In this article, we speak to one of our DesignCrowd designers, Stuart Burns, who has become one of the top ranked logo and business card designers - check out Stuart's designer portfolio here.

Burns' Design Background

Tell us about yourself:

I live in Adelaide (Australia) and started freelancing in 2004. I design logos mainly, and occasionally choose to put my talent into other areas if the project interests me, and whatever my clients need I can help them out.

How did you get started in design?

I was always good at drawing. My first award was a "Certificate of Merit" for a cartoon competition when I was 10, been winning awards ever since through school. I graduated my tertiary studies with a Diploma of Visual Communication and went from there.

How did you learn about design, what training did you get?

I studied at Croydon TAFE in Adelaide and leaned a great deal from great teachers.

What is your preferred design software?

Depends on the job, but vector is second to none, Illustrator!

What is your design process? (e.g. do you sketch out a rough, do you hit the computer first etc.)

Make a mindmap or a list of ideas that first come to mind, and then make a few sketches on type, icons etc. I have used copious amounts of paper on sketches since joining DC, should probably plant a few trees for the environment!

Where do you think creativity comes from?

Anywhere and everywhere! Visual, audio, smell, touch, taste, all the senses can influence design. When people say that logo looks "yummy" or "loud" it can be a reference to another sense influenced by the visual stimulus that they are seeing.

What web development or coding languages (if any) do you know?

I leave the web stuff to the gurus!

What is the best thing about being a designer?

Choose your own hours, mine are "a lot" at this stage.

Describe a typical day in your life as a designer.

Up at 5:30AM, run, breakfast, work, lunch somewhere between 12 and 2, work till 5, maybe go for another run, then dinner and couple of good movies, or a good cartoon to numb the brain before sleep.

Which websites or other designers inspire you?

Si Scott is my favourite designer and illustrator. I don't surf the net much for other sites, but I like simple landing pages with a slick modern feel, rich, dark, tones or a vibrant fresh palette that is pleasing to the eye. Or a good type-based site is always nice. Visit www.bradhurt.com for a grungy site that I designed in collaboration with Brad, still working on putting the rest of it together.

What are the benefits of being a freelance designer?

If you miss a deadline, you don't get firedâ_¦ you just don't get paid! If you're prepared to put in the hours of training and style development, there is really good money out there in niche markets.

What is your top tip to aspiring designers?

For illustrators, develop your own style and knock on all the doors because someone wants what you have. Logo designers, research what's out there and think again before going for the obvious solution - guaranteed someone has done it better before. Think of something different, or interpret the brief from another angle.

All About Burns

Describe the city that you live in.

Adelaide - just got rated the most liveable city in Australia apparently. Lots of good wineries and cafes, great for drives in the hills. Great golf courses and beaches.

What is the best thing you have bought with the money from DesignCrowd?

My laptop! I love it!

If you could be any logo design in the world which one would you be?

My own!

What is your best design on DesignCrowd to date?

I have a top 5 so far, not in any order, Papercat, 913 and Inmotion were never published. The Inmotion icon is a guy kicking a soccer ball made from the OTIO of Inmotion, if you can't see it straight away. A good example of incorporating an icon into type.

If you could design for anyone in the world who would it be and why?

I think it would have to be Saatchi & Saatchi, they are a creative team beyond any other. They take a brand and through creative advertising, turn into what they call "lovemark" status, "loyalty beyond reason". I reckon that would be a mind opening experience.

If you werenâ_Tt a designer what would you be?

A pilot.

Do you enjoy designing now as much as you did when you first started?

Depends on the job, the logo could be great but the client is not and vice versa, however choosing your own work makes it a lot easier. Knowing when to cull jobs and pursue high paying jobs matters. Comparing now to when I started I would say I have learned a lot along the way and being able to choose my own work keeps the enjoyment levels high.

Why Burns Uses DesignCrowd

Why do you use DesignCrowd and how has DesignCrowd helped you?

The amount of jobs I get emailed each day is ridiculous. I have to cull a lot of work because of other established client commitments. DC has helped me make a name for myself in Australia on its biggest freelancing site, and had the opportunity to get some great logos out in the real world, that in time will be well known.

Have you found that using DesignCrowd gives you access to more clients?

Definitely.

Have you found any clients that you've kept in touch with on DesignCrowd?

Plenty! I have loads of unpublished work and some of them are my best work, a few published too. I have made great established contacts through DC, UnrealMedia is a great client I picked up after winning their logo, and they are an awesome studio to work for. We get along well.

You can hire Stuart Burns via his design portfolio on DesignCrowd.

Written by DesignCrowd on Monday, June 6, 2011

DesignCrowd is an online marketplace providing logo, website, print and graphic design services by providing access to freelance graphic designers and design studios around the world.