Gordana Peric

I’ve been working as a designer for more than a decade now. I hold a B.Sc. degree in design and M.Sc. degree in Computer Science, however, I was always leaning more towards design and decided it is what I want to do in life. Being drawn to and passionate about all things visually appealing was the main reason why I decided to become a designer myself. I used to work mostly on packaging and branding but now I am leaning more towards UI/UX design.

At the moment I am working for a company, but I am open to selected private projects too.

Making complex and abstract notions into apprehensible and visually appealing products.

I enjoy working on both packaging and web design. I love how on the web you can play with the movement and make design interactive since the design is not fixed but I also love how different packagings also provide opportunities to get creative.

My favorite design is the packaging design for a chocolate company "Casteller" chocolateria from Mallorca. The project was inspired by Spanish tiles ‘azulejos’ where we had different tile pattern for chocolates with different ingredients. We also had hexagon-shaped chocolates besides traditional rectangular shaped ones as a part of the same packaging line. It remained one of the most beautiful packaging design projects I have worked on.

If I remember correctly, since it was over a decade ago, it was a poster for the printing company where I first started working.

I don’t really have one favourite, depending on project type and requirements I enjoy combining different techniques and technologies to achieve the result I want.

I feel mostly inspired late in the evening and this is also when I work most of the times.

I pay a lot of attention to typography and think that good typography choice is what can turn good design into a great design.

When starting a new project I feel very excited, each project brings new opportunities to get creative. Of course, like in any other job it’s not always all fun, there are a lot of clicks and repetitions and doing things that are not so creative but it is all a part of the journey.

I consider the uniqueness of the idea, how well it is realized, the attention to detail, etc.

Design can be a powerful medium to communicate messages to people and it is our responsibility not only to create beautiful products but also to send positive and awakening messages through our designs.

Together with technology design is evolving rapidly and I am happy to see more and more talented designers. I think that design and technology will always go hand in hand when it comes to creating good quality products and that in the future these will mostly be digital products.

It was back when I was a student in Belgrade. It is not something I plan at the moment since I am very busy with ongoing projects.

My daughter Majda is my biggest inspiration and motivation. I also get inspired by other designers and their work as well as real life situations and other people that surround me.

I don't think that I follow one pattern or style since I like exploring different styles for different projects. But in general, I enjoy a mix of colorful and black/white, of complex and simple, of shy and bold.

Currently I live in Belgrade, Serbia. Maybe it does affect it in ways I am not aware of but since I am mostly working for clients worldwide I try to think outside of my surroundings.

At the moment I work in a company, but back when I was working freelance the communication was mostly written. We discussed the project brief, the requirements, styles, and of course, the deadlines, and then I make proposals. After that, we are usually fine-tuning the design selected by the client.

It depends on their needs, they should look for the person that has the right sensibility and availability that suits their needs. In general, I think that when hiring a designer companies should listen to them more and let them take care of the design. Designers are usually faced with strange requirements that can make design look unprofessional or even dysfunctional so it is best to let designers do what they know best.

Firstly I research the topic and then start working on initial sketches. I always make more proposals for the client so that when they choose one version we continue working on it in more detail.

My collection of beer labels, Slavimir Stojanovic’s book, Ikea chair, floor lamp, and string art canvas was done by an artist friend.

At the moment I work full-time in a company, and my work I try to use as much time as possible to spend with my daughter.

Don’t always respect the rules, sometimes the best design comes from doing something unexpected.

Positive sides are making a living by doing something creative and beautiful and also having the chance to work on amazing projects with people around the world. The negative side is that it is sedentary and very tiring to spend a lot of time in front of the screen.

Designers are aesthetes so it is necessary to be able to have the feel for beautiful products but also to have the technical skills to make ideas into actual products.

I work mostly in Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator and use a Bamboo tablet for drawing. I also use lots of different online tools for colors and typography.

It depends on the complexity of the project. I had web design projects that took months because they were very extensive and functionally demanding. But also working on packaging design can take a few months if the product is versatile.

People often ask about the process of creating a product whether it’s packaging or digital product.

I can't name one, all of the projects I did in the past were valuable lessons and experiences to me. I was very lucky to have worked with so many nice people around the world.

My clients are mostly people who run their own businesses either companies or agencies and that have the need for designers.

I enjoy a lot working on web design projects since I have the opportunity to add interactivity and movement to my design.

I would love to have more time to work on my web development skills.

In the company I work for I'm a part of the team but for the freelance projects, I do design exclusively by myself.

I am working on an interior design website that I look forward to adding to my portfolio.

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read this interview.

I’ve been working as a designer for more than a decade now and have worked for various companies and agencies worldwide. I hold a B.Sc. degree in design and M.Sc. degree in Computer engineering. At the moment I am working as a UI/UX designer which is a mix of my passions - design and technology.

I was always drawn to all things visually appealing and consider myself a visual thinker. From a young age, I was good at drawing although until university I never thought it would be something I would turn my career into. Today I feel very lucky to be doing what I do and believe I have one of the best jobs in the world.

The top three aspects of my design process are 1) research, 2) creative thought process, 3) realization. I rely mostly on technology, sometimes I do sketches on paper but in most cases, I use a graphics tablet to make digital versions of them. I don’t think I have something that I integrate into all my projects, I believe I am trying more to integrate something new into every project. I use both mockups and physical models for packaging design. For branding and web design I use mockups for presenting them. I look forward to every new project since it’s an opportunity to do something new and explore new creative possibilities.

