Dave Lippman is co-founder, VP creative at design studio Sisu. He graduated from Parsons School of Design and has over a decade of experience in design for corporate identity, print, mobile and the Interwebs. He's held lead design positions at agencies KPE, Waters Design, and Inc Design.
10.22.08
Patience, Creativity and Rhythm
If you have a degree in what field is it? I graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1997 with a degree in Design. I remember my first day there thinking, “What a dump.” I quickly realized, however, that getting a good education had nothing to do with new computers or fancy classrooms. Being in NYC and having amazing teachers was more than enough to enlighten me regarding the practice of design. I really do miss a good art school critique; there’s nothing quite like getting ripped apart by a group of your peers.
What’s the best site you’ve seen lately? What's so great about it? The Lost Ring, an amazingly deep and well-produced alternate-reality game created by the International Olympic Committee, McDonald’s and AKQA. It’s great to see such high-end projects being produced for the Web and even more impressive to see a big brand like McDonald’s exercise restraint from a branding perspective. Aside from a couple of logos at the base of the site, there’s very little interference from the “golden arches.” It’s great that the big brands are starting to understand the delicate touch needed to create branded social experiences.
If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do? Sometimes I find myself dreaming about a job that isn’t based around deliverables and deadlines. I don’t know, maybe I could go work for my buddy farming blueberries? I’m also strangely drawn to the notion of manual labor, which I think has a lot to do with the fact that I don’t get to use my hands anymore—with the exception of keyboard shortcuts and right/left clicks. I guess I should take a pottery class or put together some Ikea furniture and get it out of my system.
Design or technology? Which is more important? Why? This may be a total cop-out but I think they’re equally important. Look at all of the revered products in the marketplace right now (Apple has some great examples) and you’ll notice that what sets them apart from the competition is a masterful blend of design and technology. I guess a big budget, clever marketing and a great salesman don’t hurt either.
From where do your best ideas originate? Without a doubt, the best ideas I’ve been a part of come from collaboration. Whether it’s a group brainstorm at the office or just me and another team member trading ideas and sketches back-and-forth. In my experience, the best ideas are a balance of imagination and logic; it’s very rare that one person can bring both of those to the table.
How do you overcome a creative block? To continue on with the theme of collaboration, when I get stuck, I drag in someone who isn’t part of the project I’m working on. Even just verbalizing a half-baked idea with someone can open up new ways of thinking.
In one word describe how you feel when beginning a new project? “Oh shit!” There’s always an equal mix of excitement and anxiety that accompanies venturing into the great unknown.
What well-known site is most desperately in need of a redesign? If you’d asked me a few months ago, I would have said commarts.com but you must have read my mind. Right now, the site that pains me the most to look at is Amazon.com, with wikipedia.com and IMDB.com coming in second and third. Clearly, they are all doing something right, but for me, they just don’t deliver in terms of design.
Do you have creative outlets other than Web design? This is the part where I'm supposed to tell you that in my spare time I like to paint, take photos with my lomo camera and DJ on the weekends. Unfortunately, I can’t say I occupy my spare time with either of those. Most of my free time is spent trying to understand and master golf; it’s one of those sports that requires patience, creativity and rhythm—which apparently I don’t have because I totally suck at it.
What music are you listening to right now? I’ve been listening to the new Tapes ’n Tapes album, although I tend to agree with my Indie Rock friends who say their first album was way better.
What product/gadget can you not live without? People at the office have been accusing me of being a Luddite lately so I’m going to plead the Fifth; I’ll just be over here in the corner with my T-square, fax machine and abacus.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve bought online? I just bought my wife something random online for her birthday but if I tell you, it’ll ruin the surprise.
What’s your favorite quote? Nothing comes to mind. I better go hunt the Interwebs for something provocative. Cue hold music... OK, how about this: “In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” —Charles Darwin
Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? I’ve done my share of student portfolio reviews and I'll say this, “You are more than likely not going to be designing movie posters or album art, so think about a back-up plan. I hear designing Web sites is pretty popular these days."
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? I wish someone had told me to buy stock in Apple when it was $14 a share. Doh.