Nikola Vucicevic

Specialized in Design.

Nikola Vucicevic

About Nikola Vucicevic

My name is Nikola and I’m your award-winning, LA-based designer, concept creator, and branding expert. Hello! I’m Nikola Vucicevic, a passionate, award-winning brand designer, innovator, and entrepreneur from Serbia, currently based in Los Angeles. I graduated from the University of Belgrade with a masters in graphic design and visual communication and started my career at New Moment. Since then, I’ve worked at Leo Burnett, McCann Erickson, and several more creative agencies. In 2006, I started my own design studio where I served clients like Asics, L’Oreal, and McCann Erickson. In 2007, I was invited to join the 1000 Young Leaders of Serbia, an association organized by the office of the President, where my team and I developed an award-winning project about cross-border cooperation that was presented to the Serbian government. The success of that project gave me the opportunity to work as an art director for Boris Tadic’s successful presidential re-election campaign in 2008. In 2013, I relocated to the United States, where I added several more high-profile clients to my portfolio, including Dais Technologies, AON, and Prada. With stellar design, I’ve helped my clients close nine-figure contracts and achieve both commercial success and big-brand awareness. I’ve also been recognized by several organizations for my top-ranking work with international clients from more than 27 countries — from startups to Fortune 500 companies. In my free time, I like to read up on the latest trends in technology and innovation, creative industries, and fashion. When I’m not playing tennis or enjoying the outdoors, you can find me experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Nikola Vucicevic

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?
Yes, that is true; I wanted to be a designer since forever. Of course, at my early age I didn’t know what is the proper word for it, as a kid I was just an artist but today it’s clear: I am a designer. My design is about communication and strong concept that looks good.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I believe that my business name perfectly describes me in both business and personal way. Designer and Gentleman, nice to meet you!
What is "design" for you?
Design is the ability to understand how things work, what people's needs are and how to improve that connection.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I help various clients to improve their impact in different stages of their business. Whether that is branding, advertising, web marketing, packaging or promotion.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Heart Plate would probably be the product that I am most proud of. Learn more at heartproject.com
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
It’s hard to tell… I was back in Europe and I started with small stuff- promotion of local restaurants… On every menu, every promotional material I place my business name… than eventually bigger design tasks followed: creating identities, campaigns, web sites, project of national interest etc.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I try to use every platform and do the best for client- print, digital, environment… One thing is certain: the concept must be strong- implementation is just matter of budget and production. The main goal is: create result that matters.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
First things first. Strong concept is a must. Then: design- market- consumer-action is something that is crucial. That is how the one concept is proven.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I enjoy the process of designing. From scratch to final product. That is indescribable feeling. Like you are making something that will touch people on different levels and create their awareness and call to action.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
I know that design is good when we achieved our goal whether is an awareness or ROI. And if that design is awarded by “A Design Award” I am certain I did a great job. I feel proud.
What makes a design successful?
There are two key points: raising awareness and financial aspect.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Functionality, usability, innovation, creativity, concept creation, production and implementation. Awareness and commercial aspect.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
We create things that people use every day or we participate in marketing communication on different levels. For that reasons, designer’s role in today’s world is very important because we set up a standard in the tone of voice, aesthetic, and functionality of the products.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Smart component is a next step. Every product in next 5 years (approximately 2021) will be smart.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
I got inspiration form life itself and research related to current projects.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
We create things that people use every day or we participate in marketing communication on different levels. For that reasons, designer’s role in today’s world is very important because we set up a standard in the tone of voice, aesthetic, and functionality of the products.
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?
I am Serbian born who lives and works in the USA. My clients say that they love to work with me because of my different perspective of looking at things. I believe that my European heritage brings more value while working for US clients and US market.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
Work on relationships. Be honest. Learn about their latest work. Select talented designer and then pout his personal qualities to the test. It’s easier to work with modest people than with so-called stars.
Can you describe a day in your life?
Three meals a day, lots of creative ideas, sport, working, reading, and socializing.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
I don’t think about the awards while working. Think about the quality of your service and awards will follow. Get rid of the ego.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Positive: you have the power to change the world. Negative: There is a small number of people who can recognize these ideas. But when you find them, they will follow your vision and become your best clients.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Hard work. Listen to other people opinion, make your own decision.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
The list is long… What ever is going to help me to deliver the best product.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Charge for your knowledge. Semi-good ideas can be given free of charge. For a great idea, you have to pay.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
Depends on the project. For a platinum award winning Worth Rent A Car concept it took me 2 working days. Around 16 working hours, Heart Plate is still an ongoing process, Nikola Mirotic personal branding is also an ongoing process.
Who are some of your clients?
Unicef, Asics, Prada, Paco Rabanne, LifeLine, The Frajle, Loreal, HRH Crown Princess Catherine, NBA Player Nikola Mirotic, clinics all around the USA…
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
My business is growing. My plan is to engage with more clients would be the next logical step. And in the meantime I am developing few my own business ideas.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
Yes, I have a team of experts in different creative and design fields. Together we can do amazing stuff with reasonabkle pricing. I am very proud of my team!
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
I am working on a short film. Currently, I am in process of finding sponsors. The synopsis is about social awareness regarding lifestyle in today’s world. It’s going to be fun, interesting, emotional, moving and inspirational. If you want to learn more please contact me!

