Most recently, I have found quite a bit of inspiration from Debbie Millman and her book Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Interaction of Life and Design.
Millman has worked in the design industry for 25 years, is President of Design at Sterling Brands based in NYC, was previously the President Emeritus of AIGA, has published numerous books and currently hosts her own radio talk show called “Design Matters.” As a young, female creative, in what tends to be a male dominated profession, it is important to me to have an accomplished female like Millman to look up to. She has inspired me to take chances in my career without placing limits on my own success.
Her book, Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Interaction of Life and Design, has also been an inspiration to me on its own through its clever writing and unique design. Each essay has its own artistic style and typographic treatment that relates to what has been written. The way she connects her specific life experiences to branding and design also provides unique insight into the life of a creative. After reading her book I felt inspired to start writing down my own thoughts on life and design and plan to write a book as soon as I have a bit more experience under my belt.
As for now, I stand where Ms. Millman once did. She writes “I lingered at the intersection, peering deep into my future, contemplating the choice between the secure and the uncertain, between the creative and the logical, the known and unknown.”
-Aiden Forrest, Designer, gyro San Francisco