Lorin Brown Interview

Lorin Brown is a 23 year old graphic designer from Wayne, PA. He is a recent graduate from CalArts and has worked with GOOD Magazine, Stussy, Faesthetic Magazine, Arkitip, and the New York Times. His area of design interest lies in publication and apparel design. His favorite thing about Valencia isn’t Jack in the Box. He is not married and is inspired by music. This is his interview.

What makes CalArts unique?
The fact you can really do whatever you want design wise and as long as you make a valid case for it, it flies. Design never feels limiting here, we really set the limits. To that point because everyone around
you is always working so hard and pushing the bar so high you want to work even harder to make yourself better. We as a department aren’t a huge group so really the lines between BFA 1 2 3 and 4 and MFAs doesn’t really seem that clear, interaction with students of all levels really makes a difference in what you experience.

How did the independent project effect you?
It really helped me think about what I really want to be doing with design and where I want to take my work. I know the things that I am comfortable with and know how to do but I think its time to start
doing more of the same but in a different way. That’s basically what my independent project was about and while I am really happy with the results I think I can take that idea even further, and that’s what I really plan on doing. I think it also taught me to let go of more things. I went into it half knowing what I wanting the out come to be and was still working in a familiar way. My solution for the project didn’t really come about until the end stages, but its one that really worked with what I wanted out of this project.

How has Valencia evolved for you?
Has it? I don’t know that it has. I feel like we are just here doing our thing and Valencia is here trying to do its thing (whatever that is…) I’d have to say Jersey Mike’s is really the biggest thing to come to Valencia. Its changed a lot for me in my final months here.

How is the design community/program unique?
I think Id have to go back to that idea of interaction with peers of different “levels”. It really makes the community stronger and allows us to pull together easily when we need to get things done. A great example of that would be something like the T-Shirt show. I am not sure how many schools do that but I think that one event and the process of it all really shows our program’s uniqueness and how we are able to work together. I think its rare to find a community that works like that.

What is your most memorable experience?
The Maclab.

What advice do you have for future design students?
Whatever you want to do or wherever you want to be during or after school just work hard at it and ask questions and someone will help you get there. Also be prepared to do that same for others because
your peers are going to need you as well. Goodnight, and goodluck.

Be sure to check out more of Lorin’s work at One & Done Studio, don’t forget to pick up some of his work at the One & Done Shop.

Spreads from the CalArts School of Dance Newsletter.