Again I had the great pleasure of interviewing another great designer. Dopaminart has a very unique style and seems to always show something new and impressive. Take a look at this young aspiring designer and keep your eye on him. Take a look at his website at: http://www.dopaminart.com/

Hey man, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. How about you tell us a little about yourself and say hi to the readers?

No Problem. It’s 9 in the morning and I just had the first cup of coffee.
Let’s begin it like this: Hi, my name is Kai Isselhorst and I’m addicted to coffee. I’m 22 years old and currently live in Dinslaken, Germany. I’m a Designer and Illustrator since a couple of years now.

How did you start with graphic design?

I started my artistic career when I was around 10 years old. I was a graffiti writer for about 4 years and then turned into other artistic media. This got me into graphic design when I was 16. I heard about a special apprenticeship at a vocational school which gave me the chance to combine my high school grade with a strong subject in Graphic Design.
Before, I had to stay once or twice a month for a couple of hours cleaning my desk because I was more into doodling tags and throw-ups on it than listening to my math teacher.
That means, I didn’t have to think a long time about it. So I went there and started to make my first logos.

I know Germany has a huge graffiti scene; how much has this played into your style of graphic design now?

Yes. Germany has/had a huge graffiti scene. Along with other European countries we developed our own thing through the years. I remember DAIM and LOOMIT to be my biggest influence back then. If you take a closer look at them you will see that there’s a gap between those styles and my passion for abstract renders I started with in Cinema 4d at the age of 17. Of course every Designer develops on how to arrange graphical elements and get them into a specific flow. This “knowledge” still helps me when doing illustrations today. I’m very happy to be rooted in writing.

How about inspiration? Lot’s of people seem to be inspired by browsing the web or listening to music. What would be your biggest source of inspiration?

That’s a tough question. Of course I got my sources of inspiration as everyone, and some of them might have a bigger value than others, but I try not to concentrate on single sources. I’m in danger when just getting inspiration through weblogs for example. I’m sure my work would look like everyone else’s in the end.
A big inspiration is music. I can’t get enough from it. Currently I’m listening to a lot of Postrock and experimental bands like God is an Astronaut, This will destroy you, Sigur Ròs and a cool Band called “Seidenmatt” from Berlin.
I get myself into book stores from time to time searching for older ones that look interesting to me. Last time I got there and pulled out a newer publication about illustration, and I saw works from Drew Flaherty. A member of the depthcore collective just like me. Again, that was like a silent confirmation to leave these books where they are and concentrate on other things.

I read in your latest journal on deviant art, that you were giving up on school. Why did you decide to do this?

First, I decided to give up University. I have a degree in Graphic Design Assistance and made my way through 4 Semesters of Communication Design. So I don’t feel like I’m unskilled at all. University has been a strong plus on my path, but it seems like things are changing now. Of course I still don’t feel finished with learning at all. But I asked myself: “Wouldn’t it be the same even when I finish college? Wouldn’t I learn more when being employed at a studio or agency?”
Lots of people told me I made a bad decision but in the end its about how I feel as a individual. I feel like I have to go forward and everything else doesn’t make me happy at all.
Plus, I think that the ownership of money is way too overrated as an artist. I don’t get the point of studying a creative subject just for the matter of my salary. I could have made my way as a broker then…

When you design, do you create work to target a specific audience or do you tend to create art for yourself?

That depends on the project I’m working on. Some projects need to be designed for a specific audience. Most of my personal works don’t. A funny thing is that my personal works seem to fit perfectly into Spanish speaking areas. I know that because I get a lot of response from Spanish speaking corners around the globe. I even have a request for an interview from a Art, Design and Architecture mag located in Panama laying on my desk.
I don’t know why that is, but I like it that there is a specific audience that is not only from Design Communities like Deviantart or whatever.

Do you read a lot of blogs, websites or web/magazines on design topics like photo manipulation or typography?

I got some I read more often but I’m always searching for some new blogs, because everyone has different characteristics. I think I can get more input when I browse this way. And that’s what its all about right? Input Input Input. Sometimes I think that its possible for me to give workshops in consolidated knowledge of history in Design in about 30 years. Whatever…
usually I think its good to have a huge network to share information, but it starts to make me more sick from day to day. All this seems just to ensure personal success of individuals rather then share knowledge. Everything is about to see but more about to be seen nowadays. It’s depreciating as it could get.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I don’t know. Its as simple as that. Currently I’m into getting a job besides setting up a portfolio with my friend Heiko Klug known as Jesar-one.
The only thing I can assure you is that I will put even more effort in my creativity. I don’t think I will have a chance on a career as a singer. We just cant have it all haha.

Well, thanks a lot for taking the time to say hi to everyone. Good luck in the future and we will keep our eye on you.