Unfortunately I was unable to get one as Michael was away and how the studio was too small to accommodate. So instead, I managed to get a chat with their junior designer Ethan which was still very beneficial, especially in terms of understanding the role of a new designer in the team.
Ethan spoke about how there was a definite learning curve when it came to working professionally.
He has quite a lot of responsibility as a designer in the team because its a small studio and the fact he's designing for real world clients.
He'll sometimes be given solo briefs entirely to handle, even in the early stages of his time at Build. But the benefit is that his received priceless experience in knowing how to deal with clients professionally.
In terms of getting clients, the studio has a set list of clients to call upon as well as searching the real world.
It is disappointing for the studio when they do lose a pitch because it's a juggle between how much time they put into the brief and all the others ongoing. Furthermore they have to consider how much effort they put in for simply doing unpaid work that may or may not get full visualised.
I though it was interesting how the team would off and generate ideas and directions on their own to allow a breadth of options for the brief.
Ethan also mentioned how the studio was also looking for designers who could add something different. This was where his small experience in motion design came in useful. It made me realise that basing my internship options on my interests within graphic design may not be entirely beneficial. Too similar and the addition feels unnecessary.
Having something different to provide can allow the studio to venture into new areas of design in the long run an be adaptable to the industry.
The studio doesn't necessarily try to keep up with design trends, simply because Michael has a definite idea on how to represent the studio's work as well as the fact that clients go for Michael's perspective.
As a token of appreciation and for taking time out to speak about the work and studio, I gave Ethan and the studio a bespoke copy of a Type38 specimen and a copy of the Hamish Muir interview poster, hopefully to put me on their radar.
