Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you :
My name is Ana Gomez Bernaus and I’m a Graphic Designer from Barcelona, currently living in sunny California.
Your current job :
I work as a freelance designer for print, advertising, tv commercials and documentaries focusing mainly in lettering and illustration. I also teach workshops at Type-Ed and I am a guest lecturer at the Laguna College of Art and Design.
In which city are you located?
I’m in LA
A word to define what kind of worker you are :
Hard-working
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Pencils and paper, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, Cinema 4D and my Wacom tablet.
What does your office space look like?
My space is very light and tidy. I like to work in an organized and clean environment. I lave lots of books, some plants and also work up on the walls. It’s a space that helps me be creative because it’s free of clutter but full of references.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ?
I like listening to classical music when I have to be very focused. For example when I am developing ideas and concepts or sketching compositions.
I listen to electronic music or podcasts like Radiolab or 99 Percent Invisible when I am drawing or painting.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work ?
I wake up around 7, exercise and have some tea, and I am usually working around 8:30am. I go through my emails and I tackle whatever I have on my plate for the day. I use an online tool called Toggl to keep track of the time I spend in each projects because some days I have more than a couple of things to take care of and that is a great way to be organized and able to allocate time to each project.
What tips would you give to improve productivity ?
Keeping track of the time I spend on each project helps me be productive. It’s a way to prevent procrastination. But at the end of the day, the most powerful tool to be productive is to work on something you like. Every project I get I try to make the best of it because having fun with my work is the best was to be efficient – and also don’t mind it if I have to work late.
You’re better than your colleagues to :
I work on my own for advertising agencies, or in small teams of very specialized people for tv commercials and documentaries. So I am not better than my colleagues because we are all focused on a specific part of the process.
What is the best advice anyone has given you ?
To leave Barcelona and move to NYC. In 2009 I left my home town to start my career almost from scratch in New York City. I spent three and a half years there and it was the best move I could have done. Living away from home had the advantage that everything I saw and experienced was new, so every day I got a fresh set of influences, both from people and daily life, that helped my work get where it is now.
What is your best tip for saving time ?
Each project requires the time it requires, so I never cut corners there. I do save every rejected proposal I make because a look that wasn’t perfect for a client could be a good starting reference for another. Each project has its own needs and it deserves a look tailored for it, but showing past references to clients helps narrow down the possibilities and distill the visual idea the client is looking for.
What is your routine start and end of the day ?
Early morning bike ride, work from 8:30 until lunch time, and back to work after eating. Unless working late, I like to get out in the evening and do something unrelated to my job.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
I like having and Ipad around. It makes it easy to write down brainstorm notes when I am out of my studio, and since it syncs with my computer and phone, I can access those notes everywhere.