| English | Japanese |
DR.ME





In the course of the many projects you have done over the years, what are the biggest questions you have had, the biggest discoveries you have made, and the challenges you are currently facing?
DRThe biggest question that I feel we constantly face is: are we doing the right thing here? Should we just have followed the beaten path of getting a job in a design agency and working our way up? We might be better off financially for doing that, but many of our peers who have done this 8-10 years down the line are jaded, and most leave to set up their own practice. We just did it a lot sooner and I think are better off for doing so, but it is a constant battle especially in those periods of the year when you can sometimes wonder where the next job is going to come from. But in saying that, the biggest challenge we now face is learning to say no. We like to be busy, but it’s creeping towards a phase now where we physically can’t manage the deadlines and size of projects with just the two of us, which is why we are now opening up the studio a bit more and almost becoming creative directors as well as graphic designers, working with artists who have expertise.
MEI think it’s the realisation that we can choose our own path. It’s still something that I need to remind myself of occasionally.
What has been the most inspiring piece of someone’s work that you’ve seen or heard recently?
DRMy three year old son has just discovered the ten hour loop of “Peanut Butter Jelly Time”, and constantly asks to play it in the car and watch the video of the dancing banana that goes along with it. I think this piece of work best encompasses why I do anything: it’s for the pure joy people feel when they see some of our work, whether that’s nostalgia, a smirk or because it’s funny. It’s that feeling my son feels each time he hears the opening line “IT’S PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME” that I aim for with the work I make.
MEI discovered the work of Dom Sylvestre Houdeard, a Benedictine monk from the 60s, who made concrete poetry. The work is incredibly playful and opened me up to the world of concrete poetry— who doesn’t like the sound of typographic monk?!
Finally, what is your vision for the future?
DREmbrace new technologies that are literally around the corner now. Instead of being scared, work out how we can use them as tools in the same way we use software we already use, or a pen, or a scalpel, the possibilities are pretty exciting to be honest. On a personal level, get back to writing unachievable goals and try and achieve them year by year together.
MEContinue to build this wonderful career with one of my best friends, keep collaborating with good souls, make work we’re proud of, and come to Japan to create something!