Brian Bolado.

Hello. I’m a designer and creative based in Adelaide/Kaurna Country. Influenced by small community and utilitarian principles, my design practice specialises in branding, communication and information systems.

Interview.

Describe yourself in three words.
Grounded, measured and utilitarian.

Hobby outside of design?
Beyond design, I spend most of my time cooking, reading and keeping active. I gravitate towards other creative areas that are independent and locally owned like crafts, bookshops, record stores, restaurants and winemakers.

What type of design do you enjoy the most?
My very first passion was poster design and typography. I became fascinated with the endless ways you could arrange type, information and graphics to express the craft and mood of an artists or event. Without formal classes, my experimentation with Photoshop as a teenager gave me confidence and an inherent understanding of a balanced composition. Currently, I’m mostly drawn to design practice in public spaces as a means of improving local community interactions.

Who is your design inspiration and why?
An enduring inspiration is Reid Miles and his work designing album covers for Blue Note Records. He’s developed a and iconic identity for the jazz label. With a limited toolkit of saturated colour, photographic framing and clever typography, Miles managed to create an iconic visual identity for the jazz label.

Looking through your portfolio, what is one piece of work that you are reallyproud of and why?
The work I’m most proud of is my wayfinding and signage system for the Adelaide Central Markets. As an immediate and practical design solution, it directly enhances the experience and public interaction of visitors. The project also represents an active shift in my practice towards designing for environments and systems.