"On the Couch with...", have the honor to present the second interview with another successful Designer of our Community, Damian Madray aka `depthskins. Let's get start the party.

First of all Damian, thanks a lot by giving us this opportunity. We know you have a busy life, so, I will be brief, I promise… Tell us a little about how your life was before you became a professional designer? And now, what changed?

My life before was like most teenagers in that I was still looking for my calling and having fun while at it. Since I found design, priorities changed from wanting to be popular in school to wanting to be a bad-ass in design. I found myself locked in front of a computer, a little less social and a little less friends. None of that mattered though because my priorities shifted, the planets aligned and I had to fulfill my destiny.

What was your first experience with Deviant Art like?

My first experience with dA was in 2004 when I created ~soulseek3r. It was the time I was exploring in graphic design. Even though you find your calling in design, there's an even greater calling as to what type of designer you want to be. I found dA because I was looking for a place where I could be surrounded by creativity, because my physical life lacked that.

You were one of the lasts Gallery Moderators from Designs & Interfaces. Tell us, how was the experience of being part of Community Relations Team?

What else can I say other than extraordinary. The CR team is filled with people who are talented and enthusiastic about art. I really enjoyed working with them and Danie, $Moonbeam13, was then and still is an inspiration. She mastered multi-tasking if you ask me.

If you could change something or add something in Designs & Interfaces Gallery, what would you do?

dA consists of many aspiring designers and a good addition would be a tighter sub-community by giving more constructive criticism. There isn't anything to change because DI works for us designers at dA. In addition, I don't think any site has accomplished the community spirit found here. I can say this from an objective standpoint because you name any social site, chances are, I've used it.

Do you feel that being an assiduous member and Gallery Moderator of the Community, you've evolved at a practical level??

Definitely. This is why I encouraged any other GM for DI Gallery to embrace this position because it takes you to another level in your journey to being a designer. For me, I got better at design because I felt if I'm going to represent this gallery, I should be decent at it at the least. Not necessarily the best but good enough for others to look at me and say, "Hey, that guy has some decent stuff." I even found that I reached a point that I've outgrown the position and felt it was necessary for someone else to experience this and as such, I was more than happy to step down.

Design encompasses several categories. Which category are you most comfortable with?

My gallery says Web Interfaces. Truthfully I'm passionate about branding, not identity design because that's only a little part of it but the entire process of creating and managing a brand. But like I said, web interfaces is my comfort zone, it's where I can speak with confidence and authority and debate to the end. This doesn't mean I'm any less better in branding, it just means that innately, I haven't reached that level of confidence in it.

Tell us a little about your creative process. What are your influences?

My creative process differs depending on what I'm doing. Generally speaking though, no matter what type of project, each consists of research, sketching and inspiration. I always try to research the product or client to the best of my ability by talking a lot with the client or gaining knowledge about their industry, etc. Knowing the client intimately is so important that I spent hours creating the following: Brand Interview

Which artists can you refer to your main influences? Someone from the community?

I was first inspired by Eye Digital Emotion. As you can see, his site was done in 2004 which coincides with when I first came on dA. This makes his site 4 years old and it's still better than some of the designs today in my opinion. The guy impacted me more than he knows and more than I can explain.

When I came upon dA, there were many influences but the one that stood the test of time is Ryan Ford, $liquisoft. He continues to be an influence on me because as I grow as a designer, I still find his work extraordinary and inspirational. I believe that's how you who is truly inspiring you because they stood the test of time in your book.

From all your work, have you had some that are special to you? Tell us a little about it.

The most special one for me would be the design of Depthskins Design Studio. It's special because I pushed myself to do something unique and on top of that, executing it was no easy task. I designed it, wrote the storyboard and thought up the animations. This to me meant something because I never did a flash site before, I never studied animation or even did a storyboard before.

Do I think it's unique? No. Am I satisfied with it? Of course not. That doesn't change the fact that it's my baby and that makes it special.

All deviants who follow your work here are aware that you opened a Design Studio. When did you decided to establish your own project?

I think I was born a self-starter so Depthskins Design Studio came to birth in 2002, before I found deviantART and before I could even be considered a professional. However, Depthskins is rapidly growing since 2007 when I started putting everything into it. Through it, I've worked with talents such as Joao Franco, Cris Labno, Jan Van Lysebettens, Ryan Ford, George Marez and others.

What advice can you give to someone who wants to start something by themself?

Don't. Get a normal 9-5 job. Go home, work on side projects, spend time with your family.

However, if you're an entrepreneur, you don't mind the long hours, you don't mind making almost nothing at the end of the month and you can barely make enough to pay the bills then going freelance or starting a studio is for you. At the end of the day, know what you're getting into by doing thorough research. Don't just read the articles that focus on the upside of freelancing.

If you take it up, in the long run, all sacrifices will pay off. I cannot say that with 100% certainty though because I'm still waiting for the pay off. In the end there are tonnes of upsides but the downsides match it evenly.

Everyone knows the hard relation between designer/client. Tell us, how does your Company deal with this relationship?

I've come to a point that I choose clients carefully and if I see a client doesn't respect my choices as a designer, then I wrap up their project and don't further the relationship. Clients that respect me and I respect leads to a blissful relationship.

Every client to us is our boss, it's their project at the end of the day but I always retain the right to advise that client so they're making an informed decision.

With that said, I love design so it's important that the client and I can align in terms of our vision in design because it isn't money that drives me when designing, it's the hope that this project might be it. It might get tons of awards and praises from my peers, it might set a new trend and it may just inspire thousands of designers.

Because of this alignment, it makes me listen intently to everything the client says and try their suggestions because that's what might make it different.

Have you ever regretted following the uncertain life of a designer? What was the worst moment you had as a designer?

Such a great question. No, I've never regretted. I just regret not finding this calling earlier in my life because maybe I would have been better.

The worst moment in my life is when I was hired as an intern with promise of a full-time job at a design studio in Canada. This job led me to work with insanely skilled flash developers and cool projects like Diamond Road Online. However, there was a project I was working on where I believe the project manager made wrong choices and as a result led to missing the deadline of the project. This result was blamed on me and I was the scapegoat (the intern). Right at the end of the project, I got fired when in fact, I did everything possible to help.

It's the worse thing that happened to me as a designer but it's also one of those things that turns out to be the best thing that happens. I benefited greatly through studio experience, collaboration and presenting my concepts to clients in a boardroom (and aced it). It also led me to starting my own studio.

Were you ever a target of theft? If yes, how did you lead the situation?

Not as often as most people but a few times. Once my logo was stolen and that really pissed me off but I acted professionally as you always should. I sent a polite email and said if it's not removed, my lawyer will contact them. Do I have a lawyer? No. Was I bluffing? Yes. Did it work? Best method to date. However, if that were to happen today, I don't think anyone should call my bluff.

Well Damian, I know you are busy so, for our last question, can you give us some advice for who are starting now this profession?

Always the hardest question because how you approach this profession is what makes all the difference. I always advise aspiring designers to respect the craft because that will gain you more in the long run.

Love it because that's what will make you thrive in times of doubt and uncertainty.

Lastly, understand it because design might have derived from art but more because it's about having a purpose. I always say I was self-taught but school disciplined me and taught that in design, there should be a reason for every choice made.

Thanks Damian for your kindness, availability and be on the couch with us.

“On the Couch with…” had the honor to present you the second interview with Damian Madray. We hope this project continues and does not end here. We are open to new suggestions and proposals to give continuity to the project.

Thanks for everyone who read it and special thanks to `depthskins.

^{Yoh guys, everyone knows my english isn't so good, can anyone help me on the future interviews?}