Rob Gibbs
Creative Director, Robotandsparks.
The Work Questionnaire.
What made you go the way you chose to go?
Passion! I never had a job that enabled me to do what I wanted, how I wanted. So I set up my own studio.
What’s the greatest difficulty you had to overcome to do what you’re doing now?
Trying to get people to buy into the concept of what we are doing. We work in a region where new ways of thinking can sometimes scare people.
What’s the greatest difficulty you face on a daily basis to keep on doing what you’re doing?
Again, validating what we do to the uninformed. Can you imagine how hard it is telling somebody with incredibly traditional ways of thinking that we are designing our own miniature robot toys, that don’t walk or talk, and expect to sell them for $50 each?!
When did you find yourself thinking, “Well, this is it. I’m really doing what I want now”?
I was doing some illustration work for a line of children’s t-shirts we are launching. I was at my desk, the sun was shining and my music was up loud. I was drawing a picture of a pink-ghost-owl with tentacles and blue gang tattoos and I thought to myself, “Damn. I’m getting PAID to draw the crazy shit I used to get in trouble at school for doodling!”
How did you set your activity up? What was the process that led you to do what you’re doing?
Actually, it was losing my job. I was working at an ad agency in Dubai; the economy went crazy and lots of us got made redundant. But I took it personally that they fired me because I wasn’t good enough or that they didn’t like me. From then on I made it my one purpose in life to set up my own design studio, just to prove them wrong, to show them that I was good enough and that I didn’t need their help. I can be quite determined if somebody pisses me off.
How do you imagine the future?
Robotandspark studios in Dubai, London, Miami and Hong Kong, gold-plated Lamborghinis, a Scrooge McDuck style money vault, D&AD Black Pencils, Michelin Stars, Oscars, Nobel Peace Prizes: I want it all!
Ha-ha, I’m just joking – as long as I can support my family and continue doing the things I love, that will be more than enough.
What would you consider to be the main quality in order to survive in your field?
Creativity. I know it is a bit obvious, being a creative studio, but I really can’t emphasize just how important it is to try and be creative, experimental and innovative every single day. It is so easy to be left behind, rest on your laurels. There are far too many talented people around to be complacent when it comes to your creativity.
And what is the indispensable flaw that someone should have in order to get into your business?
Personally I like somebody who has that little bit of arrogance; a cool, confident swagger when they come into a room: “I’m the business, and I don’t care who knows it.”
Of course, they need to be able to back that up when it comes to the crunch.
Filed In: Design
May 25, 2011 at 8:00 am