emily oberman & bonnie siegler

Number Seventeen, founded in the summer of 1993 by Emily Oberman and Bonnie Siegler, is a multi-disciplinary design firm working in television, film, print, products and the world of computer media. They are currently creative directors at Colors Magazine; creating the identity and advertising for Air America Radio, the left-leaning radio network; designing a book for Jonathan Adler; and developing the on-air identity for LOGO, MTV's soon-to-launch gay TV channel. They have recently completed books for In Style magazine and Will and Grace. Other clients include Saturday Night Live, Conde Nast, Nickelodeon, Hyperion, NBC, MTV, HBO, the Mercer Hotel, the Maritime Hotel and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In their spare time, Oberman teaches design for television at Cooper Union and Siegler teaches design for television for the MFA program of The School of Visual Arts.

Do you feel hopeful about 2005?
In terms of our careers, sure. If we didn’t feel hopeful, we should pack up and try something else that we did feel hopeful about. Of course, as business owners, we are always concerned with keeping work (good work) flowing through the office. Probably all business owners worry a little everyday. We know we do. In terms of our field, right at this moment, it’s been a while since anything really shook it up.

How has graphic design changed since you started?
When we started (this question makes us feel old!), we were specing type and sending it out to be set. The closest thing to design applications for Macintosh were MacDraw and MacPaint. Sometimes we miss those days. There was something wonderful about specing type and seeing what came back in the morning. Those people knew their shit, and the way they “understood” typography was definitely different than the way we do now, using a Macintosh. (Oh, Joe at Trufont, we miss you.)

What is your workday like?
We work very, very hard all day long. And then we go home. And worry about the work we did during the day. Occasionally, there are still late nights and weekends, but, in general, we are much more efficient then we used to be.

How and where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere. It could be something hanging on the wall in the background of a scene in a movie, or it could be street art, or it could be in a design book, or it could be waiting for the subway, when design is the furthest thing from your mind.

What are you currently listening to, watching or reading?
Listening to: a mix of everything on our iPods. (And we do mean everything, from Ella Fitzgerald to Jay-Z, with the occasional Italian lesson for good measure.) Watching: The Office, The Daily Show, Arrested Development, The Simpsons, The Apprentice. Reading: The New York Times, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, The Plot Against America, Life of Pi, John Henry Days.

What do you like to do in your time away from work?
Work. Just kidding. We read, watch and listen to all of the above, spend time with our loved ones and get inspired by everyday objects and extraordinary moments of everyday life.

nessim

A designer who believes in the converging of mediums, Nessim is the principal of iamalwayshungry (IAAH), a design studio that creates print and interactive resources for clients nationwide. Before founding IAAH, he served as associate creative director at the interactive design firm Genex. Nessim's clients included Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Lions Gage Films, Activision, Disney and Turner Broadcasting. He helped develop the sites for A Mighty Wind, Seabiscuit and Mystic River, to name a few. Nessim’s work has been recognized by an array of organizations, competitions and publications both nationally and internationally. He has been featured in books from HarperCollins, Rockport and Die Gestalen Verlag.

Do you feel hopeful about 2005?
The “hump year,” so to speak. The decade thus far has been an interesting one. It feels like just yesterday that everyone sat by their tv sets waiting for things to explode due to the “millennium bug,” whatever that was. So far, so good, though. I have a tendency to push myself, with an insatiable desire to be a part of excellent work. And in some ways it has got me where I am today. It is hard to predict how this new year will be with the current state of government, world affairs and economy. But something tells me it will be memorable.

Has graphic design changed since you started? I read an article the other day that stated the field is the fastest growing course of study at several UK universities. Seems like it's a common trend. Several friends at universities here in the States say the same thing. The work is evolving as an "artform" and is influencing many other practices. As the work evolves, so does the public’s perception of it, resulting in a higher appreciation of the aesthetic value of creative work. It's a slow process and as professionals, it's still our responsibility to stand up and educate those who don’t understand the value of what we do.

What is your workday like?
It fluctuates. Overall, I would say that there are a lot of early mornings and even more late nights. I have a tendency to work a lot, and find it hard to separate from it. “Work” isn't really work, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It depends on how you look at it. I feel pretty lucky.

How and where do you find inspiration?
I find that inspiration is something you can't find on the shelves at Wal-Mart or the corner store. Or can you? It's hard for me to describe. It can come at any second, from almost anything. The key to finding it, though, is an open mind. The moment one begins to limit oneself through thinking or actions, the possibilities diminish. With that said, I'm off to Wal-Mart to be inspired.

What are you currently listening to, watching or reading?
My ears are diggin’ the Canadian band, Explosions in the Sky; the electro beauty of Funkstorung; and the latest über-nice mix by Peanut Butter Wolf of the Stones Throw label. My eyes have been attuned to The Incredibles, Maria Full of Grace, Badasssss and the continuing evolution of work online. Lastly, I have been buying The Brand Gap, by Marty Neumier, as a Christmas present. Go grab a copy.

Who would have been your ideal presidential candidate?
Hmm (scratching my head). I personally feel as though things are in bad sorts. Today, it seems that the country rides the fence on every issue and eventually lands on the side of the stooge with the best answer at the time the question is asked. Personally, I've always been kinda partial to Curly.