How I've started
Raised as an artist's kid I've always shown interrest in creating stuff. I have even published my own magazine in the forth grade - hand drawn and xeroxed ;) That led to my appointment as the editor of the high-school papers later. As a student I was active in a field of computer science and that's where I've booted my first PC. I was a student of the University in Varaždin enrolled in computer science and management but never saw the end of it. Something else preoccupied me at that point of my life. Design itself.
In 2003 I completed the certified course at the Macromedia training center in Zagreb (Algebra) for graphic design. In April 2004 I also attended training courses for the 3D modelling and visualisation that were organised by the company that I worked for at that point of time. At the end of 2004 I completed advenced courses in Desktop Publishing (DTP) and Pre-Press.
I landed my career in graphics completely by chance,since my ambition and dream was to be a part of the aviation business. Today I try to compensate that by taking short spotting trips, andflying while exploring this world around me (commercial flights, of course). Have you checked my other web?
Working for a living
When I quit my academic life I was part of the team that formed sort of a Youth club in Đurđevac, where I then lived. We organised many lectures and fairs about movies, literature etc. In 1999 I was also part of the organising committy of the 31st review of the Croatian film and video that was organised by the Croatian film association. At the beginning of the year 2000 I was appointed as a chief editor of the BUM bulletin that we produced at the Youth club and was published monthly about a year. Since then I became part of the organising committy of the local fair Legenda o Picokima and for it I was hired to produce visual identity until 2005.
Since 1993 I've been working in graphic design and desktop publishing. In 1993 I created identity for the Month of the Croatian book, locally. For years I was hired by Galerija stari grad, biggest gallery in Đurđevac to create layout for many catalogues for the exhibitions, concerts and other manifestations. In the year 1994 I was editor of the local newspapers Domaća gruda, the post I held for a year. I worked on visual identity of the local radio station, handball club, folklore group, youth club etc. I even designed amblem for the 312nd military base in Varaždin and got my pay in boots and uniform that later became very useful ;-D As the world turned and Internet evolved I started being interested in web design.
At the end of 2000 I moved to Zagreb where I worked for the HRT (Croatian radiotelevision), as the graphic and web designer. I worked on numerous in-house projects until the end of 2008.
Since 2006 I've been constantly outsourced by a design studio dzDESIGN from Zagreb and I've realised a number of graphic and web projects for their clients. At the beginning of 2009 I've continued my career as a creative director at dzDESIGN which is my current position.
Influences
I belive that design should be "invisible" for the end customer. It should be functional and not clutter the canvas of the web screen or any other printed materials. That is why I like to work with simple and clear forms.
I find myself inspired by the philosophy of many artists (because many of designers are). This is only the small list of people who truly eligthen my ideas:
- John Maeda
- It's all about simplicity. So it seems when thinking about John. His design is more like the philosophy that tells you how to make things usable.
Maeda studio
John Maeda as a TED speaker
- David Carson
- Man who dumped all the rules to pursue his own rules. His advice to stay original and true to your style: "As long as you look for the solution in what you are working on, and not some predetermined formula or system, you will never run out of ideas." And funny person too ;)
David Carson Design
Short docu by Hillman Curtis
David Carson as a TED speaker
- Joshua Davis
- It's incredible how things work when you step away from the tradition. Joshua works with incredible style of producing images with custom made algorithms. And another joker on the market.
Joshua Davis
Joshua Davis as a speaker on QBN Sessions
Joshua Davis speaking on working with BMW
- Neville Brody
- The legend in graphics design. True artist of the font design and master in typography lessons. As he would say: "Maybe legibility is not type's main function in the hands of good designers." I must agree.
Research Studios
- Mirko Ilić
- Superb illustrator and designer. Started the revolution in design during 80's in Croatia and continued his reign in New York since then as an art director at the Time.
Mirko Ilić
For a long time I've been fascinated by the social networking as an incredible way to promote yourself and connect with the world. This web is also a mashup and experiment of my on-line presence.
