Photoshop Tutorials: Interview with Marcelo Schultz: How Drawing Video Game Characters Led to Projects for Nike

Interview with Marcelo Schultz: How Drawing Video Game Characters Led to Projects for Nike

Posted: 07 Feb 2013 09:37 PM PST

Welcome to Photoshop Tutorials! Thank you for interviewing with us. Can you give us a brief description of how you got started in design and why you chose this field?

Thank you, glad to be here! I always liked to draw things. When I was a child I used to draw video game characters, cars and objects, always exploring the depth, perspective and stuff like that. I didn’t know what I would be when I was adult. I almost tried Architecture, I researched about the profession and not liked it. The only choice I had was Graphic Design. I’m happy to have chosen it because there are many fields that I could work using my skills!

Viking Illustration

Many of the artworks on your Behance profile are ornate and typographic. How did you come up with this style?

Everything started with a friend that told me he was making typography works for a website, and every week that website published the best arts. I was a bit bored to work in the office, making corporate stuff only. I had free time after the work, and I thought it would be great to back to illustrations. I started with some work a little shy, but, on every work I was getting better and better. Then a client from Australia asked for a freelance work, they saw the work I did on that website. And, it was how everything started.

Calligraphic is my Type!

Which piece of artwork is your favorite and why? What was the design process for it?

I used to like the “Save the Nature”, but, I had a chance to work for Nike, and the work I did for them was amazing. I think the “Sports theme” is the best area I could work. They asked for some sketches to get the right direction. The best part was they said “You have all the freedom to create!”. I’ve sent three options and they liked one of them. Then, they said, feel free to chose what colour you want to use. I think, was the best client I’ve ever had.

Save the Nature

Nike - Just Do It
Nike – Just Do It

As shown in many of your works, you start off by drawing. These days, many people skip the drawings and do everything on the computer. How does drawing help compared to starting from scratch on the computer?

Yes, I knew some good designers that are good doing it directly on the computer. The thing is that I am like an “Old school” designer, I like to put the ideas on the paper, even if it is simple, it keep all my thoughts alive. Some works I do has more than one sketch. Sometimes I like the detail that the first sketch has but not the rest, so I use parts of all the sketches I do. Also, many sketches can improve your skills.

Harley Davidson Poster

Nike Just Do It - Comissioned Artwork
Nike Just Do It – Comissioned Artwork

You’re the art director for DDQ design. How do you get the look/style that your clients want? Do you usually get it right the first try or does it take many revisions?

Actually, I am Co-founder of DDQ Design, an work as art director. Our clients are mostly restaurants. The work I do in my office is different of I do as “artist”. I think, our office clients are harder to work, they usually don’t understand the importance of design and the designer work. A work that supposed to be simple turns a hard work to finish.

Lettering for DDQ Design

How often do you use Photoshop in your artwork? What are some Photoshop tricks/techniques you use?

Most of my works I do in Photoshop because the freedom to create shadows are bigger than working only with vectors. I don’t usually use the effects panel like drop shadow, other glow and stuff like that. I make everything by myself, layer by layer. You can see some videos I did on my Vimeo channel.

It’s been almost a year since we’ve previously interviewed you. How have you and your work changed since that time? Did you notice any improvements?

Yes, I did. I improved some aspects like the way to do some effects to the work get smaller (Megabytes) and simpler to work. The textures on the letters, and the most minute details.

Harley Davidson Poster

Closeup of Harley Davidson Poster

For Graphic Designers just starting out, what advice would you give them? How did that advice help you?

I always say, as designer, every minute you’re not living design, means a minute that you missed to learn. Never back to home after the work and just stay sit on the couch. The better work is a work you do for pleasure. Take that time to work on something, to learn something and improve your skills. That’s what I’ve been doing last years.

Marcelo Schultz

More about Marcelo Schultz

You can find more works by Marcelo on his personal website. Subscribe to his Vimeo channel to stay updated on the latest videos. If you’re fascinated by his works, you can find posters of some of his work on his society6 store.

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