A pretty ordinary dude who wants to laugh and have a lot of fun in life doing what he loves to do. – Timur Aldemir
If you’ve checked our latest article about Best Dribble Accounts 2021, you’ve probably met Timur Aldemir (aka Tim) already. This versatile Graphic Designer specializing primarily in logo and visual identity design works mainly with start-ups and small businesses from all over the world, with the main goal of building effective and aesthetically pleasing identities that can help businesses be more recognizable and attract their target audience.
As a strategic designer, he builds identities that stand the test of time. In order to achieve that, he listens very carefully to his client’s stories, to gain a good understating of their mission and vision, as a well-thought-out creative process is key to achieving the desired results.
Currently based in a small town in northern Bulgaria, he got his degree in Graphic Design at Dublin Institute of Design, after moving to Dublin to study English (where he fell in love with the city and its people).
He defines himself as “a pretty ordinary dude who wants to laugh and have a lot of fun in life doing what he loves to do”. In order to find the inspiration that feeds his creativity, Tim thinks it is very important to him to always maintain a healthy work-life balance and enjoy life to its fullest.
Don’t miss his video, where he answers two of the most frequently asked questions about graphic design!
How did you decide to become a professional designer or illustrator? How long have you been doing this?
Well, I think I always felt like I had a passion for design. I remember how I used to play with toys that allowed me to be creative. I was born with pen and paper – but rather than drawing trees and mountains I used to recreate everyday objects using my imagination. I think I was about 10 years old when I designed my first logo – it was for a local restaurant and later the logo was actually printed and used on apparel and menus.
Back then I had no idea that Graphic Design was a thing. Because my parents wanted me to have a degree I had to apply for a college and choose a major. It was then when I found out that there was a design college in Dublin. I first got introduced to branding in my second year and it was the moment when I realized that brand identity was what I wanted to do. I’m not self-taught but I was really eager to learn about branding outside of college so I started looking for different sources where I can develop the skills needed to become a brand designer. This is basically how I got where I am now.
What are the projects you are most proud of?
I am proud of every project I had the opportunity to work on. Although I mainly focus on identity design, I’m also open to projects that do not always include logo design and branding. In fact, one of my favourite projects was a poster design I made for a fundraising campaign with a mission to support women and children during the pandemic.
“Spread your rainbow” poster, for Creatives Against COVID19 campaign “Soon”.
What’s a day like, in your life?
My day pretty much consists of eating, sleeping and working. I also enjoy playing video games, watching movies, and hanging out with friends. I’m also trying to spend my time more productively and be more socially active. In the future, in order to add some excitement to my ordinary life, I would like to travel more, see new places and meet new faces.
What has been your most challenging project up to date?
I think my most challenging project to date was the logo and visual identity design I made for an Essentials Oils business. Part of the reason is that the design style of this project was a bit different than my other projects so I had to do some extra research. The truth is every new project comes with a new challenge and by overcoming those challenges we acquire new skills and become better problem solvers.
Branding for KonMar, a family-owned essential oils company based in Ireland.
What questions do you ask the client before developing a logo for them?
“Who are you?” and “What is your business about?” are the two questions I ask to start off the conversation. Then I ask what they really need and what their problem is. Then, sometimes, I ask if they have an interesting story behind the company or their name that could be an inspiration later on in the design process. Then I ask about their audience and competitors and also want them to describe their brand in a few words. This helps me define their brand personality and how they want the brand to be perceived by their customers. Last but not least I always like to hear if they have any personal preferences for the logo style.
How do you start the logo development process, once you have the client’s brief? Do you do competitor research?
Once we have the brief I put together two or three style scapes to define the visual direction of the brand. Then I present those style scapes to the client and together we choose the one that we think fits the brand and resonates with their target audience. Then comes the sketching part where I explore various directions and get all my ideas onto the paper. Unfortunately, there is no magic involved at this stage, it is all about the research you have done that inspires you to come up with logo ideas that are relevant to the company you are designing for. Then I put together a multi-page presentation including logo concepts and mockups. I don’t have any strict rules when it comes to the concept presentation – I only show those that are strong and appropriate.
Unofficial WST logo revamp practice project. Brand application and collaterals.
What things do you take into account to define the color palette for a logo?
Just like the logo, the colours should also be relevant to the industry. However, this is not the only way to create a colour palette. Target audience and brand personality can play a huge role when defining the brand colours.
Tell us about the lettermark exploration series. How did the idea of making it come up? What repercussions did it have on the public? What did you learn?
