Interview with Dyna~Mic

Dyna~Mic was the GFX Artist of the month of August 2008, here is an interview I conducted with him.

OPENING

Tell us a bit about yourself, your name, age, where you’re from, and anything else?
My name is Tino, 20, from Berlin Germany. I still go to school and I will have my so called Abitur next summer. after that I plan to study digital arts.

I spent 2005/6 in Tallahassee, FL (USA) and went to high school there. After getting my B.A, I want to go back to the states.

GRAPHICS

How long have you been designing? What first got you interested?
One of my friends introduced me to a internet rap forum in the summer of 05.

After seeing other members having signatures I wanted to have one myself. Later I wanted to create them myself, which led me to start with photoshop. It was a hard way but i constantly created new art and became more familiar with the program. I started to make graphics for others and I was always looking for improvement. I searched for other forums that have a graphic section to talk to other artist, that have the same passion, and share our knowledge.

What’s your inspiration?
It’s hard to say… When I first started it was just fun creating something on my own. After a while it became a competition to be better than the others, winning battles etc.

Today I am inspired by my future wife, she is the reason I want to be the best and make money with it.

Sometimes when I see an art piece and I can’t redo it in my mind, when I don’t know how it was done… I just need to know how I can do it.

I also get inspired by other graphic designers (web designers) like C-Le and Bert Monroy. (Google them!)

What software do you use to design?
I use photoshop, illustrator, flash, 3dsmax.

Say someone comes to you asking for a logo, what is the process you go through designing that logo? Like drafting it on paper, showing the client, drafting it on the computer…
Most of our clients are from overseas. This is a problem because it’s always different if you speak to a person eye to eye or if you just chat.

But the first step would be collecting ideas:
What is the logo for (music: rapper, dj, what kind of music? what message should it include?)?
It never works if the client doesn’t know what he is looking for!

The second step would be a couple sketches by our drawing artists (http://www.myspace.com/musikasam).
The client selects his favourite and we will then digitalize it.

When did you decide you wanted to take your designing seriously?
I decided to stick to the artistic design when I first was able to make money by selling graphics.

What are you trying to do with your designing? What is your goal for your designs?
I plan to establish my company in Europe and the US. I do not want to focus on the so called HIP HOP GFX GAME. I want to be as diverse as possible.

Are you in a team of designers or do you just work alone?
My partner (http://www.myspace.com/musikasam) and I (http://www.myspace.com/dynadesigns)

What are some accomplishments that you have achieved, and are most proud of?
I managed to be noticed by Above All Entertainment this summer. I designed the recently dropped mixtape FETTI KINGS 3. I am still in contact with the CEO of AAE Checkmate and we speak on a daily basis to work on future projects.

CRAZYPELLAS / INTERNET

Can you tell us how you found CrazyPellas? If you remember.
I think it was during my time when I focused on music and I was googling for instrumentals. Then I signed up.

Has this forum helped you at all in your designing journey?
It sure did. I was able to get some crazy resources because of CP. (Plugins, shapes, brushes etc.) And CP himself helped my with some problems I had.

What made you post your designs online?
Battles, Rap Music!

Do you feel like the internet is helping you as a designer?
It’s Hell and Heaven at the same time. Hell because there are lots of haters. Heaven because it offers millions of jobs !

IN CLOSING

Do you have any upcoming projects, events or anything?
I work on the website for an upcoming, French fashion label called Lorans Rogelle.
Also the website for AAE should be done soon.

10 years from now where do you want to be?
On top with my little family.

Any shoutouts you want to give out?
AAE, diVERSEity, Josy!

Any final things you want to say?
Watch out.

Finally, thanks for taking the time to do this interview!

You can check out Dyna~Mic’s designs in the Graphics forum, and his MySpace.