Tim and Bram Vanhaeren are in a very interesting situation. They are two brothers who are both interested in graphic design and both share an immense passion for art. They have a strong brotherly bond that shows off in their artwork, where one brother is weak the other will help. In this interview, the two brothers talk about their outlook on design and the positives and negatives of working with each other. This is an interesting read, so lets get to it!
1. Welcome to Psdtuts+, please introduce yourself. Could you tell us where you’re from and how you got started in the field?
Tim: I’m Tim Vanhaeren, a 21 year old Belgian based graphic design student. I’m currently in my last year of Cross-Media design in the College University of Antwerp. And I started experimenting with Adobe Photoshop when I was 15 because I wanted to create my own so called sigs (aka signatures), which were really popular in the online gaming world back then. From that moment I never really stopped improving and developing my graphic design skills and style.
Bram: I’m Bram Vanhaeren, the two year younger brother of Tim. I’m in my first year graphic design in Karel-de-grote University in Antwerp. And I got in the design world the same way as my brother did. Only I was 13 back then. Since then we’ve been pushing our limits.
2. “Two brothers, two designers, two styles, two visions. Blended into one” Please describe in detail what exactly we get visually when you two blend your skills?
Even though we’re brothers we’ve always been doing our thing separately which eventually lead to two quite different styles. We both use different effects, techniques even software. Our individual work is just quite different from each other. So when the idea came up of launching one portfolio for the two of us, we also thought it’d be cool to finally try do some work together.
Mix up our styles, work together on one piece, share ideas, etc. And what you get visually is a mix that’s quite hard to describe. I think in general you can say Bram’s input has mostly a lot of his drawing skills involved and Tim on the other hand tries to use his photo manipulation experience as creative as possible to finish it all up.
3. Tim, what would you say is your favorite design from Bram and why? Bram, what is your favorite design that Tim has made and why?
Tim: Ow this is a hard one. In general I like it when Bram tries to work with a strong concept. If I really need to pick one I’d say: Unknown. I just love all the details in it. I know he worked quite a while on this one. And I know the awesome stocks by Mj-Ranum make a big difference. But what my brother did with it… I know back then when he shown me the work I thought it was some kind of collaboration with someone. I couldn’t believe it was all my little brother who did this. And actually there’s a quite strong concept behind it to. So yeah that’s totally my favorite!
Bram: My favorite design from Tim would be Now You Live. It’s a rather old work, but it still give me this free feeling. With this work he really brings out this concept of enjoying your life, to accept life as a gift and make the best of it. Even though his design skills weren’t that good back then, he still managed to share this feeling. It has quite an impact on me. When I look at it I’m like, Hell yeah! Lets go for it. Love it!
4. Is there ever any sibling rivalry between you two when creating your designs? Do you guy’s ever compete to see who’s design will come out better?
Haha, we’d say there’s not. But we guess this might be one unconscious reason to start a portfolio for us both. So we can share the recognition and the respect we get together. But really we’re very glad when one of us get an extraordinary offer or anything like that. And actually we’ve never really competed – only back in the very beginning with “Sig Of The Week” contest. But that doesn’t really count. We’re more then just brothers. We share so much together. We’re both into athletics for more then 12 years. We share the same passion for art and music. Yeah we love each other including our younger brother Stef! Haha! So no! No rivalry between us!
5. What are the benefits and disadvantages to teaming up with your brother?
Tim: Like we described before. Bram is a better drawer then me. And when I get a job request that involves quite some drawing or typographic work I definitely bring my brother into the project. In quite some ways we fill each other’s weaknesses. Also we spare quite some time, definitely when we’re talking about web design. Bram designs – with some feedback from me and I code it. Simple! And oh yeah, it’s just a lot more fun! I actually don’t see any disadvantage. Maybe when we can’t agree on which concept we’re going to use on a particular work. But to be honest we haven’t come across that problem yet. I love working with my little brother!
Bram: Yeah Tim’s described that all quite well. What I’d like to add is that when I’m stuck with some kind of project I can always count on my brother’s vision on it. We do not only fill each other’s technical weaknesses, but also our different perspective on things can result to more and new ideas.
6. In terms of your designing careers where would you like to be in 5 years? Will you both open up a studio, or work separately?
We’re actually dreaming of starting up our own design studio together in a couple of years. That’d be really awesome! But of course we both want to get some experience in the business first by working in a design company. We’ll see what happens. I’d be really cool to get our own business running. Just do what we like, work together and make a living of it.
7. How does your style differ from your brothers?
Bram: I’d say: I’m the stupid one and my brother is the smart one. He knows what he’s doing and I’m just like following my instincts and hope it all looks nice at the end of the road.
Tim: Haha, yeah! In some way I have to agree with that. But I guess every designer has some quite abstract idea before he starts and eventually it gets all distorted and changed along the design process. But yeah Bram doesn’t start with any idea at all. He starts with something like totally brainless and forms his concept along the process.
8. Thanks again for providing Psdtuts+ with this opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts for our readers?
No! Thank you!!! I guess this must been said like tons of times but… to all designers out there: Keep it fun!
Where to find Tim & Bram on the Web
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Really good interview, also two very cool designer thanks really enjoyed it.
