Peter Jaworowski is a professional graphics designer who is extremely fluent in Photoshop. Peter specializes in advertisements for some of the biggest companies around, and in this interview Peter gives advice to all designers on how to properly put your work out there to be able to land the type of jobs that he has. This interview looks into the life and process of being a professional designer.
1. Welcome to PSDTUTS! Please introduce yourself, give us a brief bio, tell us where you're from, and how you got started in the field.
Hello, my name is Peter Jaworowski. I was born in Bialystok, Poland. Currently I'm residing in the capital of Poland – Warsaw. I was in the creative field for about 5 years now. Everything started when I was really into multiplayer games and my friend showed me an early version of Paint Shop Pro.
I liked it enough to get interested in this subject a little more and switch into Adobe Photoshop 6. I got excited by the computer possibilities in art related stuff plus it was a nice change from daily playing. Currently I'm a co-owner of Ars Thanea and The Hejz, which is a portfolio of all my work.
2. You have done ads for companies like Bacardi and Sony Playstation, what would you say are the key starting points for designers to get hired by some of these big companies?
That's a tough question. Clients always want to impress their potential customers and sell more of their products – that's obvious. That's why they are constantly seeking for something original. I see many young illustrators and designers that they are trying to go with the actual trends, which in my eyes, is a false direction. People should try to find their own style, try to be original in some way. Second thing that I've observed lately is that people are doing pieces for Nike and Nokia as a personal projects hoping to get hired by them.
I think you can attract a client much more with a personal piece that's done nice and it's somehow different rather than doing a client-personal piece if I can call it this. Of course, as soon as you get your first opportunity for a bigger client project and you'll do it the best you can, and you’ll have much more chances that someone else will knock your door in the future. Please remember that making quality projects is not enough for the biggest brands - you need to be communicative and punctual on deadlines as well. Hope that helps.
3. When designing do you strictly use Photoshop or is there a mix between programs?
I use Photoshop for almost everything, all the time. Right now I'm learning some 3D Applications for the support and trying to improve my matte painting techniques.
4. What made you first want to get into the profession of Graphic Design?
I've always been attracted by art, although I’ve never had this gift in my hands and my drawings were rather weak. When I discovered Photoshop I felt like I had been given another chance to express myself by this media. I'm not that kind of guy who is looking forward to some things. I live day by day, project by project.
What I do is try to make every project as if it was my last one – I put all my effort in so I can make the client happy, but also to satisfy my inner needs. By acting like that, I never really have a chance to think about a profession, but it came to me like a bolt of lightning and I followed that path.
5. Give us a look into some of the design blogs, forums, or websites you like to visit and what makes them so interesting.
Since I work all day in front of computer I see a lot of different websites and blogs everyday but the ones I visit daily or even more than once a day are: The FWA, which is a great source of inspiration if it comes to Interactive Design. At Behance you can find some really nice spotlighted galleries, if you dig deeper you'll find some truly amazing stuff.
There is also CPLUV, Reform & Revolution, and I Believe in ADV. I check out all of those for a daily dose of news and inspiration.
6. How do you approach a new project? What would be your first couple of steps when starting a new design?
Normally when I receive a brief from client I think of ideas on the subject. I write them down, additionally I create mood boards and send them back to the client for some feedback in which direction would be best to go. After that, I try to push the idea further until it gets accepted. The next phase involves some really quick concepts/roughs and after that I can start the production phase.
7. What is the most important lesson you have learned since you started designing? And how has it helped you since?
I was having a really hard time understanding that my designs aren't just colorful images that I create, but they are advertising pieces. That's why sometimes products have to be much more visible. And you need to obey the brands ID, which forces you to makes something specific for them.
Products have to sell because of it. How it helped me? I'm not getting stressed on every refinement request I get, I can plan the image differently from scratch.
For the past couple of years I've been trying to learn and improve my techniques, but I think it's right about time now to work on the concept side of it all. I don't know if I have some projects in the future where I could practice this, but I'll be trying my best - that's for sure.
9. Thanks again for providing PSDTUTS with this opportunity at interviewing you, any final thoughts? What would you tell other designers that hope to be as good as you one day?
Always try to make the best in whatever you do, though be yourself. Thank you, the pleasure was all mine.
Where to find Peter on the Web
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Matt October 18th
The work is awesome, inspiring for a Friday afternoon.
