Interview
Nathan Borror
What are some things you do to help yourself into the state of mind necessary for creative work?
Coffee or tea, something warm. Clean the apartment, do laundry. Usually when it's been a long day and I need a productive evening I go for a 30-45 minute run to clear the head.
Do you follow a strict daily (or weekly, etc.) routine with regard to workflow, or is every day (or week) different?
Routines become pretty boring. I regularly walk to work, exercise in the evenings, eat and drink coffee. Other than that there's no telling.
Do you prefer to work in a closed, private environment free from other people and distractions, or in a more open, collaborative environment?
I'm most creative in coffee houses. They seem to have a lot of "anonymous energy." I also have a nice pair of noise canceling headphones that help.
What do you do to get your day(s) started in the right direction?
The most important activity is breakfast. I usually eat a high protein breakfast and fruit in the late morning. I've found that anything high in carbohydrates and sugar makes me drag around 11:30. If I get up really early I'll do what little Tai Chi I know.
What task management technique do you use?
The "get it done" technique. Every todo app I've tried I never stick with it so I just get shit done. At work we use a Wiki that actually works quite well. When I'm overwhelmed with tasks it's nice to rid my mind of them by putting them on the wiki so the stress of remembering is eased.
What things tend to disrupt your workflow?
Bad diet. No exercise. Television. Digg. Feeds.
What previous experiences have influenced your workflow?
I think a more appropriate question for myself would be, what experiences have influenced my motivation.
Trips to galleries and Museums. Seeing bands like Mogwai and Arcade Fire. Walks. Watching music videos and looking at reels of amazing firms like Digital Kitchen and PSYOP. Hillman Curtis has some great interviews that really get my blood pumping.
What other disciplines influence the way you work?
Recently a friend and mentor, Jeff Howard, has got me interested in Anthropology. There are a lot of similarities between designers and ethnographers. Studying psychology when I can tends to improve my understanding of usability. I've lightly been studying the effects of diet.
Is there anyone in particular you have learned from?
All of my professors. In particular, Cedomir Kostovic, Vonda Yarberry, Mark Biggs, and Maria Michalczyk-Lillich. I briefly met Milton Glaser and Mirko Illich on two occasions which left lasting impressions on me.
Frank Gehry, Michael Bierut, Hillman Curtis, James Victore, Stefan Sagmeister, Paula Scher, Lex Drewinski and many more all have taught me so much through their work.
What things help keep you focused on the work at hand?
Music usually keeps my head in the game, but most importantly, a clear understanding of what needs to get done and when the deadline is.