As the next phase of our partnership with Griiip's G1 Series - Powered by Fiverr we tasked a few Fiverr Pro designers to develop brand identities and designs for the Griiip drivers. This covered everything from new logos, to merchandise, to a complete redesign of the race car.
Below is an interview with one of the Fiverr Pro designers, Paul Virlan, that sheds some light on what the design process was like.
Tell us a little about yourself. Who you are, where you’re from, what you do on Fiverr Pro.
My name is Paul Virlan and I am a visual artist focusing on brand visual identities and illustration. I’ve spent my last 9 years learning about and working on graphic design. Currently, I work as an independent graphic designer collaborating with different creatives for different projects. You can view some of my work here: www.vrln.ro
The short story of my activity on Fiverr sounds like this: the Fiverr team noticed my work, got in touch with me, and then after being vetted I was invited to be part of Fiverr Pro Team as Pro Packaging Designer and Illustrator.
How did you get started as a designer?
9 years ago I saw a post on Facebook from a guy who was searching for a partner to teach him and work with him side by side on different graphic design projects. I sent him a DM, showed him my work (I was studying Informatics at that time and I was spending my free time reading about art history and drawing weird illustrations). This guy told me to send him an email next year (haha!) with my progress.
Crazy but true, I quit informatics, trained myself, went to Arts University, and sent him an email after 1 year. Now I am a graphic designer :)
You designed a race car, a suit, a helmet, and more! Can you briefly walk us through the creative process? How did you and the driver get started? How did you communicate?
The first and most important step was to create a brief that can be easily understood and also fun to read for a driver. To help them get closer to a new visual identity idea, I translated their driving techniques into a visual language and made a list with main messages that should be conveyed by the visual identity.
My List: Adaptability, Strength & Stability, Reaction, Focus, Recovery, Fearless, Confident, Observant.
After I had the brief finalized, I discussed it with the drivers, exchanged some emails, and started working on the concepts.
Where did you find your inspiration for this project? How many different concepts did you experiment with before you decided on this direction?
The brief was my inspiration, haha. I focused on the driver’s name, origin, and driving techniques. Also, I had an open discussion about colors and let them play with it. The driver saw only one concept (the best one), but I had three concepts I worked on. I tried to integrate all their feedback and ideas because I’ve found that making the client feel like part of the team can bring really great results and hopefully, add their personality in the designs. I worked closely with Yarins, and listened to his needs and ideas. The final designs are different from what I had originally anticipated, but they definitely represent him.
What was your favorite part of working on this project? The most challenging part?
I loved designing the costume, helmet, and merchandise. I love apparel design and fashion, so I really enjoy working on all projects that offer me a little creative freedom in this area. The most challenging part was to create simple, yet bold symbols.
What are some of your other favorite Fiverr projects that you’ve worked on?
I remember my first project on Fiverr, packaging for a fishing rod. It was fun to see my illustration printed on a metal tube. Unfortunately, the guy I was working with “disappeared” I couldn't get one for myself :(
Has working on Fiverr changed the way you think about your profession and/or freelancing?
Fiverr Pro changed the way I thought about freelancing because I was able to ask a fair price for my skills and also work with people that value my expertise and time. Taking the time to ask questions, evaluate the task at hand, and ask for fair compensation is something that’s extremely important to me. If you can manage expectations, timelines, and budgets from the beginning, it will ultimately create a smoother experience for everyone involved.
What can we expect next from you? Any great projects your working on?
Right now I am working on a branding project here in Romania (the biggest I had till now) with a big impact in culture and science. I’m also working on a children's book and writing for some personal projects. I remain active selling on Fiverr and doing my best to stay organized with all my projects, which is usually my biggest challenge.
What drives you as an entrepreneur? Why do you do what you do?
I was educated in visual arts and I’ve been in love with the idea since I first saw a sticker on a bike. I believe design is a powerful asset in education and entertainment. It is hard to find something better that combines entertainment with education while offering you an unlimited amount of things to learn and discover. I will continue learning and designing until the day I die.
As an entrepreneur, I am driven by everything I’ve missed out on working in the biggest agencies from Romania. I am disappointed about how they disregard design and the subcultural aspect of design. A lot of designers are skipping the thinking part or they are a one trick pony, doing the same stuff of years.
So think more, draw less.
Think. Think. Draw.
Check Paul out on Fiverr Pro.
