Chris Harrold

VP & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MOHAWK FINE PAPERS, COHOES NY

Chris is the Vice President & Creative Director at Mohawk Fine Papers. In this role, he has responsibility for brand management, strategic market development and creative direction for the company’s product and marketing campaigns. Chris joined Mohawk in 1990, and has held several positions from sales to marketing and played a pivotal role establishing Mohawk as a market leader in digital printing. He has been published in a variety of industry journals, is a Lynda.com author, and speaks extensively on the role printing and paper play in design today. Chris holds an undergraduate degree in Art History from SUNY Oswego and an MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. He and his family live in beautiful Troy NY.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Born in Oswego NY and now live in Troy NY

DID YOU GO TO DESIGN SCHOOL?
MFA Fine Art Photography at RIT

LEFTY OR RIGHTY?
Righty with no aspirations to be ambidextrous

MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Up at 5AM

FICTIONAL OR HISTORICAL CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH?
The Prodigal Son

ARE YOU MUSICAL AND/OR DO YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
I’m a Pandora and Spotify virtuoso

FAVORITE BOOK?
Naked by David Sedaris

FAVORITE MOVIE?
Grand Budapest Hotel

FAVORITE TV BINGE WATCH?
Boardwalk Empire or Shameless

FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM?
Instagram

FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Mark Rothko

FAVORITE CHARITY?
My Kids and Habitat for Humanity

FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
A nap on a day off is my favorite

COLLECT ANYTHING?
Vintage cameras

COLOR USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
CMYK

TYPEFACE USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
Chalet New York Nineteen Sixty

DOES PRINT HAVE A ROLE IN YOUR DESIGNS?
Print on paper is the main event

DESIGN MENTOR/INSPIRATION/HERO?
Hard to choose so I will submit 3: Mentor (blending photo + narrative) Duane Michaels; Inspiration (color and cross-media genius) David Hockney; and Hero (for his general design influence and pivotal role at Strathmore Paper) Will Bradley

GREATEST STRENGTH/WEAKNESS AS A DESIGNER?
As a fine artist: not making time to do my own work

ADVICE TO A YOUNG DESIGNER JUST STARTING OUT?
Be original and true to your convictions

IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
A college art professor (and photographer)

A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
This above all … to thine own self be true

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