Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you:
I’m a Colombian Graphic Designer, Illustrator, and Typographer who as an image lover/creator/ is all the time exploring diverse channels and ways of expression. I have been working in different media from prints to websites, tv and recently video games. My works have been featured in multiple publications, website, and blogs dedicated to the creativity, art, illustration, and design. I’m the creator of more than 20 typographies and I’m happily married to the talented polish artist Weronika Kwiatkowska Forero. I’m a music and book lover.
Your current job:
I’m a User Interface Artist at Blizzard Entertainment for AAA video games.
In which city are you located?
I’m based the beautiful city of Hamburg in Germany, a nice relaxing place that I love, but soon I will be moving to Irvine California to start a new step in my life. Before Hamburg, I lived in Poland, for around 6 years.
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
Dedication to the detail.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Photoshop, Illustrator, Kindle, Behance, Google, Google maps, Linkedin, Wacom Intuos, Ballpen Point, Pencils, and Sketchbooks
What does your office space look like?
I’m working remotely for Blizzard from home. My desk is located at the corner of a big living room, near to a big window with a view to a balcony. The view is nice and I have good natural light all day. I work on a PC with 2 screens. I’m sharing space with my loved wife whom have a desk as well and an easel for her oil paintings. In our living room, we have a big collection of books and artbooks.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working?
Well, I consider myself as a music lover and a frustrated musician… I love a big range of music, like Postrock, Shoegaze, Rock, Metal, Heavy, Classical, Tango, Experimental, Indie, Blues, Jazz, Soundtracks… a lot of different sounds and expressions, but not electronic. I have a special attraction to music that is dark, emotional and sad.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
I need always to have a clear view regarding what are the tasks I need to complete over the day, and about what are the important ones. I’m always in communication with my clients once questions or doubts come to my mind. I’m sharing with them details of my progression at the end of the day or when I have a good group of things to share.
I try always to portrait in my mind the big picture of the projects I’m working on, and I divided the big picture into sections, organizing them in priorities. I work first on the more important things first and then at the very end I use the time to polish details.
When working I’m not checking Facebook, Instagram or another social media. I have no facebook or Instagram app on my phone so I get not distracted.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
I guess that one important thing to do is having clear the things you want to achieve during your day and have always in consideration completing the most difficult and important tasks first, having control over the time you spend doing it. Secondly, I personally try to stay away from social media when working, and I use only small chunks of time during specific hours of the day to check the internet.
You’re better than your colleagues to:
Being multidisciplinary and creating personal projects.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
The best advice I have for life comes directly from the books… in some way during my carrier I encounter fewer professionals with the tendency to give you advice, and I had had to find my own path through the different channels and media I was invited to work on.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Complete all your most important task once you are front of your desk to work.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
I’m out of bed every day at 6 am (including weekends), I try to use some minutes for exercises and to write down ideas and emotions on my notebooks; then, after making an order with myself, I start working at 8 am. Even if I’m at home I will do everything as if I need to go to the office, to keep the ritual of being a focus on my daily tasks. I check first what I need to do for the day and then I check emails and answer to them if needed. Finally, then, I start my work for my clients for over 8 to 9 hours (with a pause at midday to take lunch with my wife). After work hours I make a pause to walk and to talk to my wife, and the I back to work for few hours but on my own projects. Sometimes I saw movies and rarely play video games. and my day finish close to midnight.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
I’m not a geek person, but when I’m going out from home I always take with me a sketchbook, and notebook to write and a book to read (or an Ipad to read).
instagram.com/fernandoforeroart