A Sparky Interview with Libby Unwin

The Sparky Interview is a series of posts where I highlight independent creative people and companies who inspire me to be better at the stuff I do. They all wear their own brand of fire pants.

Libby and I first started working together in a midtown Manhattan insane asylum. By insane asylum, I mean litigation consulting firm. Creating forty-five bar charts at 3:00 AM for a courtroom presentation that same morning should not be considered by anyone to be an activity that emotionally balanced humans participate in. But there we were, with equally unbalanced attorneys sweating it out with us over the phone. We were all crazy. But we did things that defied the laws of possibility in graphics production.

These days, Libby and I have both created our own brands of helping people do crazy things with our graphics. The thing that impresses me most about Libby is her willingness to admit that she doesn’t know about a particular process – and then throws herself into becoming an expert without wasting any time.

I’ve also been dying to share her talents with you because her pattern collection is like hot buttered rum for your eyes. Not in a stinging, emergency-eye-wash-station kind of way. I mean, smooooth.

With that, I’ll just get into the interview and hear what Libby has to say.

Le Interview

Hi, Libby, thanks for being here. Please introduce yourself to our studio audience.

Hello, I’m Libby Unwin. I live in Denver with my husband, Matt, and dog, Molly. I like to draw.

Who is your ideal client?

Someone who is enthusiastic about the end result, someone who understands their role in the design process and enjoys it, and someone who knows when to say when. I’m a people-person, and like the nuances different personalities bring to each project. Sometimes the client is more fun than the work itself! (Can I say that out loud?)

Yes, please, say it! I wish more creative biz people would stop chasing the quick money and find the right people to work with so they could say that, too.

I notice you really, really like creating patterns and are amazing at it. What led you down that road and where do see it taking your business?

Aww, thanks! I’ve been doing this since I can remember. In the 8th grade, I got in trouble for turning in a worksheet with only my name and a very intricate design completely filling the margins — no answers to the questions. That’s the first pattern I remember drawing. So, this has been itching for a very long time, but it never occurred to me that I could actually do this for a living. It made sense to be a graphic artist, so I became one and have been doing that professionally for about 8 years; it wasn’t until Alluminare contacted me last winter that I realized there was an industry called “surface design”. It unleashed something and I began drawing. And drawing. And drawing. That lead me to learning about art licensing (via Tara Reed), which lead me to selling my “doodles.” It’s really a dream come true!

Where is it going? Everywhere, I hope! I have huge dreams for my work. I’m so excited to have my stuff out there right now – it’s somewhat surreal, honestly. I’d like to see it keep going. I have a couple fashion projects in the queue, some Christmas cards, and am working on getting my art on wrapping paper, plates, linens, mousepads, bags, sofas, booths… The list goes on! I’m open to putting my art on just about anything.

How do you manage your day? How much is business-ey stuff and how much is funtastic, creative design work?

Usually there are a couple things that must be done immediately, and after that, I prioritize based on mood/how much coffee I’ve had (the beauty of freelancing). I usually spend a bit of time on marketing/accounting, and the rest of the time drawing and researching. If I had an office manager, an accountant, and a full-time marketing director, I would draw from dawn to dusk.

Hey – me, too! Or least between meals.

Speaking of meals, please share your own personal recipe for PB & J.

Oroweat wheat bread, Smuckers 100% natural peanut butter (the kind you have to stir first), and sugar-free blueberry preserves. Cut diagonally. Glass of milk with a chocolate chip cookie, if possible. But I only want the cookie if my mom made it.

What makes you freak out?

SILK. I HATE SILK. The thought of it gives me chills. Someone mentioned SILK the other day and the back of my neck started itching. I’ve gotten chills in a department store, out of the blue, and looked back and realized something SILK grazed my arm. I HATE IT. I think it’s absolutely disgusting, and even writing about it, my stomach is turning. SICK.

<Sparky quickly crosses off silk scarf from his holiday gift list>

What keeps you centered?

Silk. Just kidding. Running, prayer, my family, and a husband who has my permission to mandate relaxation time — and I say mandate because sitting still does not come easy for me.

If you were stuck in the Minot, North Dakota airport for a whole day because your flight was canceled, which Muppet would you most want in the waiting area with you? Why?

Kermit. I think he’d be good for conversation, and I believe, given an entire day in an airport, we really would find the Rainbow Connection.

FYI: I still have goosebumps on my arm from the silk answer.

Visit Libby

I don’t implore much, because imploring sounds really, really important. But I implore you to look at Libby’s pattern collection. Hot. Buttered. Rum. Don’t take my word for it.

Thanks, Libby.