Simple Student, Simple Designs: An Interview with Haakon Hirt
After trekking through a fresh blanket of snow across Millersville campus, I was relieved to reach the Anchor. Entering into the building tucked on the edge of a massive construction site, I embraced its faint warmth and echoes of loud chatter. I was also prepared to interview a graphic designer who did small wonders for a company whose previous designers failed to create anything the owner wanted. Walking through the side door, I saw both of them; Haakon Hirt and Rasheed Wesley. With bright faces, the two were conversing as if they had known each other for years. The fact was, they had only known each other for a few days. I introduced myself to Haakon, the new designer for Arigato, a clothing company started by Wesley. He was pleasant; a seemingly easy-going college student who has an eye for good art. As I whipped out my laptop to record the oncoming conversation, I was curious how the young man could create appealing artwork in such a short span of time; a task the previous designers struggled to do.
Where are you from?
Originally, I’m from Ellicott City in Maryland. My family moved to Pennsylvania this past August since my parents wanted to downsize. We talked about me going to Millersville before, too. My parents used to live in Pennsylvania for a little before they moved to Maryland and I was born.
How old are you?
I’m nineteen.
Do you have any siblings?
I have a twin sister who also goes to school in Pennsylvania.
What high school did you go to?
I went to two high schools. I went to West Nottingham Academy for two years, then Centennial High School for another two years.
Why did you choose Millersville?
I was just looking for schools with graphic design programs in the Pennsylvania area, and came across Millersville. I took a tour, loved the campus, and decided to come here.
What is your major and year at Millersville?
I’m a freshman and a Graphic Design major.
Why did you choose your major?
I chose it because I started doing design a few years ago, and I realized it was the only way I could get a good career. Especially since my allergies stop me from doing too much physical activity, I’m horrible at math, and so graphic design is a good way to land a career now.
What are some of your hobbies?
Graphic design takes up most of my time between my clients and fun, little projects. I also watch a lot of movies, and I love cars.
How do you find your clients?
I have a website I post my work onto, but that’s more of a portfolio. Most of my clients I work for found me through referrals. I do work for a friend, who refers to me their friend and so on. For example, I did an album cover for my friend Thom Sheils’ album 1992 Nostalgia, and that was because he was a friend. It was a very involved project, though.
Were you always interested in art?
Yeah, as long as I can remember. As a kid, I would always draw and do little pieces of artwork. My mom used to put some pieces up in her office, but I didn’t do graphic design for a long time.
Does your family support your art?
Yeah! I mean, they pay for me to be here. So, if they didn’t support it, then joke’s on them. They’ve always been encouraging it because they knew that I am good at doing art in some capacity. Sometimes my dad will look at my finished products and give me a little feedback. So, they definitely support it.
What is it about designing streetwear that you like?
There’s just a lot of room for creativity in all of it. If you can get the right people working in either field, you get products that are really unique and individual to the brand or to the person, which makes it so much more fun. Every designer does things differently and every streetwear company does things differently, and if you combine the two elements together you get really cool visuals and branding. It’s really important, too, because streetwear is kind of what helps the businesses in small towns, it helps people gets jobs and further their creativity, especially in the big city. Anybody can do it, too, like it’s not like a purely rich, purely poor, purely black, purely white thing. It’s for anybody who’s willing to do it.
What streetwear brands are your favorite?
I’m sort of loyal to Bape. They were sort of my first favorite brand. My shirt is from Bape, my wallet is from Bape, my phone case is from Bape. I like them because back in the day, before they got taken over, they used to have really, really cool designs and they would collaborate in really unique ways. They did a T-shirt as a collaboration with The Godfather, and it had a picture from the movie on it, but then how they packaged it is they wrapped it up in a fake champagne bottle. I also like Supreme just because they have really weird stuff, like a crowbar with just Supreme on it. It makes no sense, but that’s the appeal.
Are there any artists who inspire you?
