Interview with a Freckle: Chris Low

This month, we're celebrating our Creative Director, Chris Low’s 15th year at Freckle. We took some time out to find out a little more about what makes him tick.

What do you tell people you do at awkward speed networking events?

I’m a visual designer. I love using those skills to solving problems, not just make art. In my spare time, I like to be in places with little-to-no mobile reception.

What are your greatest strengths and ‘quirknesses’?

I have a very long attention span. Once I’m invested in something, I give it 100%.
My quirknesses? Instead of sleeping in on the weekend, I will happily be up before sunrise to go hit a tiny white ball around a large green field. I also tend to go on holidays that require a holiday to get over.

Who aren’t you?

I’m not wasteful. It drives me nuts to see anything go to waste, when it can be reused, repurposed, reinvented or even reheated!

What drew you into the creative industry in the first place?

I’ve loved drawing and making things since I was a kid, so I feel like I was always going to end up in a design-related field. I still enjoy stepping away from the keyboard and putting pencil to paper as much as I can.

Over the 15 years of working at Freckle, what has been your biggest takeaway? Your proudest moment?

I’m most proud of the relationships we have built with suppliers and clients over the last 15 years. That we have sustained such long-term bonds is a credit to every freckle alumni and it’s the secret to our collective success.

Where do you see yourself in 5 minutes? 5 Days?

5 minutes? Falling asleep on the couch. 5 days, continuing to work with a great bunch of design and communication professionals and delivering for our clients.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to young designers?

Listen before you speak. Be decisive. And ‘because it looks nice’ isn’t a good enough reason for a design decision.

What could Freckle clients ask you about, that you could expertly talk about for three hours?

The importance of living up to your brand values, the intricacies of design and production, why I loathe Microsoft Outlook, and of course, the next creative conundrum you need me to help solve!

Interview with a Freckle: Johnny Le

June marks Johnny’s fourth year at Freckle! This month, we’ve sat down/rode alongside out talented senior designer, for a well deserved chin-wag about all things design and life.

What do you tell people you do at awkward speed networking events?

I’m a visual communicator that specialises in branding, print and digital design who also knows my way around a camera. Outside of this, you’d probably find me on a bike, in a cafe or cooking in the kitchen.

Congratulations on your recent promotion to senior designer! What does this title change mean to you?

To be honest, day-to-day nothing has changed too drastically. But that being said, being a senior designer means that I can have the opportunity to be involved in projects at a higher level, from brief to finished art.  

What are your greatest strengths and ‘quirknesses’?

I’m a naturally curious person who’s always looking for new and exciting things. I enjoy the experimenting in my design process, finding new approaches to create something unique. My quirkiness would have to be my absolute hate of velcro, it’s the nails on the blackboard for me.

What’s the biggest creative challenge you have overcome recently?

I’ve recently started redesigning my local bike shop’s website. The initial brief was, well…brief… somewhere along the lines of “keep it simple” and “make it work”. But, by asking the right questions (something I learnt more about in our recent Freckle Development Day), I was able to put together a more comprehensive brief that really helped define exactly what the shop needed.

Everyone has a good app idea, what's yours?

Sometimes I find myself in a “Ready, Steady Cook” situation at home, where I have a bunch of random ingredients and no idea what to make with them. My idea would be to enter those ingredients into the app, which would then come up with some recipes base off those ingredients. It’ll be a great way to save food and money. 

What could Freckle clients ask you about, that you could expertly talk about for three hours?

I could probably talk my head off for hours on the different types of paper stocks, print finishes and print production processes. I’m a big fan of tactility in design and how it can be used to create a deeper connection to a visual concept.

What’s your favourite thing about print?

I’m a tactile person, so I like how print can engage your senses, especially touch and smell (nothing like the smell of freshly printed ink). 

From a designer’s perspective, I like the challenge of trying to tell a story with information in a limited space or format, taking into consideration things like folds and spaces.  

What food couldn’t you live without?

My mum’s chicken pho! Also croissants.

What will your ‘Freckfest’ talk be titled?

I’d call my Freckfast Talk “Connecting in a connected world”. In a world connected by social media, I’ve noticed that we’ve become distant in our face to face social interactions and have increasingly become socially isolated. So I want to explore ways we can get that face-to-face social interaction back.

Meet Tiffany

This month we're turning the spotlight on our founder & director, Tiffany Partington. Tiff candidly answers a few of our questions on design and life.

When did you start Freckle?

17 years ago!

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

I’m inspired by people who aspire to achieve more in their communities and those who pay it forward. They energise me to do what I love – working in teams, sharing ideas, creating networks and communicating with people on behalf of brands. It’s a real privilege and very emotionally rewarding!

Any advice for young creatives?

Share your S.M.A.R.T. goals and never stop reading or listening to stories that resonate.

What’s your go-to-brekky?

A bowl of power porridge with sliced banana, blueberries, rhubarb, ginger compote, and toasted coconut flakes. A homemade fruit smoothie with protein powder is my back-up brekky.

What was your lockdown strategy?

I listened to and appreciated the people around me. At every opportunity I amplified their amazing achievements and acts of resilience. It was the spirit of community that kept me positive.

Do you have a goal for 2022?

This year I’m focused on keeping a schedule, so I can balance my time and allow myself to plan ahead, and to achieve goals that have a positive influence on the future of my community.