Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you / Your current job
My name is André Vaillant, I’m a freelance graphic designer and illustrator based out of Ottawa
In which city are you located?
Ottawa, Ontario
A word to define what kind of worker you are
Relentless, I work on things as long as it takes to get them done.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
I mainly work with the Adobe CS5 Suite, quill and ink, and watercolours.
What does your office space look like?
My work space is usually pretty organized with every job in it’s own folder, supplies grouped together by type or task. My work space is small so it tends to get cluttered quickly if I’m working quickly to meet deadlines or when I have several jobs I’m working on at the same time
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ?
Depends on the job and my mood but I tend to listen to Blues Rock bands like Current Swell or The Trews
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work ? :
I use a standard day planner to list my tasks of the day and I list them in order of priority. I tend to be the most creative in the mornings so I try do my concept work early and then do production the rest of the day.
What tips would you give to improve productivity ?
Do your creative work in the part of the day when you’re most creative. If you tailor your day to when you’re most productive at various things, whether it’s typesetting, working up sketches, emailing clients, etc. you’ll be able to get more work done efficiently and save time over all.
You’re better than your colleagues to?
Putting in long hours, I’ve been know to work 50 hours or more straight to ensure the job is done at the highest possible quality
What is the best advice anyone has given you ?
Work hard and be passionate about what you do, but don’t work too hard. Creativity is born from the experiences in our lives.
What is your best tip for saving time ?
Take breaks, you’re most creative when you’re refreshed and mentally sharp.
What is your routine start and end of the day ?
Shower, eat and have a couple coffees while looking at what’s new in the design world. End of the day: Have dinner, go rock climbing, or relax and spend time with my friends or girlfriend maybe over a pint.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
My scanner or my Nikon D60