Who is
matt vana?

Why did I choose graphic design?

I chose graphic design because I wanted the opportunity to learn to be creative. I never really had much of a chance to do so in the past. Every time I take on a new project, I am learning something new, whether it be refining a skill I learned while in college, or learning something entirely new. I love this about design...it's never the same thing everyday. This journey to find my creative side has been some of the most eye-opening things I have ever done in my life, and I wholeheartedly enjoy every bit of it.

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Who is your creative inspiration?

Before I got into graphic design, I began playing guitar. I never wanted to play in a band or do live shows, but I loved being able to play for just myself. It felt amazing to "escape reality" just from playing a few notes that echoed through the air. A lot of my playing style was inspired by Slash, and how he has the ability to make the guitar sing like it was a person in itself. It didn't happen right away, but after a while, I began applying that same thought process to how I designed, and learned how to tell stories with some simple shapes and colors. So, as strange as it may seem, Slash is my inspiration for both music and design.

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What motivates you and why?

Seeing people around me work together for a greater good is what pushes me. I am inspired by those who go out of their way to help make someone's day better, and in that same sense I put the same effort into whatever I am designing. When I design with impact, it is with the same impact that the community around me has given me, and I think that's pretty cool.

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What do you find to be the most challenging aspects of design and how do you overcome them?

The hardest part about design is being able to look past the idea that sometimes I need to step away from "everything should be perfect" and learn to settle with a design. One of the things that helped me while playing guitar is that sometimes it is a good thing to take a break, because it "revitalizes" your playing style. Using that same concept, I have learned to not work on projects over the weekend to come back to a brand new week. This simple break helps to influence my way of thinking creatively more than I ever imagined.