Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you, your current job, city, what kind of worker are you?
My name is Janusz Jurek, I am a graphic designer and photographer . Since 1996 I’ve been carrying Neo Graphic Design Studio. What I did and still do is mostly commercial: 3D designing, photography, graphic designing, animation and other new forms of visual arts. I have always been self – employed.
I live and work in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland.
What tools are essential to your life? What does your office space look like?
I work at home, I have a big house so I arranged part of it for my office and photo studio, with all the lamps, umbrellas, grey walls, shadowless table. I am surrounded by cameras new and old – fashioned ones as well and by my artworks, they are everywhere: in my office and in my house. I like to look at them sometimes it calms me down. Obviously I do most things sitting in front of computer sitting at the desk. The desk is huge and I made it by myself.
What kind of music do you listen to when you are working?
I listen to music all the time, it helps me to keep good air and can be very inspiring. I like electronic things and indie rock. Every year I go to Open’er Festival in Gdynia, Poland. Before and after the festival I listen to a lot of “Open’er music”. You know all the bands that performs there usually with their new albums, so it is a lot to do.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
Unfortunately deadlines maximize my work;)
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
It is very important to have a good schedule. I try to plan my duties very carefully because it makes my job easier later on.
You’re better than your colleagues to:
As I said I am self – employed and can’t compare myself with other graphic designers. My clients are my best “judges”.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
In Poland we are thaught that success and failure are the opposite things. That is why people are afraid to take risk and they don’t cope well with stress and bad situations. I felt almost illuminated when I heard some other graphic designer who told that failures were on the way to success. Wanna be successful manage with defeat.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Again spend more time on planning tasks, make priorities, keep your plan.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
I start my day with mug of black coffee, I have some favorite websites, so I read all the new things. My dog reminds me to finish my work and we go for a walk in the end of the day.
Aside from computer and your phone, what gadget can you not go without?
Definitely my iPad and my headphones. I can’t imagine my walks without good music.