Graphic designer Jane Heriot knows that effective design really makes a story pop. We spoke with her about inspiration and collaboration, as well as some of her design pet peeves.

What drew you to design originally?

From the moment I could hold a pencil, it was clear I would end up working in some sort of creative field. I had a lot of creative influence at home, with my mum being a keen painter, sewer and potter, and my grandfather being an architect and watercolour artist.

When I was in Year 9, my art teacher told us about how he had studied graphic design at university. This was the first time I had heard about graphic design, and I thought it sounded like a bit of me. I liked the idea of merging my maths brain with my creative one. Although my small country high school didn’t offer any digital arts or graphics classes, I never changed my mind. In Year 10, I did a week of work experience in Sydney at Real Living Magazine, which shaped my specific interest in editorial design.

I thought [graphic design] sounded like a bit of me. I liked the idea of merging my maths brain with my creative one. Although my small country high school didn’t offer any digital arts or graphics classes, I never changed my mind.

Which part of the process do you enjoy most, and what do you find the most challenging? 

I love the early stages of concept design, browsing and experimenting with new ideas. Testing new colour combinations or font pairings, playing with scale and exploring different finishes. Equally, I find this can be the most challenging part of the process. If the creative juices aren’t flowing, forming a concept is hard.

Layout is the most satisfying stage. At this point, all the styles have been decided, and it is about piecing together the puzzle. My maths brain loves working to a grid, and when I find myself in a good flow, there’s no place I’d rather be.

Which project have you most enjoyed working on during your time at Hyphen?

There are two standout projects for me. The Penrite book was a fun concept to work on. The client had extensive archives with lots of great inspiration for design. I also drew on my signwriting experience, adopting graphic techniques with a vintage feel.

Another favourite project was the animated film for People First Bank, which I did the illustrations for. I enjoyed the challenge of thinking about how they would move and transition from one scene to the next.

How do you tackle designer’s block?

I find it difficult to break a design block. Usually what I need is a new perspective, so I share my work with lead designer Rai, or any other team member, for feedback. This always helps me see things in a new light, and then I can find solutions.

What’s your biggest design pet peeve?

Where do I start? I could write a whole blog post about this… In fact, I did, and it only covered typographic peeves. You can read it here.

When it comes to design pet peeves, I think the biggest crime is a lack of border or white space. When words get too close to the edge of the page or an image, it sends shivers down my spine.

Where do you look for inspiration? 

It’s cliché to say, but inspiration really does come from everywhere. I spend most of my time on social media looking at interiors and architecture, and I take a lot of inspiration from there. I particularly love mid-century design; clean lines, asymmetrical compositions and warm colours. I love incorporating these details into my designs.

When it comes to a new project, I will always do a thorough search through the client’s website and social media channels and look through past books we’ve done. I also save ideas in Pinterest, which can be a great source of inspiration down the track.