11 Questions with: Sam Thomas

Field Trip: Interview

Apr 21, 2022

I’m excited to introduce a new interview style series on Field Trip – 11 Questions with:

I sent off 11 questions to designers in the early stages of their careers, asking them a set of questions that help us get to know them a little bit. This week’s article features freelance graphic designer, Sam Thomas.

Q1. To start, could you tell us who you are and where you work?

My name is Sam Thomas, I’m a freelance graphic designer working primarily in the music space, and I’m based in Leeds, northern UK.

Q2. Did you study design or are you self-taught? If you did study, how did you find it, do you think a degree is necessary these days?

I did study design! I have my masters in it, but honestly, if you already have the design/art bug, I do not think its necessary to have a degree! Before (American) college, I’d always been artistic, but didn’t really know about graphic design. College got me into design and showed me what was possible, the rest was history. I made a lot of wonderful friends, and had some incredible professors that I’ll never forget, but I don’t have a single piece of college work in my portfolio. I do have a few masters bits like my dissertation which I made into a zine of sorts, but only a couple others.

Basically, if you already have the design bug, it might not be worth the $100k in debt I have barreling towards me at the end of this year, as not one client I’ve ever worked for ever in my 4-5 years freelancing has ever mentioned or took note of my MA degree. Take all that with a grain of salt, everyone’s different and wants different things! As cliche as it is, do what feels right.

Q3. Is there anything you felt unprepared for going into work?

Honestly, I figure out new things I don’t know everyday. Keeping track of my “books” and finances and all that is incredibly difficult, I still haven’t found a great way to do it.

Q4. Do you work from home or go into the office? Do you like your situation or would you change it?

I work from home in the most in-glamorous setup you’ve ever seen! I used to work from the small desk in my bedroom, but have since moved to the larger living area dining table. I’m very grateful for the hardware I have, with my overpriced Apple load-out (total fanboy), but would definitely like to have a nicer desk to sprawl out onto. I’ve looked at communal desk spaces in town, and have heavily considered it, but it still feels like a step up in terms of the scope of my career.

Q5. How do you feel about freelancing/side projects, do you feel a pressure to do these?

Full-time freelance so n/a lol

Q6. What are you working on right now?

Jeez…well. At this current current moment, things have dried up a bit, as I’m kind of coming off the heels of some bigger projects that have just recently been released. Those were what I’d worked on for a few months, but at the moment I’ve been working on my weekly newsletter GLASSES, along with taking this work-lull as an opportunity to do some life admin. Just a couple weeks ago I picked up going to the gym, which has been a pretty big life change, and have also been looking into housing for next year!

Q7. Do you listen to music when you work? If so, what do you listen to? (very welcome to drop a playlist)

I very much do, I almost use designing as an excuse/opportunity to listen to music :) Music is such a massive part of my life, and where I get so much of my inspiration, so it’s almost constantly on somehow. Lately, I’ve been super into three Apple Music playlists, Today’s Indie Rock, Indie Folk, and Comfort Zone. Been loving the new Wet Leg album, along with whatever the hell GIVEON has out.

Q8. What have you been consuming lately?

I’ve been enjoying a bunch of super good series on streaming!! Recently I’ve watched Severance, which in my opinion is the greatest show out, For All Mankind, and am currently crushing Servant (all on Apple TV+…yikes). I don’t read much at all, but I do like “personal development” (self-help in disguise) books. The School of Life is a killer publishing house that churns out lovely digestible books on anything you could think of in that space. Right now I’m finishing up How to Overcome your Childhood, and just picked up On Confidence. People might think this genre is laughable or pathetic or something but I really am interested in doing what I can to make sense of my brain and just being a better, happier Sam.

Q9. What do you do in times when you don’t feel inspired or motivated?

I’m there right now actually, and boy is it no fun. I think as designers/artists, we naturally define ourselves by producing work, and when that’s not coming naturally for a little bit, it feels like your world is crumbling. For me, I guess I just sort of go a little into sponge mode, and take in the world around me as much as I can. The spark will come back eventually :)

Q10. Is there anyone you look up to or turn to for advice?

For life life life stuff, the big stupid scary stuff, I can FaceTime my parents if need be, or turn to some friends, which I’m so grateful to have of course. For design/industry stuff and advice, I’ve turned to bigger designers so many times! When I got my first album packaging project, I had NO clue what to charge, so I reached out to a few big designers I look up to and they helped me out :) Obviously people get busy and stressed, but most times are so nice and helpful if you ever need advice.

Q11. Finally, what are you most excited about as your career progresses, are there any particular goals you have?

I’m pretty energized by the recent projects and clients I landed, and am really trying to leverage them to get more industry experience. I have big big big design goals, I’m gonna design for Drake and Post Malone in the next five years! I hope to crack into indie rock/post punk too, with bands like Squid and Fontaines D.C., so I have my sights set high for sure. J. Cole said “if you don’t aim too high, then you aim too low.” !!!