I feel excited whenever starting a new project since each one brings new opportunities to get creative. For me exploring design style is the most fun since I get to play around with colors and typography, but also illustration if the project requires some. I also must confess that I am never truly happy with the completed design and always seeing things I could do better which is maybe why I always push myself to do something new and better each time. Designing does make me feel fulfilled but of course it’s not easy being creative all the time and also like in any other job it’s not always all fun. There are a lot of clicks and repetitions, sitting in front of the screen, and even and doing things that are not design-related that are all helpful in finding the right design solution.

I consider myself a hard-working person and I think it is something that surely helped me become a better designer as well. I was also always trying to learn from others, especially from other designers that I appreciate. It is not easy keeping up with technology and design trends so learning from others or asking for help can be beneficial. Up till now, I think this profession changed my life for the better not only by enabling me to work on exciting new projects but also for being able to meet and work with so many nice and creative people around the world.

I would love to have time to work on my coding skills and in the future, I hope to be working on more digital product designs.

My advice to all young designers out there would be to be persistent and passionate about what you do. Always keep on improving and learning from others. Also don’t forget to take breaks, go outside and care for yourself. It’s not easy staying inspired and spending a lot of time in front of the screen.

I think it is important to surround yourself with other professionals and more importantly with people that are better than you. This can keep you motivated as well as lessen the chances of professional stagnation. Working with others can be inspiring and challenging at the same time but very important for personal growth.

I am now working full-time in a company so I have a fixed working time. When I start working I like to first check my Dribbble and Behance feeds to help me get inspired before going on to doing the actual work. I always get excited when I find some new inspiring sites or a new tool that help me do my work in a better way.

I believe it is important to keep up with the trends since being informed can bring more work and possibly more earnings. Of course, I don’t mean following the trends blindly, it is important to be aware of the trends but even more important to find your style and use the trend to create something unique. It is difficult to keep up with trends nowadays with the information overload that is a part of our jobs and life in general. I check a lot of websites daily to help me stay informed and inspired.

When evaluating products I look for things like color choices, typography, illustration, and the general feel of the product. Good idea and attention to detail are what make the design stand out from the crowd but also the presentation of the work is as important as the work itself. Presenting your work, writing about it, and explaining it to people makes your work more professional. I am a huge Typophile and think that typography choices are crucial for good design.

When deciding if the product is ready I normally try to evaluate first if I met all the requirements of the project. Then I think about design and my choices and if there is anything that can be improved. This is difficult for me since I am the biggest critic of my work and always want to change and improve something. Luckily the clients are usually those that stop me and say ‘yes, this is it we are happy’ and then there are no more changes.

My biggest work so far was branding and design for an eCommerce store. The project was very extensive and functionally demanding and took me a few months to finish all the work together with a developer. It was still a lot of fun and I enjoyed the process even though it lasted since it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me learn new things.

I’m a huge fan of Saul Bass’s timeless work. I believe that he is truly one of the greatest design legends of all time and one of the people that paved the way for future designers. I appreciate the uniqueness of his style and how he visually communicated the whole story and captured its essence.

Currently, I am located in Belgrade, Serbia. I am not sure if my culture affects my design and if it does it is in ways I am not aware of. Since I am mostly working for clients around the world I am trying to think outside of my surroundings and meet the expectations of the client. Music is a big part of my life and of course of my creative process. I can’t work without music it is the thing that keeps me working and motivated. Thanks to design I can work on some amazing projects and with some amazing people.

In a company, I'm a part of the team, which is great because I am a person that prefers working with other people rather than working alone. I think I am easy to work with, I am organized and do my work on time.

I have the highest respect for anyone being involved in humanitarian projects, not only designers. So far I haven't had much time and opportunities to get personally involved but it is definitely something I plan to do in the future.

I feel very proud to be one of the winners of A’ Design Awards, it is truly a great honor. I think that the benefits of participating in design competitions are numerous including getting more attention to your work, meeting fellow designers, and having the opportunity to attract more potential clients.

I’ve been working as a designer for more than a decade now. I hold a B.Sc. degree in design and M.Sc. degree in Computer Science, however I was always leaning more towards design and decided it is what I want to do in life. I work mostly on packaging, branding and web design projects.

I feel very passionate about what I do and about all things visually appealing. I enjoy good design whether it’s graphic design, furniture design or fashion design.

I chose to be one definitely, I had opportunities to do chose a different profession in life but I decided to remain a designer.

I design mostly packaging design but I enjoy working on web projects as well and it is something I would love to continue working on more in the future.

I don’t think I consider myself a legend but in any case I would advise them to pursue their dreams and be passionate about what they do.

I think having a recognizable style is what makes good designer become a great designer.

I think it depends on the field of design, but in general the uniqueness of idea and professional realization of it is what matters the most.

Design is important for every brand since it helps build trust and communicate brand values to the consumers which in turn can also increase sales.

If I had the time I would work more for myself since I am too busy with the ongoing projects and never seem to have enough time to make my personal branding the way I would like it to.

I think good communication with clients is as important as design itself. I feel very lucky to have worked with amazing people all around the world.

I have great respect for many designers but if I had to name one it would be Serbian design legend Slavimir Stojanovic. I really appreciate his old school design style and clever ideas.

I think one of my very best designs is design done for Mallorcan chocolate company Casteller Chocolateria. I loved the whole story around the product and I was very happy with the end results. The chocolates are artisan and handmade with Mediterranean ingredients and our main inspiration for the packaging were Spanish outdoors tiles called ‘azulejos’ so each chocolate had a unique tile pattern.

It is individual I think, in my case I learned from other people, other designers that I appreciate.

I believe I would have been a programmer since this is what I also studied for.

In my opinion design is making complex and/or abstract notions into visually apprehensible and beautiful products.