Designer of the Day Interview with Nikola Vucicevic

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I have been in the industry for almost two decades. What I like about being a designer are all of my various experiences on different projects, in different markets, working with different people and learning about the world.
How did you become a designer?
I've always been passionate about people and communication. Also, my interest was in helping people solve problems using creative solutions and delivering better experiences.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
We listen to our clients, we learn about their pain points, their needs and outline their goals. We also consider the current circumstances of the market, economical prospects as well as the competition. After launching our product, we spend time performing data analytics in order to improve our end product. We strongly believe that branding is not a one-stop. On the contrary, it is an ongoing process.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Creative process is not an easy journey but it certainly is a rewarding one. During the design process we go hand in hand with our clients and we give our best to help them achieve their financial goals and their return on investment.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
As a kid I trained in long distance running and was successful at it. Besides endurance and strength, it also required discipline, dedication and proper training. No matter how you feel, weak or in pain, you have got to finish the race. I try to apply all of these principles in my career as a designer.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
What makes one designer grow is the complexity of the projects he works on. I have been lucky to work with big clients such as UNICEF, L'Oreal, McCann Erickson, Asics, Prada, Carolina Herrera, Paco Rabbane, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino, Durex, Universal Bank, HRH Crown Princess Katherine, Heart plate and NBA player Nikola Mirotic. My future plan is to get more involved in creating personal branding for high competitive athletes all around the world. My dream design project is my next project.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
You are not competing with other designers, you are competing with yourself so work on self-improvement, your skills and your confidence. Strive to be better today than you were yesterday.
What is your day to day look like?
Wake up, keep on dreaming, smile, have breakfast, think, work on your ideas, fail, get up, improve your ideas, try something new, fail, grow, share ideas with your friends, give love to someone, respect your competition, do sports, enjoy the moment, be good, be better, be Designer and Gentleman. Repeat.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I do not follow trends. If you follow them your design will be attractive for as long as the trend is part of the main stream. We believe that the best ideas are the simple ones, and regardless of trends our goal is the same: to provide our clients with solutions for their business challenges.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
The only accurate measurement happens after the launch of the product. The market will show how successful your solution has been.
What is your biggest design work?
Your last project is the best reference of how successful you are as a designer. The world boxing champion proves himself only if keeps his title. Otherwise he is no longer a world champion.
Who is your favourite designer?
The order is not relevant but here are some names that I follow: Sasa Vidakovic, Vladan Srdic, Slavimir Stojanovic, Mirko Ilic, Balsa Garcevic, Goran Milanovic, Michael Bierut, Milos Zlatanovic, Miroslav Vujovic, James Joyce, Marc Johns.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Eclectic. I am an immigrant and I am proud of my heritage and Serbian background. It has shaped me as a designer I am today.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
We would work with anyone accept with companies in the tobacco industry.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I am very proud of my trademark patent approved heart plate product. (heartplateproject.com) It is a project that can directly impact people's eating habits especially here in the US. This design is my contribution to improving people's lives. If you would like to know more about it please do get in touch with my team at Designer and Gentleman.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I have been active in applying to different design competitions all around the world. I see "A'design Award & Competition" as best by far among other global competitions. I would like to say that Designer and Gentleman is great instead of big. Competing and being among the best like PepsiCo, Nexus, Nissan etc. is a true privilege. Not only do the companies put their projects under evaluation by the biggest experts in the world, but they also get a lot of exposure which is of great value for our business and careers.

