We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Eluan Araujo ("EA").
Eluan is a designer whose passion for art traces back to his childhood. He is an individual who embarked on a journey of self-discovery across various fields before finding his calling in the artistic domain of design, where he cultivated a profound love for creation and the expression of people's emotions and ideas through digital art. He thrives in the face of challenges, as they motivate him to continuously learn and remain actively engaged in these areas. He volunteers with two organizations, providing design and advertising services: one offers ballet classes to underprivileged children, providing them with a fresh outlook on life; the other provides vocational training for socially vulnerable youth, equipping them with specialized skills to enter the job market, thus facilitating their escape from adverse conditions.
Eluan Araujo Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Eluan Araujo.
Eluan Araujo Design - 35 Anos Shalon Logotipo
Designer Interview of Eluan Araujo:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
EA : I graduated in electronics, but my notes always sparked many creations. When I submitted my thesis, I realized it wasn't what I wanted, so I transitioned to the creative field. I sought to refine myself, grow, and delve deeper into the creative realm. I've explored various different areas due to my love for studying and learning new things. Venturing into design and creation has granted me significant freedom to explore all the areas I enjoyed as a child. Now, I can actively engage in those fields, contributing visual creations that can make a difference in society and from areas that pique my interest.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
EA : The Studio was crafted as a space to breathe life into my creations and share them with the world. We operate as a true creative powerhouse, pooling our strengths and blending our individual skills. Each of us brings a unique studio to the table, and together we form incredible collaborations, infusing each project we undertake with an innovative perspective. Ash Media is my way of contributing to the global market with projects that stand out for their authenticity and innovation.
DI: What is "design" for you?
EA : Design for me is a way to create, transform, and simplify everything that surrounds us. It's an artistic way to translate a thought, a dream
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
EA : What I love most to create are branding projects and retouching image/art. Crafting brand identities that resonate and perfecting visual aesthetics through image retouching truly fuels my passion
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
EA : The very first thing I created for my studio was a project for a natural juice and snack brand. Alongside that, I also developed my own clothing brand called Flawless Victory Clothing
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
EA : I enjoy using paper and pencil, creating things manually, and I also love working with Photoshop software
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
EA : I feel most creative on sunny days, usually during the morning hours.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
EA : I focus more on the creation and construction of archetypes
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
EA : I feel immense joy in being able to create, particularly in witnessing the happiness of people when they get excited about a project and say it's something they had been hoping for or dreaming of for their businesses.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
EA : I feel fulfilled, and it's a sensation that I made the right choice in my life by transitioning to this field.
DI: What makes a design successful?
EA : For me, a successful design is one that brings a smile to the face of the requester when it gets approved!
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
EA : The first thing I seek to understand is the purpose behind the project and the intended audience it was created for
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
EA : I believe that our responsibility extends far beyond being designers; we must have awareness as individuals and as a society. However, in our field, being conscious of what we do and always seeking creative and environmentally-friendly solutions is crucial. It's also important to educate clients about options with less impact on the planet.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
EA : I always seek inspiration from every possible source, even beyond the universe of the project at hand, thus bringing new forms and meanings to the project. Everything I experience, I examine with a creative eye, from movies, games, and places to life experiences.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
EA : I live in Brazil, a place whose cultural heritage is made up of diverse cultures. Living in the southern part of the country, much of the population has values and is somehow connected to more European cultures through their grandparents and other generations of family members who came to Brazil. Brazil's cultural heritage is very rich, colorful, and full of joy, with many creative and funny ways of seeing things. The fact that Brazil is a country where people are very warm-hearted means that the projects developed here bring something that generates this identification. The downside of Brazilian culture is that it often tries to seek American references, resulting in little 'Brazilian-ness' in creations, causing many people to rely on American references.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
EA : Working with designers is a way to make your team more dynamic and creative, even for problem-solving that the company may encounter. Choosing good designers is difficult to determine because there are various types of professionals, but one point that I find very important is believing in the creative potential of designers, looking much more at their portfolio than at a resume or qualifications the person may have. There are many professionals who have creative visions and are extremely talented, who know theories, techniques, and have skills in their areas, but may not have a formal degree. Nevertheless, they are incredible professionals and deserve opportunities just like others
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
EA : My creation processes are always based on a briefing, working with extensive research on the project's foundation to find creative and effective ways to convey what the project requester wants. After the research phase, we begin to seek references for creating archetypes and generating meaning for the project. This provides us with a clear direction for the project as a whole, making the creation process easier. Starting from this point, we have a well-developed project foundation. This is the method we use for the majority of our projects.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
EA : PlayStation 5 - armchair - dining table - artwork
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
EA : Doubling down on your potential, seeking constant knowledge daily, and indulging in a bit of design from various fields each day can broaden your artistic perspective. Follow the works of those you admire, including award-winning designs and prize winners, among other sources. Additionally, enhancing your proficiency in different languages and cultures can provide a comprehensive worldview of art and design
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
EA : Basic points of being a designer include the ability to explore various distinct areas and learn a bit from each of them. You can engage with diverse cultures in different projects, making it a fun and challenging field. However, the downside, in my opinion, is that it's still an undervalued area. It often relies on us to pursue opportunities and sometimes even compete in contests to gain recognition and endorsement for our work and professionalism.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
EA : An essential skill I see for a designer is having a holistic perception, being someone with a multitude of references from around the world. This greatly facilitates generating ideas and creating designs
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
EA : During my designs, I primarily use Photoshop, Illustrator, Spotify, and Lightroom. As reference bases, I use Pinterest, Dribbble, and any other sources available at the moment, such as movies, games, and design annuals
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
EA : I strive to do most of my creative work in the morning, as I find I have a greater predisposition for project creation during this time. However, I always aim to maintain a more disciplined approach to producing work during business hours.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
EA : It really depends on the project I'm working on. I can't quantify a specific time without knowing what I'll be creating and what they'll actually need. However, if we were to quantify a baseline time for production, it would be around a minimum of 3 months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
EA : How did you come up with this result for the project?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
EA : Assist in a visual identity project for a very large event that takes place in Brazil, called SDA, an event that brings together the youth of the church in Brazil. It follows a similar model to "The Send" that takes place in the United States. It was a very important and meaningful project for me due to the size of the event.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
EA : Igreja Batista Shalon, Rede Bandeirantes (TV network), Irmãos Passaura, FLWSS.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
EA : Branding work, logo development, and event logo design.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
EA : My plans are to generate valuable contacts in the field and to be able to work outside of Brazil. I am seeking to improve and learn new languages in order to work in different places with new audiences
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
EA : In some projects, I work with a team of friends, operating as a creative conglomerate, each specializing in different areas of creation. This allows us to bring better-developed skills to specific projects. In other projects, I work alone.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
EA : A few days ago, I completed a rebranding project for an institute that obtained authentication to become an NGO. It was a very different project to work on because it will impact the lives and transformations of many families and children. This work was developed to be creative and joyful. All communication created for this project will be used in various materials and will help them obtain more resources and find different ways to help more people.
DI: How can people contact you?
EA : You can contact me via email at Contato.ashmidia@gmail.com, or through my social media channels: Instagram @elu.felipe - link: https://www.instagram.com/elu.felipe/, LinkedIn: eluan-felipe, link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eluan-felipe/, Behance: Eluan Felipe, link: https://www.behance.net/eluanfelipbd7d