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Interview with Backbone Branding |
Home > Designer Interviews > Backbone Branding |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Backbone Branding (BB) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Backbone Branding by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
BB: Ever since I can remember I was using my imagination for structural and design purposes. My memories as a kid consisted of drawing toys, and then building them from whichever materials I could find around me. Design thinking was a natural thing for me, and something that I did instinctively without any effort. I believe that whatever you’re passionate about as a child, should be developed and worked on, because this is what you will be most successful as an adult.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BB: I founded Backbone Branding in 2009, back then in Armenia branding was quasi non- existent or very basic . We were the leaders in Packaging design and it is very satisfying that a decade later Armenia has many studios and agencies in this field that are competing on an international level. This shows that when you open the doors and prove that successful branding and packaging has such a major and fundamental role and a major part in advancing the sales of a brand many are ready to follow and enter this field. We are proudly the winners of more than 50 international awards and in 2019, we were selected as the Agency of the year by the Pentawards as well as coming #14 in the top 20 all-time winners list, which is such a proud achievement for an agency of 10 years who is competing with giants of the field.
FS: What is "design" for you?
BB: Design doesn’t only mean a composition or a structure that is created to please the eye. Design is way more than that. It is such an efficient and powerful tool when used correctly. In the field of branding and packaging, good design plays a crucial role in determining the success of a brand and its longevity.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
BB: If you take a look at our portfolio, you’d notice that we don’t only focus on one style or type of design. Each product, each brand each project has its specific needs and challenges and it is our job to exactly pinpoint them in order to find the solution that is precisely fit for the specific work. Over the years we have and are still creating designs for a multitude type of works located all over the world, from branding of pubs, restaurants, cafes, to a wide variety of food and beverage products and other markets and you can see that the styles vary however they always stay true to our essence and our philosophy of work.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
BB: Choosing one that is our favorite would be impossible. The thing is there is a different story behind each design. Each process has its own memories, difficulties, challenges and successes. So if I had to give you an answer, I would say all our designs are my favorites, because if our team and our client is not 100 percent convinced with the work and satisfied to the max with the outcome, the work wouldn’t be made public and put on the market.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
BB: There is no specific time, or place. Creativity comes from inspiration, and we can be inspired whenever, wherever. Inspiration sometimes rises at such unexpected moments. It can be a situation, a sight, a specific event or people. And usually this type of organic non forceful creativity has the best result.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BB: In order for a design to be impactful, all its phases should be very well thought of meticulously taken care of. When we start a new project at Backbone we see it as a whole, an entity that should be strong altogether. It is true that each member of the team has a specific domain of expertise and contributes with their own knowledge and talent on a specific part, however, when the work is done all parts should complete each other smoothly and unite in order to have a strong result at the end.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BB: Designing is one of the most gratifying and satisfying things to do. The whole process is not easy and can be sometimes exhausting, but even in the difficulty there is some sort of joy. And finally when you see the outcome of your work in front of your eyes, then that is such an indescribable feeling.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
BB: There is an unmatchable joy in seeing the designs that you have worked on realized and being seen by endless numbers of people. In our field of branding and packaging design, our works are not only seen but also used by consumers, we are well aware that our designs are entering their homes, being a part of their daily lives and that is such a big responsibility to have. One of our latest works was the rebranding of one of Armenia’s main dairy lines ‘’Ani Dairy’’. And after the work was made public, seeing our job everywhere around us was very satisfying, and hearing people come to us and tell us how much they loved the new design was the most rewarding thing ever.
FS: What makes a design successful?
BB: In order for a design to be successful, it should be useful and functional.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BB: There are a lot of aspects to consider, for a design to be called good. Of course, it should be successful from an aesthetic point of view, with a harmony within the composition, colors, patterns and all details. However, a good packaging design should also be able to communicate a message, create an emotional link with the consumer and speak to him directly. Also functionality is crucial and the design should be practical, because if a work is beautiful to look at but totally useless, then what good is it for ?
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
BB: Designers should be aware that their work is seen by an endless number of people in a daily basis. They are directly or indirectly affecting people. Needless to say that visuals have such a primordial and powerful impact on people. And with this power comes huge responsibility. It is our duty as designers to send the right messages, to contribute in making the world a better, safer and more enjoyable place.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
BB: We are heading towards more waste free, sustainable and eco friendly designs. Anything to save our planet, thinking about the future of the coming generations.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
BB: Our latest exhibition was just 2 weeks ago in Hangzhou China. We were invited and selected to exhibit at one of the biggest F&B exhibitions by FBIB. The 3 day event was visited by more than 6000 people and worldwide brands such as Coca Cola, Nestle, Pesi Co, Mondelez etc. were exhibited. Unfortunately our team couldn’t be present because of the COVID19 situation at the moment, but we heard some great feedback and our world had a big success.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BB: We are very inspired and fascinated by Nature. We believe that the way Natural elements are designed is the most efficient, simple af functional form of design.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
BB: We try to study and deeply understand the intelligence in the design of Nature, how the fact that every little detail or element has a purpose and nothing is left to chance. We believe that our interventions as designers should also be smart and minimal. And that is not a very easy thing to achieve. Less design and more Nature is what we stand by.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
BB: What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country? We live in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. A lot of our works are for international markets, and we truly believe that design is an international language. However, needless to say that designers are affected by what’s around them so of course in ways our culture influences us, however this influence is more in a deep and subtle way, rather than a superficial appearance.
FS: How do you work with companies?
