Moataz Mohamed

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Moataz Mohamed ("MM") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

MM : I’m an enterprising professional with comprehensive design direction and experience for global and national brands in a variety of international markets. I have a successful track record leading and coordinating teams that have delivered outstanding results in media markets for direct, interactive and integrated marketing campaigns. I’m a proactive, creative professional with strong interpersonal and managerial skills. Bachelor Applied art - graphic design.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

MM : I love what it takes to come up with creative ideas, not only but to start translating this ideas into designs to grab more people to like or buy, I became a designer because I love colors, painting and make shapes, love patterns and layouts.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

MM : Yes, My Dad want me to be a Decoration Engineer, but I choose to be a designer because my passion in colors and drawing.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

MM : I design all the BTL stuff including logos, branding, magazines, newspaper, brochure... I wish to design and study animation, final cut and video editing to add value to my carrier path.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

MM : Everyday learn and search, keep their eyes always on the new techniques and programs in design this will give the experience in life and work.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

MM : Good designer, he is a good executor. Great designer, who know how to think and create Ideas and translated into designs.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

MM : It's a combination between, colors, text, main object and slogan in a good layout. Once the design delivers me the idea very smooth and clean.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

MM : Because all designs have to sell a product or a service at the end, So the value about how to invest in a design increase your selling much bigger.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

MM : There is no specific brand, I love challenges and campaigns and competitions in all around the world.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

MM : Any project for Coca cola, Pepsi, Nespresso.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

MM : Keep learn and search all the time.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

MM : There are a lot, but I love who are talented in Typo, 3D, 2D, animation, graphics, Illustration.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

MM : Food and beverages & manipulation artworks, because it has a lot of colors, waves, hard work, typo.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

MM : https://www.behance.net/gallery/58639945/EGYPT-WORLD-CUP-2018 This one because I used a minimal images with a great idea to present it in a smart design.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

MM : Listen, learn, practice, Courses, patient, passion.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

MM : Tennis player.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

MM : Design is one thing that existed before humans did. I believe that from the arrangements of billions of stars in billions of galaxies to the living cell organisms, everything has been designed. Human life has been designed; the Earth has been designed. Science has been designed. Atoms are designed in certain ways which we call types of matter. Everything that you see, or you miss to see. The space between your eyes and the screen you’re reading this at, where you think you see nothing; has been designed. The point of all this is to simplify the things that you cannot observe and is really where good design lies.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

MM : All people that I worked with them before, Practicing.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MM : Practicing, passion, learning.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

MM : Finding away of idea that fits the project and translate it into simple design way to understand.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

MM : Rational, idea, designs.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

MM : Galaxy A70 with Samsung Company, you should expect a strong campaign.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

MM : The simplicity of doing ideas into designs.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

MM : Support, learn from my experience, I love helping people, just ask.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MM : Through delivering the message clear and to the point.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

MM : Ramadan Campaign with Samsung company on A70 Galaxy mobile.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

MM : Was for travel agency, The idea was to choose one of the most popular musical instruments known in Egypt (Egyptian Tambour) and connect it to one of the most famous stadiums in Russia (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow) in a creative way to encourage people start booking tickets through Aquarius Travel Group to go to Russia in the upcoming World Cup 2018.​​​​​​​

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

MM : Program that gives the designer do any type of element easily without any courses, like 3D max, video editing, animation.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

MM : Social media channels.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

MM : It depend on the project and how many layouts I have.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

MM : Search about the product or the service that the project need to advertise, The competitors.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MM : Travel, reading, hangouts.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

MM : I think the trends should set the designs, because the design should has a direction to sell well.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

MM : Brain storming with pencil on a paper (sketching).

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

MM : Adobe photoshop Adobe Illustrator.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

MM : It depend on the Clint play book. or if they haven't so it will be the most recommended colors related to the brand.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

MM : How do you think about it? How long dose it take from you?

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

MM : I wish for sure that I was one of the team member of this project.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

MM : I don't have one, because every designer has his own way thinking and ideas, but I can learn something different from each one of them.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

MM : I love to share my design with my team to vote and take their feedback.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

MM : Why fonts matter.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

MM : Give myself the chance to challenge other competitors with my ideas and designs through the new programs or drawing or storyboards.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

MM : Walt disney.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

MM : Satisfied, but it's the start to new challenges and new Awards.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

MM : Blue, Spain, Burger, Summer, Travel, Adidas.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

MM : We were working on a brand new lunching car campaign 4 years ago, while I was driving home I saw the same car in a mega billboard designed by another advertising agency, so before the presentation we found that the car brand already signed a contract with other agency and lunched the campaign.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

MM : Awards :D music, Challenging briefs.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

MM : No, because I was a very talented sports child.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

MM : - Win more Awards - Learning all what is new. - World couldn't live without advertising.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

MM : Wish all designers the best of luck, motivate your self with what you love to eat or see or do, My design was the start point to my dreams that became true.