Interview: Angela Zanin, our Italian Ambassador

We all get inspired by people we admire. People whose work makes us want to get better everyday. 

And we admire Angela so much, we wanted you all to know her a little bit more. We already know how great her designs are, but wanted to get to know more about the great person she is. 

Here’s a little bit more about her, her tastes, her life, and how she has achieved to become one of our biggest contributors.

• Did you already want to be a designer when you were a kid?

I have always had a great passion for drawing since I was a very young child, obviously at that age I didn’t know what a designer was, but I was already laying the foundations for my profession. Growing up I directed my studies towards the arts and graphics, my high school was an art institute, there I was able to experience many types of traditional art and digital design. I chose to finish my studies in the graphic design section and this became my profession.

• If you did, why?

I did it because for me it was the most natural path to take, the thing that made me feel good and enthusiastic.

• Do you think it is an undervalued profession? How do you think we can change it?

Yes, I think it is often undervalued, and underpaid. Behind every good design there is a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of study. However, the more a designer increases his skill and technique, the more he will be able to get the right recognition and make choices that are worthwhile.

• Italy is a referent country when it comes to art, what about graphic design?

Of course, as well as for art, architecture and fashion, Italian graphic design is also a point of reference. I’m certainly not saying trivial phrases like “Italians do it better” because I have a very critical eye on it and personally I don’t limit myself on studying Italian style models, but I admire and let myself be influenced by the creativity that comes from all over the world.

• What artistic period would you like to travel to? Why?

I would certainly be fascinated by the Belle Epoque. I find that period was very creative and dynamic with multiple styles that laid the foundation for modern graphic design

• Who is your artistic referent?

I have at least a thousand of artistic referents. But if I really had to choose one, it would be Gustav Klimt.

• If you had to ask him/her just one question, what would it be?

I would like to ask him  which is the secret to put together all these different elements making them work perfectly together in amazing masterpieces.

• Which are your next steps as a designer?

In this moment I’m a fulltime employed as graphic, packaging and toy designer inside a company.  My next target is to turn soon the fulltime into part time so I will be able to give more space to microstock. For the future, I would like to work only with illustrations and microstock.

• What would you say to someone who is thinking about joining microstock?

Microstock is a great earning opportunity for those who know how to be constant. Beginners often get discouraged by small initial gains, but, like all jobs, if taken seriously it leads to excellent results.

But beyond the earnings, microstock is a way to challenge yourself and to study. 

There is absolute freedom to express one’s creativity without any type of stylistic or thematic constraint and this gives the opportunity to experiment with new techniques, grow and improve constantly. 

Thank you Angela for your words and time!

If you want to know more about her designs, we invite you to visit her portfolio @angychan