Lettermark exploration was something a lot of creatives were doing at that time so I thought why not give it a try myself. Logotypes are my favorite logo styles and I wanted to up my logo design skills with this challenge.
“F” lettermark exploration, a part of the lettermark exploration series.
You recently redesigned an old logo you had made. How was the experience of coming back to your own work, to improve it?
It wasn’t the first time I have redesigned an old logo of mine. I often go back and review my old projects, and I think everyone should do it. I think we, designers, are never hundred percent happy with the final product and it is completely okay. I think redesigning my own logos is pretty fun – that way when I fix a bad logo I don’t offend anyone or make another designer feel bad haha. It is also great exercise to apply what you’ve learned since the time you designed your old logo. The truth is nothing can be perfect but it always can be improved.
What platforms or media do you use to get new clients?
I’m currently using Behance and Linkedin to reach out to clients. I am also actively sharing my work on Instagram and Dribbble. These are the platforms where you can learn more about me and my work.
What typographers or designers inspire you?
Ah, this one is really tough to answer. There are a few designers I look up to ever since I started out. If I need to name a few, Sagi Haviv, from Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv (CGH), is one of my favorite designers. I really admire his style, work, and thinking. Mackey Saturday is another great and young designer that inspires me. He is the guy behind Instagram’s script logo. A lot of people inspire me every day.
What techniques or software do you use in your work?
I use Adobe Creative Cloud for all my design work. Adobe Illustrator is a vector based program where I create all of my logos. I also use Photoshop to design some of the promo materials for my clients. In addition to these two I also use Adobe Indesign for editorial and print materials and am currently learning Adobe After effects for some animations.
How has your practice changed over time?
Well, when I first started I was more of a logo maker whereas now I think I focus more on the bigger picture. I put a lot of thought into what I’m doing. I’ve become more aware of who I am and what I am doing.
How important is typography in logo creation? Do you collaborate with any typographers to choose the perfect font for a logo?
Typography is a highly important asset in Graphic Design in general. As a designer before you even start designing you must learn the basics of typography. In logo design it is important to have a general idea of different font types. The four major font styles are serifs, sans serifs, script and display. As a logo designer you should know the difference and do your research before you choose a typeface for your projects. It’s important that your type choice is based on the values and qualities of the brand you’re designing for.
How do you form prices for design products? It’s usually a pain point for designers who are just starting out?
It is definitely a pain point for freelance designers, especially if you are just starting out. When I’m giving a quote I look at the project scope, timeline, my expenses and taxes. I know that some designers choose hourly rate over project-based fees. I suggest you do your own research before deciding which option is best for you.
What are your professional goals?
Well, I want to be an expert in one specific area so I’m currently focusing on improving my skills within the field of logo and brand design. As for my long term goals, I’d love to explore different fields and expand my knowledge and skills to help a wider audience. Perhaps one day I would make my own design courses to teach young and aspiring designers.
Could you share with us some ideas for design or illustration trends for 2022?
I don’t really know what to say about this one! We have seen a number of automotive brands give their logo a cleaner and more minimal look as they all enter the electric car era so I am guessing we may see similar updates happen in 2022 as well. I also think that we will see a lot of 3D animations and illustrations. An example of that could be the frosted glass effect that’s been quite trendy recently. I guess It could be anything haha. We’ll see!
What blogs, artists or magazines do you follow to keep up with trends?
There are a few blogs and websites I frequently check out to keep myself up to date with the latest news in the design world. I also enjoy reading & listening to online designer interviews. Logogeek, by Ian Paget, is an incredible platform where he regularly shares his interviews with some of the most talented people – talking about logo design and branding, building your own business, freelancing etc.
I follow a lot of creatives on Behance – it is a great place to get inspiration or new ideas for your projects. Thousands of designers and artists showcase their work every day and you can sign up and share your projects with the rest of the world.
What projects are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on a few logo design projects, one of which is for a painter who’s launching a new gallery and a gift shop. I’m sure it’ll be a great experience. I’m also planning on releasing a series of poster designs which is still in the works.
What do you think is the best feature of our project MasterBundles?
The best thing about Masterbundles is that they offer a huge collection of assets for all of your design work. You can find everything from fonts to icon sets, from website templates to even brush presets. It’s great to see how you can find all the assets you need in one place.
Timur Aldemir
Timur Aldemir is a versatile Graphic Designer specializing primarily in logo and visual identity design works mainly with start-ups and small businesses from all over the world.
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