Interview with Satie Abuobeida Eljack
Satie Aljack is an ambitious art lover with a strong background in marketing. He has worked with leading companies and government institutions in Saudi Arabia, excelling in branding, strategy, and…
Designer Interview
27 August 2024
Art and design has become a channel of expression that I utilize to tell stories, illuminate cultures and connect beyond borders. My design background is a combination of collage art, graphic design, brand development and social media marketing. Art is rooted in my upbringing and was always present in my family and lifestyle growing up. My house was decorated with authentic antique art, original vinyl covers, retro cameras and other details of inspiration that caught my eye from a young age. The pursuit as a designer was sparked from my interest in these unique creations and the ambition to make something out of nothing.
Design is the core of problem solving. It allows you to shift perspective when approaching an object or situation to analyze it and remove flaws or enhance the integrity of the project. How things work, what things are and perceived to be is all embedded in design. It is the functionality, the unity and aesthetic appeal of something.
The kinds of works I like designing the most include collage art, virtual identity, marketing and advertising, publication design, packaging design, and illustration art.
Collage art is fuel to my fire. The beauty of combining pieces of history with the present through images carefully selected are the sparks of the fire. Images intertwine to create a bigger story but individually represent the intricate details that can only be observed between the lines.
I guess it was a logo for a Government Media Department,when i was 18.
Sustainable Material.
My creativity rises with the sun. I feel the most creative in the morning when I am refreshed and the energy of the day begins to build. When I hear the sound of the birds, combined with my vinyl records playing, that activates my creative senses. I create in an experimental atmosphere filled with collaborations and idea sharing from colleagues, life from plants, sounds from my favorite artists, easy lighting and a robust energy to translate my thoughts into something tangible.
I give most importance to usability and then aesthetics and visual appeal. This first includes form and then color and texture. Like every designer finding the balance between form and function is the toughest call.
Design fills me with an excitement and a passion to create. It feels like I am entering a world of endless possibilities when I have a blank template and a mind full of ideas. I put my heart and soul into the creation of every design through patience, connection to the piece and the imagination that I transform to reality.
A sense of achievement and satisfaction
When the finished work satisfy the client. Seeing their joy on thier face when they move into the space.
The planning and intention of the concept.
The responsibilities of a designer for society and the environment is to establish and illuminate beauty in the world. Art brings vibrancy, life and hope to people and communities when they are present in society. Designers have an influence in every aspect of society from architecture, interior design, visual art, to the simple details such as the shape of a lamp to the patterns on a shirt. What people see on the daily can influence their mood, their impact on their communities and ignite their enthusiasm.
The future is to see the past. Never forget and take things for granted.
I use my immediate surroundings and natural environments as a source of inspiration for my designs. The activation of my senses is what feeds my creativity. My visionary mindset is inspired by what I see and hear most through traveling and experiencing cultures. Absorbing sounds from music simulates my perspective and allows me to connect my senses to what I am creating.
My design style is a blend of contemporary and traditional art, expressed by uniting dark colors and African culture. I explored this style deeper due to my interest in my own African culture and desire to educate the world on the beauty of the motherland.
I currently live in Saudi Arabia. However, the cultural heritage of this country does not affect my designs. My designs are most influenced by the cultural ancestry in the African continent. The environment in Saudi has been a benefit to my designs due to the advancement of the country through the infrastructure, the comfortability of living here and access to resources. On the other hand, artistic freedom is narrow due to the societal limitations that are in place here.
A good designer does not comes easy. Do not judge till you given a chance to whom it might concern. Early judgement will "kills" a potential good designer.
I use a human-centered approach when it comes to my design process. I first begin with a solutions based approach to first define the project for what it is exactly the creation is and who it is for. After that, I collect information and do my own research to get a deeper understanding of the concept at hand. The ideation comes after that, where I am able to visualize and conceptualize the piece that I seek to create. This is phase of the development where I am able to represent my ideas. From there, I am able to share my ideas in order to get feedback to make improvements to the designs.
At home, my favorite design items include my couch, lamp, vinyl record player, African artifacts, and T.V.
The first thing I do when I wake up is drink coffee. To start my day I put on music, check emails, and begin my work day sometimes at home, sometimes at the office, everyday is different. When I finish my day I come home and relax, enjoy the company of my friends and take time to reset for the next day.
Pearls of wisdom for young designers is to create innovative ideas, and constantly remain inspired and authentic to yourself.
Positive: you will gain sense of achievement and satisfaction. Negative: you will give up a lot of your personal time.
Affect positive change is my "golden rule" in design.
Creativity, great ideas, eye for details, problem solving, collaboration, and to be self motivated are the most important skills for a designer.
Drawing tools. Pencils and ruler
when comes to a time when i needed a rest. i will give myself a break before carry on.
How old are you?
The designing process. when anything and everything is possible.
To be recognize internationally and will take part in more competition.
I am currently working on artwork and visuals for a Lo-fi music album.
I can be reached gausshow@gmail.com or through my profile on Behance https://www.behance.net/satie3 and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/satie3