Radim Malinic aka Brand Nu is an award winning freelance illustrator & graphic designer based in Southampton, the UK. He is one of the most sought after, internationally renowned creative artists working today, with an extensive and diverse clientele counting the BBC, O2, Harrods, Sony Ericsson and more as his regular clients. In November 2008, Radim released a follow up showcase publication ‘BOOK of COLOURS’ which has been widely critically acclaimed.
How would you describe your personal style?
It's an even mixture between vector shapes, photoshop brushes and photographic elements. Actually, I used to call it 'splatters, shapes & colours' and it's pretty much valid label. Lately, I've tried to make less complicated images, going more for simpler but more vibrant concepts. I've become known for the multilayered work but as anyone else in the game you push in new directions to break away from the masses of plagiariser. As with anything else, I don't have a set plan or formula I go by, I just go with the flow and see what happens.
When you were a child, did you want to become a designer?
Quite franky, I never had a plan to become a designer, it just somewhat happened. Since my childhood to my late teens I played ice hockey and thought I'd go to play in NHL. Then I got into music, started a band and got through those alleys to the work of visual creativity. In my twenties I brushed off the basics I had learned and I worked my way up to where I am now. I knew I wanted to work in different way and do for living something that would satisfy my soul on daily basis. I can't imagine going back to join a company and work on some soul-destroying briefs.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I believe inspiration comes to you, hits you on the nose wherever you go. Everyday you encounter various elements that shape your thoughts and moods. There's many in the mix, you just choose the ones that you digest.
Could you describe your working process?
Depending on a brief or idea, it could take from a couple of hours to a couple of days to make start on a piece. I'm rather spontaneous character and sometimes go with the initial concept and see it through. Sometime though, I have time to think about a project for a few days before I make start which produces interesting results as I change the plan almost everyday. I could go and scrap a few ideas before I get to draw a first stroke.
What would be the ideal working setup for you?
Since 2007 I've worked from home and it's been great. I truly don't envy any other creatives who have to commute every day for hours on end. An ideal set up would be bigger work space with more room for other desks and a messy corner for experiments. I'd love to buy some disused warehouse or a factory and turn it into a studio and a home.
What do you love the most about your life as a designer?
It's all about making your own decisions, every minute of every day. Of course you get clients and art directors to point you in some direction but overall, you rule any project. Then it's the seeing of your final work out there. The other day I came across some of my latest work in shops and on billboards and was nicely surprised. I love when people find my work inspiring, admire it and explore it. A good piece of illustration could be compared to a song. You love it, you hum it, you can't get it out of your head.
If you had to do something totally different for living, what would it be?
I guess I'd be a TV producer.
What kind of music do you listen while working?
All sorts, all sort of everything from jazz, nu-jazz, neo-soul, acoustic to rock and dance music. I'm open minded and longing to explore new music, discover new artists. I don't have anyone to argue about music with, so on days (with a tight deadline) I could be blasting out some dirty drum'n'bass (Nu:Tone or London Electricity quite likely) to keep me sane throughout the project. Also, now you can watch a lot of TV online in the UK, so I catch up in the evenings with some of my favourite comedy programmes and TV shows on the second monitor.
If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
It's a toss between New York or Tokyo.
Who are you all-time favorite artists?
Alfons Mucha, Vivaldi, Picaso, Jack Kerouac, Salvador Dali, William Burroughs... all of them timeless and genius.
Who has been the most inspiring non-artistic person for you?
I believe everyone is artistic in their own way. I can't think of any one in particular, but I do admire a lot business savvy people.
What is the most bizarre dream you ever had?
Hmmm... it might be too bizarre to tell you.
If you could meet any great name from known human history, who would it be?
I'd like to hang out with James Brown for a day.
Thank you!