AS THE MANAGING director of a small design studio, my day covers a lot of areas. In addition to working on designs, I also need to attend a lot of client meetings and provide progress reports.
So that my day functions smoothly, I need to be flexible with my time and be prepared to make changes to my schedule. In addition to packaging design, I work on web and graphic design.
I meet with clients almost daily to discuss their requirements and ideas. Sometimes, I need to visit factories on the mainland where we have our samples made. Another part of my daily work is liaising with our suppliers and keeping up to date with client communications.
There is no fixed time that I spend on actual designing, but it usually works out at about half a day. There is also a lot of communication and co-operation with Pierre-Yves Hetroit, my fellow managing director and work colleagues. Before I start working on a new design I have brainstorming sessions with my colleagues. This way I can bounce my ideas around and benefit from a pool of suggestions. Often, there are different opinions, but this helps the development process. It is rare that I get stuck for ideas.
It is seldom that I start work with a blank page, as there is always an idea or a concept I am trying to capture. Once I have a general feeling for what the client is looking for I might draft a few rough sketches on paper. However, mainly I use a computer for my design work. There are so many programs that are helpful during the design process. I mainly design for French clients based in Hong Kong and Europe, and local clients who market their products in Europe.
The focus of my daily work can vary. Sometimes, I provide the design and the client looks after the production side of things and at other times I am responsible for the entire project. These are the most exciting jobs because you are seeing a project from its concept stage through to the final product. Jobs like these are more than designing packaging; I am helping to create product and brand awareness.