Andy has had over 20-year experience working on brands including Microsoft, MessageLabs, and Roland and has had roles in a number in startups, including AgencyBox and fizzdot.
Designer Interview With Andy Fuller @designbull https://t.co/PSYNThJrQl #designerinterview #thelogocreative pic.twitter.com/C8Q979rxTg
— The Logo Creative™ (@thelogocreative) November 13, 2019
He currently runs Designbull based Bath a town set in the countryside of southwest England, it’s a brand consultancy specialising in helping companies figure out their brand strategy, creating logo designs, brand guidelines and website UX/UI that speaks to their audience.
The Logo Creative – Hi Andy thanks for taking part in our design interviews its good too have you onboard.
Andy Fuller – Thanks Andrew, I’m honored to be apart of these interviews.
The Logo Creative – What was the turning point in your life when you decided to become a designer and how did you proceed?
Andy Fuller – My father was a graphic designer so it was always in the family growing up. I always loved drawing, sketching and making things, even at an early age. When I was 10 I won an art and design competition from the local NatWest Bank. I won £20 prize money which was a lot for my age then. I also wanted to be an astronaut 🙂
The Logo Creative – What does your day consist of?
Andy Fuller – It varies day by day but generally I spend 60% on client design work and personal projects. Then the other 40% on learning, reading and marketing myself
The Logo Creative – What was the first logo you ever designed?
Andy Fuller – AF logo design project.
This was my first logo design as far as I can remember and have a copy of – and it was created using an airbrush. We had to come up with our own logo designs as part of a college project using our initials, so ‘AF’ for Andy Fuller.
The Logo Creative – What is your favourite Logo you have designed?
Andy Fuller – All my logo designs are favourites – but if I had to choose one it would be the Müs Coffee House logo identity. It’s simple yet has a quirky character. The client was great to work with and really understood the value of investing in creating a memorable and lasting brand identity.
The Logo Creative – What is your favourite Logo of all time?
Andy Fuller – When I came across the new Sonos logo identity and started scrolling, I thought it was amazing. A great way to apply a visually eye-catching effect just from a user scrolling.
The Logo Creative – Can you describe or give us an overview of your logo design process?
Andy Fuller – I provide a full brand consultation and design service which includes hand-crafted logo designs, brand experiences, and websites. So when they choose my Logo Design Package it goes without saying that you have to really understand a client’s business before starting any design.
The Logo Design Package includes a comprehensive Google Docs brand worksheet to help define the business brand, customers and competitors.
As well as a custom logo design with up to 3 design mockups, I provide a brand style guide that includes alternate logos, colour palette and font recommendations to make customising a brand easy, and three collateral items of their choice (business card design, letterhead, advert, social media kit, etc.)
- Brand Worksheets are prepared and sent to the client. Once they’ve completed the brand worksheets I work up a mood board design from their private Pinterest client board, a customer persona, and brand report. This sets out a clear design direction that the client is clear on and helps make sure we designing an identity that follows this and fits their audience and business brand.
- Then it’s going through this brand research, looking at their industry, their competitors, etc. and also tend to sketch ideas and notes at the same time.
- These sketches are then scanned, Photoshopped and reprinted out to be re-traced and refined with black pen and ink. All my logos are hand-crafted.
- I choose the best logo drawings and scan them into Illustrator, to be vectorised and refined further.
- I choose three logo designs and present them to the client with visual design mockups to help them see what the logo would look like applied in the real world.
- The best logo is chosen, along with colour palette, fonts, and icons.
- The logo files are prepared and saved, a brand guidelines document created with approved fonts, imagery and collateral designs saved into their client dropbox folder for easy access.
The Logo Creative – In your opinion regarding Logo Design pricing do you prefer working on a fixed rate or customer budget and can you explain why?
Andy Fuller – I do have fixed price packages now that I offer clients as it’s easier for both myself and the client’s expectations, but I do get clients who require different design elements so I will quote on these based on their budget if required.
The Logo Creative –How long does it take to complete the average logo design project from Start to Finish?
Andy Fuller – With this Logo Design Package the process is usually two weeks from start to finish in a block, and taking on projects one by one.
The Logo Creative – Are you a MAC or PC User and is there a reason for your choice?
Andy Fuller – I’ve always used Apple Macs ever since I was at school in the 1990’s. My first hands-on experience was on the old Apple II. I learned how to code a driving license number!
The Logo Creative – Which software do you use frequently?
Andy Fuller – Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign – and also for my UI/UX design, Adobe XD and Marvel app
The Logo Creative – What is your favourite style of logo design? And why?
Andy Fuller – My style is mostly minimalist as I’m always striving to achieve form and function with clarity, so a logo can work on a billboard, and a favicon.
The Logo Creative – What is your daily inspiration when you design?
Andy Fuller – Inspiration can come from a variety of places for me, reading magazines, articles, Instagram, movies, TV – even walking through the high street here in Bath UK where I’m based!
The Logo Creative – In your opinion what’s the best and worst part of your job being a designer?
Andy Fuller – Worst part is all the admin and marketing you have to keep up with – the best part is the gratification when you help a client become successful through your logo design work 🙂
The Logo Creative – Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Andy Fuller – I don’t really have one person, but a few I follow that inspire me
The Logo Creative – Who is your favourite Graphic Designer and why?
Andy Fuller – Again, no favourite one, but a few include John Hicks, Graham Smith, and Chris Do one of your recent designer interviews 🙂
The Logo Creative – What’s your favourite design quote?
Andy Fuller – “Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.” Charlie Mingus
The Logo Creative – In less than 10 words what is graphic design?
Andy Fuller – The art of making complicated information visually appealing and easy to understand.
The Logo Creative – What steps did you take to start your graphic design business? Did you have to make any sacrifices on your journey?
Andy Fuller – I was made redundant, which was a kick up the arse to get out there and create a business that pays me to design.
The Logo Creative – Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you would have changed early on in your career?
Andy Fuller – I have a background in Heraldry and Calligraphy from Reigate Art College and regret not keeping up the practice of hand-lettering. I’m still good and do get out the pens for a few projects – but I could be so much better.
The Logo Creative – If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self?
Andy Fuller – Don’t be shy about your skills as a designer. Show the world.
The Logo Creative – What’s the most important piece of advice you have received as a designer that’s helped you?
Andy Fuller – Make sure the design brief is right. Question everything. (That’s why I have Brand Worksheets) because you’ll waste time designing something that – even though it looks slick, is wrong for the client or their customer’s needs.
The Logo Creative – What would be your advice for new Logo and Graphic Designers?
Andy Fuller – Don’t rush. Be honest in your work and question everything!
learn more about Andy Fuller | designbull.co.uk |