10
Aug

Reiss [The Gentle Giant]

REISS

Gentle Giant!

Our very own rock-star who marries a giant intellect with the most easy-going nature known to man. Simply brilliant at what he does – Reiss is a great conceptual thinker and wonderful team player, one who eats ideas for breakfast and masters all that he surveys. There is nothing that Reiss doesn’t do and do very well.

Want to get to know Reiss a bit more? Read what he answered to The loft’s questionnaire. We promise, it is not only serious questions. It is about design (obviously), but also about what we love, what we do, and where do we come from.

What is your education background?

I began studying at Woodfarm High School in the South Side of Glasgow. From there, I studied Architecture up in Aberdeen for 3 years. I am currently studying Ba graphic design in the Cardonald Campus at Glasgow Clyde College.

What design product or designer do you admire?

Designers that I admire: Luke Lucas, Alex Trochut, Stephan Sagmeister, Shigeo Fukuda and Mies Van Der Rohe. I admire them for different reasons; their aesthetics, their deign motives and their thought structure. However I would never force myself to like a design due to the name attached to it, or vice versa.

What is your favourite design tool?

When it comes to sketching, I always begin with pencil and paper (usually a good start). The pencil I use the most is a Palomino Blacking 602. Depending on the design, I trace over the pencil sketch with fine liners, brush pens or markers. When creating digital work, I use a Wacom Intuos Pen & Touch tablet. As for photography I use a Canon 5D Mark II with a 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Your design specialities, strength?

I love working on photoshop and creating explosive eye catching graphics. As I expose myself more to other areas of design (not literally, I’m a modest man), I’m finding myself enjoying the precise nature of typography and logo design. 

Tea or Coffee? How do you take it? Favourite mug?

Black coffee by day, green tea by night. My current mug is a bit rude, so I won’t be mentioning that.

But here’s a picture:

Favourite-Mug-Reiss

What’s your favourite Music? One style or one song or one instrument or one festival. Anyway, something related to music.

I have a soft spot for many styles of music, it really depends on my mood and what I’m designing. From classical to grime, deep techno to pop-punk, even reggae dub once in a while, I’m a lover of all things musical. You can probably tell I’m a hoodlum. But unlike the common hoodlum, I began playing the violin from a young age and picked up many others along the way. I’m currently playing the drum-kit in a band (Finding Argyle, check them out!).

What do you want to be when you grow up? I mean… when you’ll be 99?

When I’m old and weary, I’d like to be content with a simple lifestyle. Possibly living somewhere near the sea, happy and fulfilled. Full of wine.

Why did you chose to do design? What motivates you? Do you have a preferred quote which might illustrate that?

I feel my design influence came from my parents; my father creating print and design, my mother an interior designer. It’s always been something that I’ve enjoyed, and it really doesn’t feel like work, more of a brilliant hobby. I motivate myself always learning, placing myself outside of my comfort zone and seeing the world through other people’s perspectives. My family and close friends are a massive inspiration to me and I can’t thank them enough.

“Believe you can’t, believe you can. Either way, you’re right.” – Henry Ford.

“Just do it” – Shia LaBeouf

What is your favourite project you worked on for the Loft?

My favourite project that I have worked on at the loft so far has been the ‘Mini-Me’ photography for The Loft’s website and social media. I really enjoyed creating an exciting scene through photo-manipulation and I learned a lot in the process. Plus it also gave me a snazzy profile picture for my social media, two birds on stone, eh?

Website

What are you doing when you’re not designing?

In my spare time I read books, play with my wee brother (he can be very competitive for a 12 year old when it comes to the Playstation), and go on adventures with my girlfriend, but that’s usually because we’re lost and make the most out of it.

I’ve recently taken up skating, so my family are patiently awaiting for a time where I return home, arm-in-cast, just to tell me off for being such a big kid.