Leon Butler
How did you become interested in your career? |
I’ve always been kind of stuck at a bridge between art and technology and wanted something that would encompass both. I loved drawing but I was also into building computers and so Industrial Design, which I studied as my undergrad, seemed like a great fit to allow me to do both in a creative way to solve problems. That led me towards other areas like animation and graphics, which once I was into the course I found more interesting than the engineering side, which I was never particularly good at, I was always more taken with the aesthetic and presentation of the product. |
What has your career looked like so far? |
When I graduated I ended in the housing market doing stuff like 3D modelling and rendering of houses that weren't built yet. We'd make a DVD of it and some graphics and they would sell them off the plans. It was a small start-up - which was cool. I always played in bands and we never had any money, so I designed the posters and EP covers myself, if someone was putting on a DJ night, I'd design the posters so I ended up doing a lot of fun stuff on the side. |
Day in the Life: Describe your typical working day. |
I work between Galway and Dublin so it depends where I wake up but typically I try to have some breakfast and then meditate for a couple of minutes. I like to leave some things I’ve been working on the day before on screen so after having distance, and the benefit of fresh eyes, I can see if there is something that jumps out or needs tweaking. I spend a lot of time in my notebook planning projects and crossing bits off the list as I go. I usually fire off the work that needs to go out and then make my way through any work that has come in. |
If you could give your younger self a piece of advice what would it be? |
Do the things that scare you because that’s the only way you can grow. |
Design & Crafts Council of Ireland