Interview with Christina Ullman
I believe design is not a beauty contest, but a process of discovery to find the best approach to deliver a message.
Interview about Discovering Vienna Historical Coffee Table Book Design Interview
Designer Interview
29 April 2024
I have been interested in art since I was very young. I would paint and draw and write poetry. My interest in art and written content was a natural segway to a career as a graphic designer. I was formerly a university professor and taught graphic design, publication design, and illustration. During that time, I had many clients for whom I would design various publications and promotional materials, as well as scientific graphics and illustrations. Rather than taking a sabbatical from teaching, I decided to take a leave of absence and devote my time to starting my design studio. That was 17 years ago. Needless to say, I didn't return to teaching.
Ullman Design is a boutique design and illustration studio located in the historic downtown area of Marietta, Ohio, that specializes in promotional design, branding, publication design, as well as graphics and illustrations. What the studio offers is unique because of the convergence of visuals within design materials.
Design is about creating an organizational balance that guides an audience through content. It is a unique combination of visuals with text in a design that creates a unique, engaging narrative, capturing a sense of place, telling a story the audience can relate to on many levels. It is about creating solutions for clear and effective communication.
I love publication design because of the synergy between written words and visuals.
My favorite design project has been the "Discovering Vienna" coffee table book because I researched, wrote, and designed the book.
I believe it was a logo. I don't remember the client.
While I primarily work in the Adobe Creative Suite applications, I enjoy acrylic painting. I also love to take landscape photos.
I tend to be most creative at night. I have spent many late night hours developing illustrations and concepts.
While aesthetics are important, I believe making things clear to the audience is the most vital aspect. If something is not communicated clearly, the message is lost.
I feel challenged, which provides an adrenaline rush in some ways. I am always trying to develop new and better approaches to designs to continue to perfect my craft.
Like any other designer, I feel a sense of pride that what I have created is appreciated by others.
A design is successful if it communicates the client's message clearly and effectively.
Typography is #1. Poor typography can make or break a design.
I had a solo landscape photography exhibition two years ago. My images are landscape silver prints. I would love to have more soon but do not have anything planned at this time.
I love to travel. When I do, I make notes of scenes, architecture, patterns, and other things that I encounter that provide inspiration for my work.
A designer is not creating for themselves, but for their client.
Listening to clients is vital—taking time to listen and to understand a client’s needs in order to translate them into solutions.
Adobe Creative Suite— InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator are the primary applications.
I am a habitual planner. At the end of each work day, I write out all of my tasks and meetings for the next day so I know what must be done and can mentally prepare for the coming day.
It depends on the scope of work. Some take a week or two while some take months.
How do you come up with your ideas? That seems to be the most asked question. Honestly, I am always thinking about design concepts and approaches and write them down in a notebook so I can reference them later. That's where the ideas come from.
Teaching design to college students was the most valuable experience because it helped me to develop communication skills that were vital when explaining concepts to clients or explaining why something works or doesn't work without bringing in personal bias.
My clients vary from institutions and nonprofit organizations to universities and hospitals.
I prefer design projects that allow me to blend my illustration skills within a design or my writing skills within a design.
I would like to do more illustration and photography and perhaps publish an illustrated children’s book.
Right now I work solo.
I am currently working the first issue of a magazine for which I developed a full redesign for the publication.
My email is tina@ullmandesign.com. My studio phone number is +17403732400.