Studio Visit with Stuart Groenemeyer
For those that don’t know, what’s your story so far?
I’m a 35 year old Graphic Designer, drawing pictures on kites and boards for Airush Kiteboarding. I enjoy a bit of running, either on the road (dodging taxis and cyclists), or in the mountains that we are blessed with in South Africa. If I am not doing any of those, you will find me watching some football.
What’s one of your favorite photos you’ve taken recently and why?
(Laughs) I haven’t taken any photographs recently. I wish I did.
If I had to pick something from the last while, I would say it’s a few from my first proper attempt at film. I hadn’t picked up a camera in quite some time prior to that, but I was asked if I wanted to go for a stroll (I really like the outdoors) around Cape Point Nature Reserve with my sister and our mate Kelvin, because they wanted to take photos that day. My sister suggested that I should get back into taking photographs and offered to loan me one of her film cameras for the day. I took her up on that offer. She gave me a roll of film, and off we went.
They are nothing special, but I quite like them. I really appreciate film and that day made me want to focus more on film than digital. I feel like I actually have to think about things a little bit more than usual when shooting film.
What are you inspired by at the moment?
This is a weird one, but nature (that’s always a given), solitude, and silence.
How did you first get into graphic design?
I don’t really know (laughs). Dumb luck!?
It took a really long time, to be honest with you. I have worked in numerous industries over a good number of years, in different positions. Some jobs might shock you, if you judged me by face value, but long story short, I spent 3 years in the print industry and it got to the point where I had learned everything I possibly could, and needed more.
I had applied for my current position twice before I finally got my foot in the door. That was just over 7 years ago.
You worked on the Livewire Air graphic; what’s the story behind it?
When I first started, Airush had a pretty big freestyle/park presence, and it still continues to this day. I came from a skateboarding background (I still try and get in a session when I can), so naturally freestyle and park seemed like the most attractive disciplines to me.
As time went on, the big air scene ramped up, and by this time, I was already working on the graphics, mostly for the freestyle range and the riders that fell under that umbrella.
It took a bit of time doing nothing but staring at a blank artboard, and I kept asking myself “what is the one thing in common between skateboarders and kiteboarders?” The simple answer was the ability to constantly get into tricky situations and come out unscathed, that’s a part of the game. But how do you translate that into an image?
So again, I kept staring at that artboard and then it hit, cats do that all the time, and that’s how the idea of the big cat and “More than nine lives’ text came about.
The crow symbolizes failure, constantly waiting in the background. A constant reminder to keep pushing.
What is a typical day in your life like for you?
It always starts with coffee, the instant kind 90% of time, along with office banter.
After that morning coffee, it’s straight into emails and Skype messages followed by some button bashing, because that’s really all Graphic Designers do. By early afternoon, lunch time rolls around and a few of us will take a walk to the supermarket (got to get that step count up). After lunch, it’s straight back into button bashing and staring into the abyss.
Next thing you know, 17:00 shows its face, and guess what happens the next day!?
What would you be doing if you weren’t a graphic designer?
I would probably be an animator. It was a part of my studies and I appreciate the effort that goes into all of it. I don’t really enjoy real life movies (short attention span), but found that I can sit for hours on end watching various animations, except Paw Patrol and other kiddy shows.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Atmosphere – This Lonely Rose.
If you could jump on a plane right now, where would you go and why?
Japan. I have been wanting to go there since I was a kid. I love their history, but I find the Japanese to be very respectful and one extremely disciplined nation. So much commitment to whatever it is that they are trying to perfect, no matter how small it may seem to others.
What’s something coming up that you’re excited about?
I don’t have anything exciting coming up, I pretty much take things as they come.
I do have a few things I would like to try out, and other things I would like to focus on a lot more, so you’ll have to wait and see.