COLOURlovers interview with Matthew Smith of Zaarly

Today we are chatting with Matthew Smith, currently the creative director of Zaarly. Known for his online persona as "whale," Matt has proven himself as a great designer and influencer in the field.

Zaarly is a marketplace where you can ask for anything, set the price, and keep the community rooted by building local economy and helping each other out.

Follow Matthew on Dribbble and Twitter.

First up, why don't you tell the community a bit about who you are, what you do, how long you have been doing it. 

I'm the Creative Director at Zaarly, a place that's bringing business back to neighborhoods again, because life is better when you talk face to face, when you're not just a number. I've been drinking this kool aid for a little less than a year. Before that I owned Squared Eye for about 4 years. Before that I worked at a thrift store.

What past experiences do you think have contributed the most to where you are now? 

Having an alcoholic father. Moving to England on my own when I was 23. Being forgiven by Jesus. Having three amazing kids. Suffering well in life so I can always relate to the people who's life genuinely suck. It all creates empathy, I've never met a great designer who lacks empathy.

What colors do you think we will see a lot of in 2012?

#e85049, #474341, #f7ff7d, #775078

What patterns and design trends do you think will be big in 2012?

I think we'll see fewer repeating patterns, more large abstractions. Its more and more possible to use the web to create more organic, less rigid forms, and I think we'll see a giant resurgence of photography in this regard.

Which colors, patterns & trends are you personally most excited about?

I like circles. Circles are human. Squares are man-made, but they aren't human.

Source

In terms of design, what is your favorite website or app right now?

Path. Hands down. I am on it many multiple times a day. I respect the shit out of that group of designers, devs, and minds.

What are your go-to fonts? What are your top 3 go-to colors?

Clarendon. Akzidenz-Grotesk Condensed, and I love Cubano because my buddy Chandler loved this font into being.

Source

Source

Source

What's the best design-related advice you've ever received?

"That's amazing. Now throw it away and do a hundred more." From my pottery prof, Richard DeVore, one of the best artist's I've ever known.

What do you do to continue learning and to continue improving in your craft?

Take photos. Talk to humans. Drink amazing craft beer and ask my kids if they understand this interface or that interface. I read books on revolutions. I am trying to find out what is going to bring people back to life, back to center. I think we're really off center in our culture right now.

When you are feeling stumped, where do you turn for inspiration?

Go to the museum. Take photos with Marco Suarez. Do jumping jacks. Cuss like a sailor. Use a fork and wonder why it works so well, and if it could ever be improved.

What's one thing you tell designers that are just starting out?

Don't go to college. If you did go to college, kick yourself. I am still kicking myself. Stop learning style, that'll come. Start learning to ask better questions and really get at problems under problems. Be obsessive about studying your hero's work. Copy everything they do, then throw it away, and try to redesign Seth Godin's blog and send it to him to see if he wants to use it. Can't hurt.