"A Day in the Life of Ali Martín Filsoof": an exposure of the fast-paced industry's demands
In our Day in the Life series, we caught up with Ali Martín Filsoof, the founder of Design Dept, an LA-based creative studio specializing in brand strategy, design, and packaging. With a unique approach to branding that blends precision, symbolism, and emotional resonance, Ali has made a name for himself in the design industry.
Born in Tehran and raised in Lima, Ali's upbringing profoundly influenced his design sensibility. Tehran, with its centuries-old tradition of calligraphy and geometric ornament, instilled in him a respect for precision and symbolism. Lima, on the other hand, introduced him to a bold, vibrant, and improvisational aesthetic seen in street murals and hand-painted signs. This multicultural experience, combined with his later life in Los Angeles, shapes his philosophy of creating brand identities that live at the intersection of structure and spontaneity.
After moving to California at age seven, Ali studied graphic design at SDSU and worked at agencies like Phenomenon and Cahan & Associates. Today, he leads Design Dept, a studio known for its distinct minimalist aesthetic inspired by Japanese and Swiss design. Among his favourite tools, Ali mentions Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, and InVision.
When asked about his dream project, Ali expressed a desire to work on a project for a company that values design as a key component of their identity. He believes that the design industry needs improvement in terms of inclusivity, and if he could give career advice to his younger self, he would emphasize the importance of time management and prioritizing projects.
Though Ali did not share specific details about a tricky work-related challenge and how he approached it, he did discuss his typical day in his role at Design Dept. His day is a balance of meetings, brainstorming sessions, and hands-on design work, all aimed at creating brand identities that are both simple and emotionally meaningful.
Among Ali's branding pet peeves is overly complex and cluttered designs. He believes that good design is about balance, and that simplicity and purposefulness are key to creating effective and memorable brand identities. His work exemplifies this philosophy, drawing on his global background to create sophisticated, purposeful designs that are both simple and emotionally meaningful.
[1] Design Dept's website: https://www.designdept.co/ [2] An interview with Ali Martín Filsoof: https://www.fastcompany.com/90307069/how-design-dept-is-redefining-branding-for-the-modern-era
- Ali Martín Filsoof, the founder of Design Dept, draws his design sensibility from his multicultural upbringing in Tehran, Lima, and Los Angeles, blending precision from Persian calligraphy with vibrant improvisation from street art in Lima.
- As a designer, Ali values Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, InVision, and Figma as essential tools for his minimalist designs, inspired by Japanese and Swiss design.
- With his unique approach to branding, Ali Martín Filsoof advocates for a balance of structure and spontaneity in creating brand identities, emphasizing simplicity and purposefulness.
- A hypothetical dream project for Ali would be working with a company that places a high value on design as a core element of their identity.
- For Ali, good design is not just about aesthetics, but also about inclusivity and effective communication, which he believes the design industry needs to improve upon.
- If Ali could give advice to his younger self, he would emphasize the importance of time management and prioritizing projects.
- To further understand Ali's approach to design, one can explore his works on Typography, UI, UX, Illustration, Photography, and Layout, which can be found on the Design Dept's official website.
- Ali Martín Filsoof's pet peeve in branding is overly complex and cluttered designs, a issue he addresses through his unique design philosophy.
- To learn more about Ali Martín Filsoof's thoughts on design, business, finance, and the creative industry, read his interview on Fast Company.
- Design Dept's brand identity showcases the studio's focus on minimalism, symbolism, and emotional resonance, setting them apart in the design industry.
- As an artist, Ali seeks inspiration from various sources, from classic calligraphy to bold Lima street murals, and as a designer, he transcends these influences into contemporary graphic design solutions that captivate and engage audiences.