Joe Perez, who currently works for DONDA. He’s one of the main guys who has been doing a lot of the minimalist album covers recently. It’s not a new concept, but it’s something he almost perfect. ALLBLCK is another one. He did a lot of work for big names. He really has his own style and knows what he's doing, for sure. HK is another guy, but he goes by Henock Sileshi now. He’s insanely talented though, and we started designing around the same time. He obviously did a lot better than I did. He’s a really nice guy too. I started designing alongside people like Pathetic Pixels, RC-Designz, GJ, YohJay, CassoDinero, BenJ, and a lot of others that really helped me along the way. I originally started thanks to a thread on KanyeToThe, and all the members there helped me become so much better than I ever was before. There’s other designers, too, like Peter Saville, who did Joy Division’s artwork for Unknown Pleasures way back when. I’ve even got a shirt with that on it. One of my biggest inspirations is Stanley Kubrick, though. His eye for symmetry, two point perspective and simplicity pretty much translate into everything I do.
What would you say your style is?
My style is pretty minimalistic and simple. When I first started doing design, I didn’t quite have my own aesthetic because I was figuring everything out. As time went on, I learned I liked my art being in the center, clean around the edges, and, preferably, not too many colors or elements. I try to keep it as simple as I can. Even my most busy works have a clean element to them. I also exercise symmetry as often as I can, it’s just really important to me in whatever I make. Now, I’ve been trying to do some artwork that is seamless. So, for the front and back of a cover, if you put them right next to each other, the design would still flow.
Do you remember the first design you ever created?
A song came out a very long time ago. It was called “100 Hunnit,” and it was a Meek Mill and Wale song. I remember I wanted to make a cover for it because there wasn’t one that I liked, so I just took this picture of the two of them at this photoshoot, but there were two people in-between them. I just cut those people out, and put Meek and Wale next to each other. If you look online, you can still find it. It’s not good at all, but it’s one of the first designs I ever made.
How old were you when you made that?
It was in 2011, actually.
How do you make your designs?
95% of my work, I use Photoshop. I’m running on CC right now, which is the newer version. I really like it, though, it’s a little bit simpler [than CS6]. But for anything illustrative, I use Illustrator CC.
How did you start working for Arigato?
So, this actually only happened a few days ago. I was in Breidenstein just getting out of class, hanging out in the lobby. I heard Rasheed talking about this one designer he’s working with who is doing bad designs and asking for too much money. So, I walk over and I’m like, “What’re you looking for?” and then Rasheed explained everything to me. He was trying to find designers and hanging around flyers, and I knew what he wanted was in my wheelhouse. This was only a few days ago, and we already have the branding done.
What do you think you can bring to the company?
I’m one of the few people on Millersville campus who has been doing corporate work for at least a year, maybe two. I’ve built up a solid portfolio, and I know streetwear. I just have an eye for what will look good on a shirt and what won’t look good on a shirt, which is important.
What are some things you’ve been working on that you’re excited about?
The Arigato branding was the most fun part, actually. When we sat down, we just talked about the brand and I got an idea in my head, so I wrote it out. Then, I got back to my room and two or three hours later, we were already 100% satisfied with the design. It was original, it was dope, and I sent the pictures to my friends and asked if they’d buy the shirts. They all said they definitely would. It’s just nice to see on the screen a design that you know is already good. Â
J. Cole, Kendrick or Drake?
I think the problem with each one of those choices it’s like asking would you rather have an Arizona or a Starbucks tea? When I go to the gas station, I’ll want an Arizona. If I’m walking around the city, I might want a Starbucks. The thing is, Kendrick will make me aware of a lot of struggle in a good way. Not only does he really know what he’s talking about, but he speaks out about stuff I don’t know about since I don’t live in Compton, and I get to learn about it. J. Cole is a little more relatable because he doesn’t come from a infamous city, like Compton. He’s just a really good guy, but his hardcore fans are a little bit too crazy. They won’t accept that he’s not Jesus. If it came down to it, and I’m walking to class and have to choose an artist to listen to, I’d go with Drake. Drake is the best choice for a white guy who likes rap since he’s really not out of our comfort zone. He came from a big city, makes music with good groves, and just kinda puts you in a zone. Drake is just a guy you can listen to virtually whenever and it’s all good.
You can find his work at: www.artfularcherdesigns.com