Erik Spiekermann Interview
Mar 16, 08:03 PM by Marko
Interview with Erik Spiekermann
Erik Spiekermann is typographic designer, author and
typedesigner. In 1979 he founded MetaDesign and built it
into Europe’s largest design studio until his departure in
2001. With his partners at SpiekermannPartners
(offices
are in Berlin, London and San Francisco), he works for
Bosch, Deutsche Bahn (German Railways), Pioneer Investment,
Messe Frankfurt, Nokia, Birkhäuser Verlag, amongst
others, designing corporate design systems, magazine
layouts and exclusive typefaces. Erik is Honorary
Professor at the University of the Arts in Bremen and
recently received an honorary doctorship from Pasadena
Art Center.
Hi Erik,How are you doing these days?
Erik: very busy; behind a few deadlines
When did you first encounter a keyboard or computer?
Erik: in 1968, when Berthold introduced the first Diatronic typesetter
What is your favorite art work / type!?
Erik: My favorite typeface is Block
When you launched www.spiekermann.com V2.0 are you happy with the result of the site?
Erik: yes, but i still don’t have enough time to add content
Would you care to give us a brief overview of what a typical day is
like for you ?
Erik: i get up very early and sit down at my desk at home around 7 to read
the emails that come in at night; i get to the office around 9:30 and
leave for home around 8. Then we have dinner, read or watch a bit of
TV. Then i check emails and some blogs until around 1am. At least
twice a week i have to travel somewhere, so the routine is a little
different.
At the moment i am in San Francisco, so Germany is 8 hours ahead.
Which means i have dozens of emails from the office in Berlin when i
sit down at my computer in the morning.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
Erik: friends, the world around me, travel, music, reading
What kind of music do you fancy?
Erik: very eclectic, but a lot of singer-songwriter stuff and folkish music
What’s your favorite food?
Erik: Indian
What OS do you use ?
Erik: MacOS X
What inspires you? This doesn’t have to be design related.
Erik: friends, the world around me, travel, music, reading…
Thanks for your time Prof. Erik.
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Wonderful. You mean he’s human?!
Love the new film you’re in, Mr. Spiekermann (Helvetica). You’ve been an inspiration for years.
Thanks for you design contributions.
It’s aways fun to read interviews about the people you admire and find out they’re fesh and blood just like you. Mr. Spiekermann has a major infuence on me. Wish I could meet him! He’s such a wonderful designer.