BB: For us the client plays an essential and primordial part. We understand very well that building a professional relationship with our client, whether it is a company or an individual is crucial for a successful outcome. Therefore we need to understand the main needs of our clients, what’s their goal for the brand and how they see its future. The base of our work is creating a healthy communication structure with the clients, because only then we would have an outcome that satisfies all parties.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
BB: With experience, it becomes easier to identify talent and creativity. For example, at Backbone Branding, we always believe that is our duty to scout new talents, and take them under our wing, to help them evolve and reach their true potential with time. One of our responsibilities as an established agency is to help create a strong and powerful generation of designers. And this is what Backbone is doing in Armenia.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
BB: This is how a new project starts at Backbone Branding. First we truly communicate with the client on a deep level, in order to understand how they see thor brand, and other goals for it. We really focus on their story, their past until the point where they got to us. Because in order to create a successful outcome we need to learn about the essence of a brand. After the design and strategy department starts a thorough research about the subject, they create a presentation to the client involving numerous options for them to choose from, in order for us to better understand the path we will be adopting. After this chosen option is further developed and elaborated and other presentations follow to always keep the client involved and see their opinion and keep them always updated along the way as the project moves from one step to the next.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
BB: Work, work, work but also a bit of fun. If you visit us on a working day, you would notice that our agency is super busy but also there is an atmosphere of calm and focus. We believe that in order to be maximum productive and efficient, there should be a friendly work environment, where everyone would be comfortable in order for us all to reach our maximum potential. A day in my life usually is attending many meetings with different clients, have daily briefing sessions with the different departments in our agency from creative, to strategy to marketing etc But also taking a break from time to time, gather around for some time out and then get back to our work we love to do more than anything.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BB: Patience. Passion. And devotion. The field of design is not the easiest job. You have to truly love what you do, because you will be spending countless hours, literally the biggest chunk of your life doing this. So in order to enjoy your life, you have to love your work, embrace its challenges, and those sleepless hours. Because once you see the reward and you witness your own work, getting realised and in front of your eyes, the reward is priceless.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
BB: The positives are the satisfaction of creating something, seeing the fruit of your imagination getting realised in front of you and being seen and consumed by endless numbers of people. Design has such an influential power, and I believe that it truly can play a key role in progressing societies, and this is such a blessing. However, this aspect has also a big responsibility, and with big responsibilities come great challenges, struggles, sleepless nights and a lot of heavy work.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BB: In design, you should always keep up with what’s going in the world and around you. This is such a competitive field, and a lot of talents rise continuously. For us at Backbone, in order to stay on top of our game, and stay true to our Agency of the year 2019 title by Pentawards, we are always making sure to stay up to date and evolve our work and make ourselves better with each day.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
BB: Patience is key. A good designer knows how to never give up when faced with challenges. Also of course a good eye for details. Being meticulous is essential. And also to be always well aware and research daily about what is going on in our field in order to develop themselves and stay up to date. Needless to talk about the technical parts, and knowledge of the latest softwares and tools and the importance of always working on their skills.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BB: Our agency is filled with books, of course there are the ones from all over the world in which we published. But also design books, calligraphy, pop Art or even History and everything in between that could help us evolve and feed our inspiration. Of course, software are super crucial these days, but also we never underestimate the effect of a pencil between your hands. A lot of our projects have parts of them handmade and illustrated by our talented team of illustrators. Because our world is always based on meticulous attention to details and this result is best done by hand.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BB: Yes, the biggest part of our day is based on design, but I have learnt throughout the years to organise my day, and not be consumed. As a creative director and founder, I have many responsibilities and I need to schedule my time ahead and make sure to stick to it in order to attend to all my duties.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BB: It depends on the project's size, the scope of work, and the required services. At Backbone we work efficiently, effectively and without wasting our time and that of the client. Usually, a project can take from one month up to several months.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
BB: Where I draw my inspiration, because we create continuously new projects that are so different from one another.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
BB: We have clients from around the world. At the moment we are working on the rebranding of one of the biggest and oldest coffee chains in Saudi Arabia. Also a lot of our clients are some of the biggest, leading names in the local (Armenian) market, and who import worldwide. Examples we could give are SIS Natural, Ani Product, Agroyans …
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
BB: The first step when a concept is born is always magical and special. Getting inspired and having different ideas pop out continuously in your mind and be developed is such a blessing and an exciting process.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
BB: We have many interesting projects which we are working on right now or that we will be starting in the near future. Also we are super excited at the fact that many of our most recent works are going to hit the market by the end of this year. Also this year has been such a blessing with the many international awards (such as the Dieline, Marking Awards, A’ Design Awards… ) that we have received. Also we have many awards and major announcements coming very soon and we can’t wait to discover them and share them with the public on our social media platforms. On a personal level, I am honored to be a judge on professional competitions (Pentawards, D&AD, Marking Awards), and I am always looking forward to seeing firsthand what talents in the field of design are offering us each year.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BB: Our work in Backbone Branding is strongly based on a teamwork process. Each department has a key role, and the project is only complete with the contribution of each of these sides.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
BB: We do have many exciting works right now, however they are confidential, and we can’t reveal them before they are on the market. However, stay always tuned to our social media platforms because we are revealing them one by one.
FS: How can people contact you?
BB: We are very active on all our social media platforms, (facebook, instagram, linkedin, behance.. ) and we answer almost immediately. Also are reached by email at pr@backbonebranding.com where new clients can write to us about their project and scope of work and our team will be happy to assist, and schedule a zoom meeting if needed in order to better understand their project needs. They can also simply call us at +374 91 366 008
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
BB: Thank you for taking the time to read. And stay tuned because many wonderful announcements are coming soon. Also to anyone who is seeing this, always believe in yours potential and the power of hard work, I am saying this from experience, because being selected as the Agency of the Year 2019, and as one of the top 20 all-time winners (by the Pentawards) would have been impossible if I didn’t believe in myself and in my team.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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