Pattern Pulp has had the pleasure of collaborating with Gerard Gang and the team at Lukasiewicz Design for the past three years.  Gang’s creative vision and design aesthetic is as experimental as it is polished.  Combining inspirational patterns and varied printing techniques, Gang has excelled at creating innovative packaging solutions for his fragrance and cosmetic clients for over twenty five years. When designing seasonal updates for mega brands, there’s a lot on the line and Gang hones in on relevant trends, commercializing them with true sophistication. Check out our Q+A for a glimpse into Gang’s creative process and how he stays ahead of the curve.

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PP:  What websites do you generally start your day with-do you have a daily routine for news/blog/information consumption?

GG: I am a more traditional researcher. My consumption of information generally is not under a daily routine of surfing the internet. Most of my research is done through textile houses, Crate and Barrel, Grain Edit, Fashion Trends Letter and Shutterstock. I am a big periodical browser. Finding insight through magazines like Traditional Home, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart and Country Living. These sources allow me to hold it in my hand and find inspiration in a more tactile way.

PP: How did you discover your talent and how has it evolved over your career?

GG: I have always been interested in fashion, patterns and textures. In my early teens, I worked on a farm. There, I developed an eye for color and textures. Nature has a way of guiding us; teaching the basics of color, shape and texture. Once working in the graphic profession after college, my interest in patterns continued to develop. Patterns are a way of life – look at stones along a shore/bricks along a path/materials woven into a bird’s nest. We are surrounded by patterns, forming their own source of inspiration.

PP:  Please explain your design process when approaching new projects and pitches.

GG: Within moments of a new project my mind begins to whirl. Thoughts and visual memories take me off on a path. I keep a large volume of sourced materials. Anything that has caught my eye, combinations of color, patterns, dresses, jewelry and flowers, are torn out and gathered into binders. This is the time I also reach out to the internet, gathering additional reference to create the designs.

PP: Where do you usually work on your patterns and what is your preferred method of creation + execution?

GG: I am “old world” in using a pen, cutting and splicing art and drawing to put my thoughts together. There is a wonderful patina that is created using this method which the computer cannot achieve. The computer is a powerful tool once the initial idea is in place. I think back to the days of creating patterns by hand. Endless drawing, photo- stating and piecing to create a pattern or art. Then days to separate it by hand for production.

PP:   When is the last time you took a professional/creative risk? Please explain.

GG: Each day is a risk. We should always challenge ourselves. One should always look for the idea to push things over the top.

PP:   How do you incorporate commercial trends into your work and is this a factor that drives your design?

GG: Trends in the fragrance/cosmetic industry are vital resources. The goal is to create the trend and for others to follow. The periodicals, internet sources, catalogues and the fashion world give me the insight to work with trends. It is a personal flair which combines these two worlds.