to the art major meeting." So I went. I ended up signing on to study graphic design and from the first day of drawing class I knew I was in the right place.


What's your go-to source of inspiration outside of art or music?

As nerdy as it may sound I've always enjoyed going to the library or the bookstore - I think it's the fact that books are all about ideas, and something about being surrounded by them and being able to explore all kinds of topics usually tends to get my brain working. I also love scrounging through old junk in flea markets and thrift stores, the older and junky-er the better.


What's your personal favorite piece of work you've created?

Hmmm... I'd say one piece I really like (mostly for sentimental reasons) is the "Haircut" illustration I created while in school, simply because it reminds me of the smell of the printmaking room and the fun times had with fellow art students and friends in the midst of a really intense semester. I tend to over-think when I'm working and it helped show me that solutions come when I can let go, have fun and stop trying too hard.


What blogs or magazines do you turn to for creative inspiration.

I'm addicted to blogs such as Brand New, The Book Design Review, i love typography, FormFiftyFive and Design Observer.


What's your all-time favorite piece of art or design. (*not created by you)

There's no way I could ever narrow down a favorite piece, there's so much out there to love! However, one piece that has really inspired me lately is a wall mural designed by Michael Osborne for Family Services of San Mateo The mural was created on a drab, uninspiring back entrance used mostly by dads coming to see their children. (The center is used a meeting place where children in the custody or primary care of one parent can spend time with their other parent). What really inspires me is that the mural solves a problem while providing a sense of pride and joy to the visiting parents, and was painted by the kids and members of the community.

What's your current creative obsession.

I've found myself using the color yellow quite often lately, hoarding sticky notes, scraps of paper, and envelopes or packaging I get in the mail... not sure what that says about me.

Thanks for your time Nathan. Really love your work. Keep it up dude.