Describe the Ideal Candidate in three words MUST BE MOTIVATED
What’s the most common mistake people make when they apply for jobs? We are a small studio — if we have a job available and we're looking for somebody new, then we'll advertise the fact. So in the meantime what we don’t need is daily unsolicited applications along the line of: 1 People emailing us to tell us how amazing they think they are.... 2 People emailing us and and everyone else we know to tell us how amazing they think they are.... 3 People emailing us and a raft of other “undisclosed recipients” to tell us how amazing they think they are.... There are no points to be scored for not doing your homework.
What’s more important, experience or enthusiasm? Of course it always depends on the requirements of the role we’d be looking to fill — but as a general rule for people starting out, one thing I’d always say is that enthusiasm without experience is better than experience without enthusiasm...
Is what you do in your spare time important or irrelevant? Personally I think it's good that people also have a life outside of design, there's a great big world out there and it's good to bring that energy into the studio environment, rather than being a design-obsessed nerd.
What’s worse — over or underselling yourself? Both — I think that there's nothing to be gained from being too cool for school or full of shit — just be enthusiastic, honest and be yourself. If you really want to be part of our band then you'll take the time to see what we're about first.
Does it matter what you wear to an interview if your portfolio is stunning? For us it’s all about having a great attitude — if you've got great dress sense too then that's cool, but we’re certainly not going to employ you for the clothes that you wear!
Big Active is a D&AD Award winning creative consultancy specialising in art direction, graphic design and the representation of leading image-makers. Big Active believes in creative networks — its aim is to produce creative design and commercial art based upon ideas with an accessible common touch. Our creative approach is focused on developing integrated image based design which can work effectively across a wide variety of media — both in print and digital. Music clients include Beck, Goldfrapp, Basement Jaxx, Kate Nash, Nero, Marina And The Diamonds, Keane, Mark Ronson, The Enemy, Noah And The Whale and The Pierces. We are also brand identity consultants for Ibiza Rocks and Defected Records. Recent book designs include Destroy for the internationally acclaimed photographer Rankin, and Couture In The 21st Century for Harrods.