From now on we open new category named interview, we have usefull interview with designers around the world, and you can imagine how it wil help you for knowing how they work, how they start the project, where they inspired,…
Co-Founder and CEO of Entropia Design Studio, John D. Ciallella (better known as Jack) has been educating himself in graphic design, photography, web design, and entrepreneurship for almost a decade. He has built a successful career on being a “Jack of all trades” on and off the computer.

Besides his BFA in graphic design, his industry experience is comprised of designing for international magazines, creating graphical userinterfaces for enterprise software, construction and setup of large workgroups of PC’s, as well as shooting (occasionally celebrity) photographs throughout the country. His work has been awarded many times and shown in galleries in Miami, Florida.

iZafre: What are your best methods for finding/attracting clients?

All service-based businesses are looking to find new sources of clients. What’s interesting about the graphics industry is that the more talented you are with computers, graphics, and arts in general, the larger your client base can get. Everyone who does business is in need a graphic artist or web designer, so I approach the situation from that particular angle.

When I’m talking to anyone, I first assume that they have a need for a website, or updates, or maybe new business cards or an advertisement… anything. By allowing yourself to be open to the possibility of taking various types of work from ANY type of business you approach, you’ll find that you have clients in many places you never would before.

My bottom line for attracting clients is to have a really great website accompanied by an equally impressive portfolio (and good business cards). I stick to the most basic site I can accomplish with my team, while still making it perfectly aesthetically pleasing. Make sure you finish EVERYTHING on the site and include high quality images and information. It’s important to look “Complete” or potential clients will assume you’re a designer who never finishes projects!

iZafre: Where do you go for design inspiration (web sites, music, art…)?

Depending on how much extra time I have available, which is always very little, I choose the most appropriate inspiring technique possible. If I’m really short on time, like usual, I go to the web. Design showcases like faveup.com and coolhomepages.com have been inspiring me for years.

If I have a little extra time on my hands, I grab a pack of smokes, an mp3 CD and hit the highway. I have these “rose colored” sunglasses that make the world so vibrant it’s unbelievable. I hop in the car, crank my music up on my 12″ subs, and rock out, AC blasting, windows down, and music you can hear for a mile. Driving down the highway, I let all my thoughts come together and watch the clouds take shape as my cigarette smoke streams out the sunroof. Sometimes I sing at the top of my lungs too.
It helps.

For the ultimate in inspiration I go on a roadtrip. I try to travel to some part of the country with a friend and experience completely new places and new things. I usually photograph or record my journeys in some way. As I spend time in the life of someone else in a place I’ve never been, it gives me a great new perspective on my life and especially my design.

iZafre: How do you typically start a new project?

I begin a project with a few steps that generally make the process a whole lot easier. The first thing I do if this is a paying project, is to have my client fill out a questionnaire. This gives me a really good idea of what they’re looking for right up front.

From there, I begin my research. Depending on my familiarity with this particular type of project, this process can range from a very short to a very long amount of time. In this phase I decide on layout ideas, menu options, colors, fonts, photos, and the whole bit.

After I’ve created an idea of what I am going to design, I will usually present my ideas to the client before beginning work. This allows me to get a final idea from the client if I need to steer the project in a new direction.

After that, it’s all design.

iZafre: Which Software you use for design?

I think personally I use a wider range of software than a lot of just “designers”. Spending several years studying 3D animation gave me another set of programs to add to my repetoire. This is the short “designer programs only” list.

In order of importance to me:
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- Dreamweaver
- Flash
- InDesign
- Fireworks
- After Effects

Some other essential programs that save my life are as follows:
- Extensis Suitcase
- Intuit Quickbooks
- Techsmith Snagit

iZafre: Do you have master for your profession?

I hold a BFA in Graphic Design from Digital Media Arts College, and I would say I’m pretty damn good at what I do ::smiles::. One day I will probably get another degree in 3D animation since I’m about 4 classes shy of an Associates’ Degree in animation.

I really hated school and it taught me close to nothing except that the real design world will hit you in the face hard if you don’t prepare on your own. A lot.

In the near future I am going to be taking the Adobe Certified Expert classes and test. I believe I’m well prepared to pass so I think it would nice to have a certification to back up the talent.

iZafre: What are your ideas for increase creativity mind?

Go take photographs. Go to places you’ve never been. Drink, smoke, stay up all night, visit old friends, do whatever it is what you don’t usually do. New experiences lead to new thoughts.
Seeing something unbelievable for the first time might inspire you beyond what you had imagined.

iZafre: Best book & article you ever read in design subject?

I’m a reference book reader. Not an avid reader, but occasionally I will read something. I like to use books like “The Best of Business Cards” and that whole “The Best of…” series. The stuff in those books is really great and always available, especially if you’re on a trip and need to take a book on the plane for inspiration.

In general, for industry news the Web Designer Wall is a favorite of mine. For free stuff, bitbox is really great. And if we’re talking tutorials, well psdtuts.com hands down. Awesome stuff there. PSD Tuts will make a real designer out of you.

iZafre: Greatest experience you learn in this profession?

The best experience or knowledge I have gained about this business is that you HAVE TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

There are a million freelancers and businesses out there doing the same thing you do. Half my clients have had bad experiences with previous designers and it makes them extremely uneasy about the design process with the new designer.

The point is if you’re going to go into this field, please do your best to be fair and make your clients happy. In the end, we’d all be much better off if we worked as a community and I hope that through personal responsibility, we’ll eventually see a lot of very seriously professional designers replacing a somewhat tainted profession.