Say hello to ...
Suki Hubbard from Suki Design
My name is Suki Hubbard and I own suki-design.com. I started work (18 years ago) in hand drawn animation producing the Tetley Tea men, Tony the Tiger and Ribena berry adverts. I worked for Snowden Fine on ‘Bob’s Birthday’, an Oscar Winning Animated Short but since mid 90’s, I have pursed my career in graphic design and illustration. My flexible design style has given me the opportunity to work for a variety of clients – from physiotherapists and publishers CondeNast to the Discovery Channel and Department of Health. Projects undertaken have ranged from technical illustrations for books, brand development and stationery, invitations and online work – with website partner Dawn Mitchell at thinkmonkeys.com. On the side, I design and make my own stationery and hand paint items for unique gifts.
Describe your typical working day ...
Typical day starts with 9am with a creamy coffee, music on and spread the days work out on the floor. I usually have more than one project to do so I juggle projects to keep things fresh.
What is the best thing about your job?
Being Freelance means that I can take on variety of projects, not just projects within the remit of Graphic Design! I also like to have direct contact with the clients which I like.
Do you use any specialist techniques or equipment to create your products?
I use Adobe products to transfer illustrations into vector graphics (scalable) to use digitally. I use my old animation Lightbox to trace my drawings for different surfaces. I paint with Gouache and Acrylic. I also love transferring my designs onto cloth with iron-on papers!
Your products …
What is your personal favourite product in your collection?
Rob and Steph Love Box
What are the most popular products in your range?
My gouache paintings and trompe o’oeil boxes. I also make ‘floppy’ tags which are my patterns designed including my own illustrations (i.e. Satsuma) and ironed onto cotton which makes them flexible, tactile and reusable! The idea was adjusted for Hatastic! to use as product labels for SS12 collection, sold in Fenwicks, London 2012
What are you working on at the moment?
France 2012 painted tray ...
What do you have planned for 2013?
I am working on a 2nd illustration project for Hampton Court and I plan to keep plugging and encouraging more individual commissions. Other people’s ideas are refreshing to work on and stretch me in new directions. I also want to join forces with my Mother (who’s a sculptor) in a bid to ‘glaze’ my sketches onto hand fashioned plates, mugs, vases etc. A technique she is perfecting.
Your inspiration …
What inspires your products?
The person/people I am painting it for. I'm also hugely inspired by other designers i.e. Thomas Heatherwick
What other card and gift designers do you admire?
Lucy at dippyegg.net and www.thecarrotbox.com
What current or upcoming trend are you're coveting?
Illustrations on everything!
Quick questions ...
What is your favourite book?
I like to read non-fiction and lots about people i.e: Branson – not Katie Price! Because I’m a geek, I’ve enjoyed the book ‘Just My Type” and I pour over the newspapers and all sorts of magazines.
What is your favourite film?
Most recently ‘The Artist’
What is your favourite album / band or song? All 3 if you want!
Eclectic from Pink Floyd, Chemical Brothers, The Temper Trap, Lemon Jelly, Florence and the Machine, Katie Melua, Coldplay, US3, Tracy Chapman!
What is your favourite card or gift brand?
Paperchase, Heals gifts, Selfridges stationery department and the stuff in www.designsupermarket.it/designsupermarket/it
What is your favourite website or blog?
So many to choose from but currently typetoy.tumblr.com and website www.thecarrotbox.com
What can't you live without?
Pencil and paper
What's your guilty pleasure?
Latté
Thank you Suki!
