Jason O'Gorman, Designer and Illustrator, Dynamite Studio
Hello, I'm Jason O'Gorman, and I'm from Cork. I'm a commercial designer and digital illustrator - founder of Dynamite Studio, a graphic and motion design studio. I also run jasonogorman - a small commercial store where people can buy my artwork.
I've always loved drawing. Ever since I was a kid, it's something I have always wanted to do. I never went to college or had any formal training - but as soon as I finished my leaving cert, I found myself in my very first job in a graphic design studio. I was hand drawing posters for clubs, gigs, cafes and so on - I didn't even know what a computer was back then.
It was my ability to draw that led to my first job, and this, in turn, led to an extensive career working for various graphic design agencies around Cork city. I set up my own design studio Dynamite about eight years ago.
Throughout my career, technology literally exploded, which made life really convenient as a designer. Still, this amazing technological evolution also impacted how I worked. What I started 'artistically' had slowly changed to me pushing buttons on a computer - and I was drawing a lot less.
I absolutely love graphic design, and it's about solving problems and visualising stuff for people. But I had a tonne of stuff I wanted to visualise myself, I also wanted to draw more, so I set up an online store - jasonogorman where I could explore some fun ideas and sell prints of my work.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
I think all the platforms have their own strengths and weaknesses. Instagram suits me best as I prefer to communicate visually on social media. Still, it also enables people to dial into the type of content they like best, leading to a cleaner/more engaging platform to use. I also feel it's more fun and friendly, resulting in a more positive online community experience.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I'm a commercial graphic designer, and I design projects for clients under the name Dynamite Studio; I also do a lot of digital illustrations under my own name Jason O'Gorman. My current role is always shifting between design work for clients and illustration work for myself. A constant tug of war.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
When I'm designing for clients, I put on my working hat, graphic design is a business, and it's serious business. But, unfortunately, some people think designers just sit around all day drinking coffee, brainstorming, putting fancy colour palettes together and browsing through their enormous font libraries. It's taken me over 20 years to slowly realise that design isn't as creatively fulfilling as I once thought it would be, and that's why I began creating some personal projects under my own name - to scratch that creative itch and explore ideas that weren't constrained by the politics, budgets, deadlines and expectations that come with design work.
It took many years to find the right balance between design work for clients and more creative personal work. Finally, I've managed to find a sweet spot between them both, and that's what I love best right now - the flexibility to work on projects that have constraints and projects where I can just go completely mad.
In a nutshell - I love visualising 'ideas'. Ideas are the reason I fell in love with design and illustration, to begin with. I would prefer a good idea that's badly visualised rather than a bad idea that's pleasing to the eye.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
When you're talking - you're not listening. Listening is learning, so listen intently to people and don't just hear the words while waiting for your turn to speak; listen so you can understand and relate. Also - be nice to people.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I'm always fired up and excited about the project I'm working on "right now", a bit like a dog with a bone when I'm working on something new. I'm forever sprinting towards finish lines, be it a design for a client or a personal project. I'm laser-focused on that particular thing when I'm working, and I will work around the clock to finish it.
I cannot stand the thought of something 90% done; I do everything to completion and give it my all. Of course, when it's done, then I'll sit back and decide if it's good or bad, but I never judge something while it's in the process of being completed. So I guess "finishing" is what motivates me.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
In hindsight - the most difficult things I've ever done in my life are also the things I'm proudest of. Having the guts to give up a job and start your own business without any knowledge, having the courage to turn away design projects to make time to make my own stuff in the hope someone will like it/buy it. Sometimes you gotta be brave and have a go; otherwise, you'll just never know.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I'm not really a business networking kinda guy, some people do it really well, but it's not for me. A bit of back and forth banter on social media, a few laughs will often result in me having a cuppa with someone in a relaxed, informal environment.
I think that's the best way to build any relationship, even from a business perspective - I tend to work with the type of people I'm relaxed/comfortable around. Good chemistry will result in a more solid understanding of each other and better work.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I'm a huge procrastinator, I will avoid starting anything until it becomes massively urgent, but I've discovered this is a good thing. While I'm avoiding the "thing I must do", I'm also thinking about it quite a lot. So, when I eventually start, I've already resolved any potential issues in my head - I hit the ground running, so stuff gets done quickly and effectively when I finally muster up the willpower to begin.
Also - Curiosity. I'm always curious and ask questions about why things are the way they are. You will inevitably learn more about things if you're curious about them.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
You don't need to be an expert to start something. Just start and figure it out as you go. I started being a graphic designer/illustrator 27 years ago, and I'm still figuring things out. You'll never truly be an expert in anything, so stop waiting - just start.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I don't follow any particular individuals, and I tend to look at general creativity and innovation within the design/illustration industry. For me - it's not about who's doing what; I'm more interested in what's being done. I love seeing other new exciting ways to communicate ideas that can inspire my own work.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I'm a family guy first. I'd much rather do stuff with my wife and kids than do any work. Work always comes second (procrastinator), and in third place comes hobbies - when I do have the luxury of spare time, then I'll play piano/ukulele or daydream on the couch.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
The pandemic has helped me find a better balance between life and work, so I would say it's had a positive impact on me personally.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I'm self-taught. I never went to college or had any training in how to become a designer, illustrator, or a 'business person' for that matter. I kinda figured everything out as I went along (and still do).
I never make any long term goals or plans; I've always kept my head down and focussed on the ground right in front of me as I walked through life. For that same reason, I don't really look up to seeking mentoring from anyone else; I just concentrate on where I'm going myself and try not to fall on my face. So, I've never mentored anyone myself.
The fact that I never went to college or had any formal training means I don't feel like I'm in a position to advise anyone else. I keep my head down and just make things up as I go along. Surely that's terrible advice to give anyone? :-)
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
So I'm obviously not great at the career advice thingy, but - you definitely have to love what you do, so that work feels more like a passion project than actual 'work'. For example, I absolutely love design and illustration; therefore, every time I'm working on a project, I get extremely excited and passionate about it.
In a weird way, I think that some of that positive passion gets captured as 'energy' in the final piece of work, and it always shines forth thereafter. It doesn't matter if you're cleaning windows or baking cakes - if you genuinely love what you do, then that positive energy always shows in your work.
I would also mention that graphic design is not just about making things look awesome (that's a skill you can learn) - there's something else that took time for me to figure out. You must not be afraid to ask silly questions! And lots of them. You need to truly understand what someone needs in order to produce an effective design.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
From failure, we learn the most valuable lessons. I think most people fail because they lack the resolve to see something through to the best of their ability. I believe if you're going to do something - you go all in and see it through. Failure is giving up halfway through, which is absolutely fine if you take the time to diagnose "why" it's not working, then address it.
I have failed many times, and I have also failed to figure out why I've failed, which is perhaps the biggest failure of all :-) I think the most probable reason I've failed in anything is not wanting to invest too much time in it. I'll ask myself, "Is this really worth my time". Time is the most precious resource of all.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
There's a very popular quote attributed to Albert Einstein, but I don't think he actually said it though - "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough". I've always loved the logic behind this quote.
I like ideas need to be simple and self-explanatory. I love to simplify things myself, and break down complicated subjects, to distil them into their fundamental states. By simplifying and redefining things, we often create entirely new ways of understanding them.
When I'm designing - I strive to create something that is simple for a viewer to understand. If you have to explain your concept to someone - then it's not working at all.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Honestly - I don't pay any attention to big companies/brands or trends.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
How exactly do you measure success? Is it the amount of money you've earned, or how famous you are? For me - I have an amazing wife, three kids, good friends, and I'm very happy doing what I do - that's a success.
