Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you:
I’m Levente Szabo, freelancer graphic designer and illustrator.
Your current job:
I was always a freelancer, and currently I am working on the BAFTA TV campaign posters.
(The TV and TV Craft Awards will be held in May)
In which city are you located?
Budapest, Hungary.
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
Reliable.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Photoshop, an Intuos tablet and a laptop.
What does your office space look like?
I work from home and my office is in the living room.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ?
In the design/layout phase I can’t listen to anything anymore. When the layout is approved and you “only” have to draw the hi-res illustration I usually listen to podcasts.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
When I feel over crumbled I start the day with a coffee and a clean paper where write together all my tasks and then I plan my next 7-10 days. After that it is much quicker to clean up the list than I anticipate! Cleaning up your workstation can also help.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Sometimes when you feel empty without a single idea (yes, it happens to everyone) give yourself a free afternoon or at least a long walk outside.
It’s much better than a wasted day in front of a monitor and you’ll be mentally refreshed the next time you start working.
You’re better than your colleagues to:
I don’t think I am better. Just I failed more times.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
No one cares about a project’s circumstances. Only the results.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Do not worry about time, only about the quality.
I had to learn this the hard way.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
I start the day around 08:30 with a coffee and by answering my mails (I’m doing this right now)
The end of the day depends on the deadlines but I try to put down work around 6PM the latest and spend the rest of my day with my loved ones.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not go without?
I have an old Intuos3 tablet that I love, it’s been my companion for years. Other than that, my bike is the only thing I’d grab in a case of emergency.
