Eluan Araujo

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Eluan Araujo ("EA") 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?

EA : I graduated in Advertising and Propaganda in Brazil and have been working in Design for over 7 years.

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

EA : What motivated me to become a designer is that, ever since school, I always sought to create brands and develop designs for everything I did. I graduated in Electronics, and during my studies, my projects were much more focused on design than on electronics itself.

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

EA : I intend to develop more and more campaigns and also create brands and branding projects that can be impactful and tell good stories.

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

EA : Don't give up on your dreams. Many times you will think about quitting, but always stay dedicated and persistent. Most importantly, believe in your potential.

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

EA : A good design is a project that fulfills its purpose, fits within its niche, and can be easily identified. What differentiates a mediocre project from a good design project is the way it is presented and understood by its audience. A well-structured project that is easy to understand, with elements that align with its purpose, makes all the difference

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

EA : Good design is essential for collaborative and inviting communication in everything. If we look around us, everything has design. Investing in good design changes the way your audience sees you, adds a lot of value to your personal brand, and makes things much more attractive and inviting. Therefore, everyone should invest in good design because it is crucial to stand out in the market and create stronger connections with your audience.

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

EA : The dream project is to create highly engaging personal communication with captivating video materials, including effects, tailored for social media. A collaborative design to integrate all the projects I've developed over the years, showcasing the evolution with each project.

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

EA : The secret ingredient to good design is to thoroughly understand the project at hand. Having a comprehensive understanding allows for better developed reference research and creates openness to exploring different ways to execute the project.

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

EA : Ana Couto, Fred Gelli Pedro Panneto

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

EA : Design projects as a whole always fascinate me; I love to analyze how they are developed and use them as references in my career. The most significant project for me was the one developed for the Olympics and Paralympics in Brazil by the Tatil agency, led by Fred Gelli. This project was incredibly organic and beautiful in its meanings, with various applications and a unique sensory and physical approach. It's a constant source of inspiration for me.

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

EA : Study, referencing, and persistence

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

EA : Design has always been a part of my life. Since I was young, I sought to work with something that would allow me to create, design, and be a professional who works with creativity. But if I weren't in a creative field, I would probably pursue something in architecture

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

EA : Design for me is a way to express something with a clear purpose and objective.

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

EA : The fear of not succeeding and having to start over in another field, living a life of just working for the sake of money, was my biggest motivator. The fear of failure and not bringing honor to my decisions spurred me on.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

EA : Believing that I could be among the best and trusting that my potential for growth was real. Always staying committed to learning, seeking references, and specializing in the field so that I can continually improve.

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

EA : Lack of faith from others in what I did, and often the market not believing in my potential, seeking price over quality. Many family members didn't support my creative career until I won this very special award.

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

EA : Designing a branding project for a Southern Brazilian American football team

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

EA : To leave a legacy in the Brazilian market and make a mark in the world

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

EA : They expect it to exceed their expectations, always delivering quality work with creativity.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

EA : Design is crucial for facilitating understanding of various social factors. With good design, we can address and explain topics, changes, and teach crucial social factors for a more harmonious and less destructive society as a whole.

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

EA : I'm working on updating my personal brand and repositioning myself in the national and global market.

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

EA : The project that earned me an A'Design Award was very significant for the entire history of the Baptist Church Shalon. Also, a project for a streetwear brand in Brazil called FLWSS.

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

EA : I would like to see greater appreciation for the field, which is often undervalued in many countries.

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

EA : I believe it will continue to evolve, even with the significant increase in the use of AI. I think the field will grow increasingly important and will be essential for the development of things to come with the advancement of technologies.

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

EA : It depends on the project, but if it's a rough estimate, around 3 months.

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

EA : I start with the briefing.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

EA : Nothing will be new if you remain the same.

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

EA : Designers define the trends.

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

EA : Technology is a tool to aid in the development of everything. Research to development

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

EA : Creative Cloud package and reference image banks

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

EA : They are essential because through them we maintain continuity in the project's identification and identity.

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

EA : What was the train of thought that led to executing such a well-developed project?

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

EA : The Psychology of Color book.

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

EA : They were developed over many years of taking risks, learning, and seeking knowledge. And also, through trial and error, the more mistakes I made, the more I learned.

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

EA : It would be great to meet people who are my references, but I would also love to have access to and be friends with individuals like those who have won the A'Design Award. They possess qualities and future visions similar to mine, coming from different cultures and places. It would be fantastic to connect with participants who competed in my category.

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

EA : I feel very honored and increasingly believe in my potential. Becoming famous isn't difficult; what's challenging is maintaining oneself as a reference in the market. Fame is a natural process for those who dare to pursue something extraordinary.

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

EA : Your favorite color is black. Your favorite place is Shureito Pagoda in Yamanashi, Japan. Your favorite food is pasta, especially Italian. You love spending quality time with your family, and your favorite brand is BLVCK

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

EA : A funny thing that happened to me was developing a magazine at a time when I knew nothing about layout. I was challenged to learn about layout and produce the magazine in 10 days. It was a challenge and quite funny because it was a time of learning and developing materials that initially made no sense until reaching the final version, which turned out well-developed.

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

EA : What makes my day great is seeing clients and projects come in so I can execute them, especially when they believe in my creative potential and quality. My motivation is to reach new horizons in design and operate in a global market. Also, every time I win an award, it really motivates me to keep going on this journey.

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

EA : I dreamed of one day being able to win an award like this, but I didn't think it would be so soon

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

EA : I hope the future will be something incredible, but if society isn't more united for a greater good and doesn't take better care of the environment, and communication to avoid misunderstandings between countries, if all of this happens, it will be a wonderful place with many social and technological advances making life more peaceful.

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

EA : Even while at home and facing financial challenges, know that everything depends on you to achieve your dreams. The project that earned me this award was developed for a church, going against everything conventional in the market. This gave me immense confidence in my creative potential. Now recognized for my work, I hope to continue reaching new horizons in design and creation, and one day become a reference in Brazil in this field, leaving my mark on the world. I am a normal person who faces life's problems like everyone else, experiences anxieties, good and bad moments, but what made the difference was believing that with God, all things are possible and that I could indeed win an A'Design Award.