PRINCIPAL/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, HINTERLAND, NEW YORK NY
Scott is a designer, educator, and the principal of Hinterland, a multidisciplinary studio that specializes in branding and identity for print, digital and physical environments, and publication design for books and magazines. Before establishing his own studio in 2007, Scott sharpened his skills at Pentagram, where he worked with Abbott Miller and Woody Pirtle on identity and publication design. Scott’s work is recognized for its visual wit and clarity. With a sharp eye and a subtle sense of humor, Scott translates complex messages into smart, friendly design that is iconic and memorable. Clients include American Museum of Natural History, Baked NYC, Cannes Festival, Ghostly International, Nakamura Keith Haring Collection, The Nantucket Project, The New York Times, SVA, Spruce & Bond, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, and Well Rounded Sound. He has won numerous awards, including AIGA, Art Directors Club, Brand New, GDUSA, Graphis, PRINT, and TDC, and has been published by Casa Brutus, CA, Counter-Print, Identity Designed, HOW, iDN, Victionary, and Women’s Wear Daily. Scott received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in 2002, and has taught Basic Graphic Design, Designing with Typography, and Graphic Design Portfolio at SVA since 2009.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Born and raised in upstate New York and currently live in Brooklyn NY
DID YOU GO TO DESIGN SCHOOL?
School of Visual Arts
LEFTY OR RIGHTY?
Righty
MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
A little bit of both but probably more of a morning person
FICTIONAL OR HISTORICAL CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH?
Indiana Jones, combination of adventure and learning
FAVORITE BOOK?
A Wild Sheep Chase, Haruki Murakami
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Le Samouraï or pretty much anything from the Coen Brothers and Wes Anderson
FAVORITE TV BINGE WATCH?
Currently enjoying Black Mirror and Fargo … too many to list.
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM?
Instagram
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Rachel Whiteread
FAVORITE CHARITY?
Friends of Animals
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Going out for the perfect slice of pizza, followed by a little sci-fi moving watching
COLOR USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
Black, white and blue
TYPEFACE USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
Trade Gothic but it really depends on the client
DOES PRINT HAVE A ROLE IN YOUR DESIGNS?
Yes, 40% of what we do at Hinterland is print based
DESIGN MENTOR/INSPIRATION/HERO?
Carin Goldberg/my students at SVA/Lester Beall
GREATEST STRENGTH/WEAKNESS AS A DESIGNER?
Perseverance and patience, or lack thereof
ADVICE TO A YOUNG DESIGNER JUST STARTING OUT?
BE EAGER! VERY FUCKING EAGER! Every single opportunity you have, even menial tasks will prove invaluable when you are starting out. Focus on the fact that you are always learning and never assume you are too good for whatever task you’re assigned. Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to let your boss know what skills you are lacking, what you would like to improve, and by all means clue them in to things they might not know about you that can you can bring to the table. Listen to everything going on around you. Take lots and lots of notes. Ask questions. Be organized. Don’t take long lunches. Make yourself part of the team.
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
A photographer, run an elephant sanctuary, or a short-order cook at a greasy spoon
A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
Work with what you have. Also, the idea is nothing without the execution, and the execution is nothing without the presentation.