( )BroOf October 18th
Haha Thats Great!
First?
( )EdpeppeRs October 18th
damn! awesome works!
( )Name October 18th
Inspirational!
Andrew
( )Bjørn Endre October 18th
Great works! Love the style
( )Lucas Loyola October 18th
WOW, i love his style
( )Great Interview
Brent Nelson October 18th
I want to see a tutorial from this guy.
( )Elmas October 18th
Omg Hejz !
I just love his work X_X
( )Thx for the interview !!!
Dan October 18th
Hejz, this dude has an amazing site as well.
( )buzzness October 18th
Skills Boi!!!!!!!!!
talent.period.
( )loswl October 18th
Awesome interview!!, I love His work and have been inspired!!..Yeah a Tutorial from him, would be great!!
)
( )Burticus October 18th
This guy is amazing. I totally love the liquid cobra! Cobra Kai!
( )where can i find tutorials from this guy?He is amasing! October 18th
Your Message…
( )Kris Carter October 18th
ya the cobra was NASTY. We have to have a tutorial from this guy. GREAT WORK!
( )macias October 18th
amazing fountain of art !
( )RUGRLN October 18th
THis guy rocks!
( )Dainis Graveris October 18th
Amazing works..and great interview, thanks
)
( )hid October 18th
Love it!
( )Nate October 18th
Amazing work you have here. So when do you get to do a tutorial for PSDTUTS!?!
( )nick October 18th
God that style is getting so old.
( )Yeah he’s good and all but let’s see something new.
Meh.
cds October 18th
He is Polish
( )Andrey October 18th
Nice art work. A tutorial would be nice.
( )kimon October 18th
what does he mean by “mood boards”? what exactly are those?
( )906graphics October 18th
This guy is great. I’ve admired his work for some time now. Thanks for the interview … and, when did you say we get a tut from him?
( )Ravi Vora October 18th
Short and sweet.
( )LP October 18th
Top notch designer and advice. One of my biggest inspirations
( )insic October 18th
This guy is amazing.
( )Adam October 18th
Known Peter for a few years. Only ever spoken briefly a few times though. His work is truely in a world of its own, standing above all.
For any of the graphic designers out there, he’s one guy to keep your eyes on thats for sure.
( )shdw October 18th
i love he1z. he is one of my fav designers. it’s a bit shame that he doesn’t go any further in explaining his techniques. but hey – true wizard newer tells you how to do his tricks.
( )Seth Rogers October 18th
Very nice vork. I like your style. Bialystok is my 2nd familly town. Lots of time spend ther. I knew that there is someone very talented.
ps. pl version
Dobra robota, i oby tak dalej. Dolaczam sie do prosb o jakis tutek.
( )afrix October 18th
This guy is from Poland
( )Poland got the best graphic designers in the world that’s what i think lol
http://afrix99.deviantart.com/
Ruben October 18th
Damn his work is PHENOMENAL.
( )Rob October 18th
Although i’m a huge admirer of peters work, I’m also a major critic.
Him saying that developing your own style is the best way to go is certainly not what he did, he definitely is a trend follower, less so know, but very evident in his earlier works.
( )Eric-from-Boston October 18th
always dug your work…
( )Joefrey Mahusay October 18th
Great work! He is a great designer though.
( )liam October 18th
What a great guy and an amazing designer. Loved every minute of this interview and browsing his portfolio.
( )NaldzGraphics October 18th
very impressive.very awesome works.
( )Seraphim Collective October 18th
I’ve seen his work many times, thanks the great interview.
( )Julian October 18th
Masterful technical pieces yet still evocative; I love all of them.
( )Tanaka13 - Créations du Net October 18th
great work! very inspirative!
( )a tutorial from peter jaworowski would be great!
Ariful Alam Khan October 18th
Nice interview
( )Girish Dhulekar October 18th
Nice inspiring work.
( )Mr_LeE October 18th
One of my biggest inspirations. Thanks for the interview!
( )visions of 778 October 18th
holy crap hes gotta style, the boys gotta style…
( )Mabuc October 18th
Nice stuff, very awesome work.
( )Joey Hiemstra October 19th
question 8 isnt as the rest off the question, like style. But great interview.