Extended Interview with Nikola Vucicevic

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
In 2004 I completed a Masters degree in Graphic Design from the Faculty of Applied Arts at the leading educational center in Serbia: The University of Belgrade. In 2007 I completed Auto Desk Courses for Computer Graphics Software Maya in Chiron. That was my formal education. But I continued my education in attending various classes, seminars and programs. I have almost 2 decades of experience in the marketing industry, which has given me the opportunity to work with many prestigious agencies including New Moment Agency, McCann Erickson and Leo Burnett. In 2005 I opened my own studio and have collaborated with a variety of clients from over 27 countries, including the Serbian Government. When I moved to the US in 2013, the new chapter in my career began. I earned my green card based on extraordinary abilities in the field of graphic design and I started promoting my work as a Designer and Gentleman.
How did you become a designer?
I've always been passionate about people and communication. Also, my interest was in helping people solve problems using creative solutions and delivering better experiences. This brand-product-consumer-action relationship enables me to explore and be part of the whole process.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
When I was a kid I considered myself a young artist. It turned out that I found my path in communication design rather than fine arts. But I would have never been able to be as successful as I have been if this passion didn’t come from within.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I am interested in any field of design; branding, digital branding, graphic communications, web, advertising, product and package design. I tried to prove myself in every one of these design disciplines so I can turn a vision into a practical product or campaign. I would like to do more of personal branding for competitive athletes all around the world and make Heart Plate project even more successful.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Don’t be like me, be yourself. Be unique! Get inspired and find your own way to improve the market that interests you. Also, be available to listen to your clients and their consumers. Define short-term goals and long-term goals, have a strategy and try to go as far as you can in your career.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
Ability to trully understand people needs. And find the best possible soultion to resolve their problems. Also, creativeness, conceptual thinking and skills counts. Furthermore, having the ability to stand by an idea and capture the trust and respect of clients to allow the designer to follow through with that idea is what also makes a great designer.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
By the level of success. Design does not always have to be beautiful and elegant. But what is key is that it provokes a proper call to action. If you can do that and get financially rewarded for it, then you have achieved success and than you know: are good designer.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
A good design should bring new value to the brand and therefore the ROI is always obtained, whether through raising brand awareness or financially through a campaign.
What is your day to day look like?
For the right client I always find the time! Maybe you are the next one! I am available for whatever you need as long as you are not in Tabaco industry.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Deep, conceptual thinking. Listening to my client and learning about the market. I try to incorporate different cultures and predict the future. I put my heart into all I do. Without passion, hard work and the great team, there is no success.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
The other is not relevant. Sasa Vidakovic, Vladan Srdic, Slavimir Stojanovic, Mirko Ilic, Balsa Garcevic, Goran Milanovic, Michael Bierut, Milos Zlatanovic, Miroslav Vujovic, James Joyce, Marc Johns, David Carson, Milton Glaser, Davor Bruketa, Nikola Zinic, Paula Scher, Stella McCartney, David Turner, Bruce Duckworth.
What is your biggest design work?
VAIO Logo, Stella McCartney for Adidas, I LOVE NY; Slavimir Stojanovic: You Are an Idiot. Please Act Acordinaly. Vladan Srdic: Larry Thompson: A Tragedy Of A Youth; Mirko Ilic Poster: Shakti; Balsa Gracevic: Knjaz Milos Project; Goran Milanovic: Coca-Cola projects, Milos Zlatanovic: Font Kanibal etc
Who is your favourite designer?
Heart Plate™. I believe it’s going to be a game changer in the food industry. According to the statistic from 2017. every third person in the USA is considered obese. It’s use and financial potential is huge. You can learn more on www.heartplateproject.com
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Work hard and have a lot of discipline. Wake up as a designer and go to sleep as one and never stop dreaming.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Design brings new value to quality of living. It can be seen and felt, and it eventually becomes an experience. Design has the power to change peoples habits, perception and therefore, the world itself. Design has the ability to make the relationship better between understanding how things work and people’s needs.

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