Nice artwork!
This was great! Thanks!
Yeah, great work! Nice to see some of the images from the psdtuts tutorials being used.
Where?
Yeah i noticed that too. “Men of the World” is an example, Dullface.
Nice work! I love the interviews on here
wow really nice!
I love lines!
Their work is brilliant!
speechless. i wish i had a younger brother which I could bring into the design world si I could work with him whenever i want. Or bring my big bro into this, but, he’s not that into art
You two learning so much from each other and getting new ideas.
You can get each other help if you have a problem,
so I wish to you two very success, and I wish you will open a studio,
you guys are special and have your own styles.
I wish I had my own style, Someone knows how to get one?
[Sorry for my English]
Great interview, I wish my older brother didn’t stop graphics
I’d like to see some interviews with some artists that are a little more established and have more focus. The chaotic hodge-podge that is most of the work of these subjects doesn’t come off as impressive as the work of a designer that is applying ideas to something real. What im trying to say is these works just look random. Oh, there’s a bird dripping into a bagel thats falling out of a over-used flurry of illustrator-made lines. It’s all getting very boring seeing these cookie cutter “experimentalists” vomit out the same stuff week after week.
Let’s see some real innovative work, something with application.
No hate, all love. I just see too many artist interviews on kids that all do the same thing. Electric pinks and blues are getting old.
I second that!! There’s nothing new happening here.. OK some of there work looks kinda good! But the compositions aren’t that exciting and the typo isn’t great either.. Overall not bad but i like to see an interview a few years from now when they have developed their own style some more! Instead of copying styles that are already out there for a while..
The attempts are great but i just think they aren’t there yet.. Most of them just look like they just followed some tutorials..
Take care now bye bye then!
I’d love to see some tuts, which they followed
I partially agree, PSDTuts interwiev young artists, and they are very influenced by the top artists in the industry. Latelly I see lot of those Photomanipulation with Photoshop effects and Illustrator paths.
The question is… who of those famous and busy artists would spend their time in a interwiev?. They already have exposure and their time is gold.
I think the problem is not interviewing young artists, if the quality is good its ok, maybe the issue is they looks all the same.
Great to see an interview with Tim and Bram Vanhaeren. I really love your work guys and I must say that I get inspired a lot by your works.
Awesome, a new source of inspiration. More than it, it’s a true modern masterpiece! Congratulations!
I really love your art!!!
Great works! I like After Skool Special most!
their arts are really unique and some abstract influence. Great interview! I really enjoy it! Thanks!
great artworks, love it1
pretty random without much …how do you put this focus or intention looks alittle lazy most of it except the “hugo its just a fragrance ” that one is clean and neat but oh well..
Thanks all for the love! And thanks to PSDtuts for this opportunity. cheers!
really don’t know if this interview is worthy… these guys don’t have their own style, they don’t innovate at all, artisticly or technically… I’m sick of these stuffs…
Everybody is calling themselves ‘designer’ today. Problem is that 90% of these designers don’t design, but simply copy others. And instead that PSDtuts focusses on the 10% that are truly innovative and original, they let the copypasters get all the undeserved attention.
yeah… this site that used to be awesome did interview some lack of talent guys these last times… I don’t know why…
Great interview again, ” My Chaos” is my favourite piece of work, their style is light and seemingly delicate, with elements of sketching and lots of light.
v lol this shit nice nice neis!!! love it
gartsman, it quite easy to critic other pple’s work but can u just take the time out to see that this are growing talents who aspire to be gr8, those masters started somehow this way, some by copying others! i agree the look is getting similiar but that is not to negelect efforts.
nice work guyz!
HI,Where I can find tutorial, if is?
Great interview but, many faults in it, it’s not Bram Vanhaeren but Bram van Haeren and not University of Antwerp. but University of Antwerpen( Antwerpen is the capital sity of Belgium)
It Is Bram Vanhaeren and I’m going to Gent ( Ghent international? ) Maar ik gok dat je NL bent
Dankje voor het lezen!
I could type some english comment here, so everyone could read…
hell, f*ck that!
tof om eens een mooie *special*te zien over Belgisch talent!
Schoon dingen die gulle maakt trouwens! chapeau…
Nog veel leute in de adobe-wereld!
Some nice ideas, but a lot of designers already did that..
As I’m french I’ll use that one : déjà vu..
Sorry guys but I was kinda disappointed by this one.
It’s only another-photoshop-montage which, in my opinion, doesn’t really bring something new. I like interviews as they are often a source of inspiration… those pictures would have inspired me, 6 years ago.
sorry to disappoint you! We get to opportunity and grab it of course. This is the best we can do so far. We’re still very young and experimenting.
I totally agree though! But some very hypocrite people out here. Anybody has any idea how impossible it is to be innovative these days … ? :s
thanks.
This brothers are amazing!!
amazing!!!
nice…… one.. amazing
hey, i would like to learn things how the picture number 5, how can I learn it?, I like a lot photography and I would like to learn more.could sameone help me?
my adrees is pedro_mejor13@hotmail.com
thank you!
I FREAKING LOVE YOUR WORKK
Dude i´m loving this guy´s style i´m a fan for sure