Regards,
Joey Hiemstra
( )Brandon October 19th
Awww man.. I want him to teach me.. like now =)
( )Snook October 19th
Nice !
( )Ken Goldsberry October 19th
Great Inspiration, needed the dose hmm thanks psdtuts!!!
( )Walter October 19th
exelente uni ok
( )pejot October 19th
you can buy Peter’s prints in Printfolio.
( )http://printfolio.pl/index.php?manufacturers_id=21
MuKuL October 19th
Polak, jestem dumny z mojego kraju =)
( )POLAND!
Rodrigo Ferrari October 20th
Nice interview
( )Kharikein October 20th
nice! very nice! thanks for the interview +)
( )Mr. Eyes October 20th
Truly Inspirational. Peter Jaworowski is a fantastic designer and it is great to see him here on PSDTUTS. Great interview.
Mr. Eyes
( )Ali October 20th
Wow nice works
( )imennow October 20th
shit this man rocks!
( )Love CJ October 20th
Nice dragon design.
( )shahrezRafiq October 20th
His Lightning effects are jst awsome, hope he’ll love write a tut about them.
( )chris October 20th
love his stuff. thx 4 the interview
( )yudesign October 20th
Really Great work. I like his style its superb
( )Jammin October 20th
He seems like a nice guy and knows what he’s talking about. Some good advice and really nice work! These odd interviews are great! Keep ‘em coming!
( )Thodoris October 20th
Great interview! Peter is very talented
( )MakeDesign,NotWar October 21st
One of my favorite digital artists… thanks for the interview
Would have loved to hear a bit more about his unique approach to technique in PS (being that this is a tutorial site), but the background stuff is always fun to read as well.
( )spyece October 21st
Wow! That’s amazing work.
( )protorob October 22nd
i have been looking his portfolio at behance since te last three month, amazing results with the brushes and layer styles and a great artist, honestly i think that at this moment adv is all about the concept, the tecnical skills are secondary, i’ve been working on “small” adv for living from almost 8 years ago and i’ve seen that youre in trouble when you are not focused in who you are and what u do (as in real live) i call this moments “paranoic non creative period” when you are free off thoughts about personal issues you are more sensitive in trends in a non intrusive way, you can percieve so much more information about the people and absorve much more about the trends and consumist behaviors of the people arround u, and in this era of open comunication, Peter Jaworowski, is in a subjetive and evident conection with the adv universe and enters in the warhol’s frase: in the future everybody will have his 15 minutes of fame
( )ludwig October 28th
oh my.. he’s so good. clap clap!
( )Alex October 29th
Does Somebody know how to make the effects of this picture with th eman and the laser beams ???
http://psdtutsarticles.s3.amazonaws.com/interview_Peter_Jaworowski/7.jpg
http://psdtutsarticles.s3.amazonaws.com/interview_Peter_Jaworowski/7z.jpg
( )vuongot November 3rd
Great jobs!
( )How could you do that?
Could you share us your tutorials?
Colchones November 4th
This guy is amazing. I totally love the liquid cobra! Cobra Kai!
( )Kovi November 24th
wow, amazing
( )Abdullah Alhourani November 26th
grate it’s amazing design but please create the tutorials for this styles.
( )I need learn
ryan curran December 24th
OMG ive fallen in love. youre work is amazing !!! cant wait till im that good =) ur like a photoshop god !
the plus is my favourate one !
( )wye January 5th
i want to be him when i grow up
( )Dwight around your lips January 21st
I look at this and it gets me mad cause I wish I could be that good.
( )hawhawdecarabaw March 22nd
awesome
( )Daniel Manship May 9th
I love this guys work, I found deviantART about 9months ago and come across his work and i thought i wasnt to create stuff like that he is a big inspiration to me and i hope to go into advertising in the future, great interview
( )BuckTanderson June 8th
This guy is one of the best out there. keep up the good work brotha.
( )Author June 13th
peter is not a professional designer, he’s artist. dont you know what designer mean? all peter does is skills but no knowledge in creative process or market strategy.
( )Freedex June 14th
Honestly, more than half of his work is the same idea and style…
Do you really think this is uber-creative? Huh.
( )Richie October 5th
Nice interview.
PSDTuts is a boon for budding artists and graphic designers. Kudos to PSDTuts \m/
( )Jan Gorboun October 24th
Reposter – cool!
( )