Below is an interview with Astonish Magazines graphic designer & art director, Gia Trimble. Born in Brazil, she moved to the Los Angeles to pursue her career.
Photo by: Ted Emmons
How did you come to be involved with Astonish?
The editor (Ashley Gomila) reached out to me a long time prior-to, we had been a fan of each others work for a while. We were both unavailable but after talking for months I finally joined the team and it’s been one of the most pleasant experiences in the world.
This project allowed me to work with so many people whose work eclipses the sun, this experience set the bar very high for other future projects.
Who were the biggest inspirations for your career?
Frida said “I am my own muse, I am the subject I know the best. The subject I want to know better,” I am inspired by my own process and personal life.
Outside of that, my biggest inspiration comes from everyone I’ve ever met who ever believed in me and supported me. Gratitude goes a long way for me, and I overextend myself for people who’ve been patient with me.
Creatively, most of the work I dig are by anonymous people.
Who are your favorite photographers?
Currently:
- Daniel Sannwald
- Mert & Marcus
- Paul Jung
- David M. Cortez
- Ted Emmons
Who are your favorite artists:
Currently:
- RAFA F.
- Yoko Honda
- Venus Mansion by Lee Seoul
- Dom Sebastian
- Dali
Where are you, creatively at the moment?
I am currently exploring a part of my ethos that I’ve always suppressed which is darkness. Growing up I was very sensitive to my surroundings and I learned to use humour to comfort myself. In addition to that, I am constantly learning new skills, so I am going to channel this new energy into my work and see what I make with that direction and better methods. I am taking the long road.
Who would you like to work with next?
For the past year or so, I’ve been obsessed with Complex Magazine. They have a strong creative director that I would absolutely love to work with. When I look at Complex I see so much creativity, you can tell they have a great creative department. I fell in love with print and want to focus on that platform.
What do you enjoy most about your job, your career?
It’s a blessing and a curse, the continuous learning. There are days where I sit on the grass and smile because my life path is very tangible; I just have to keep learning and exploring. There are other days when I am tired and all I can think about it ‘does it ever stop? Im exhausted.’
Nonetheless, as a creative, it’s important to work all the time, learn new skills and equipment. We live in a solution-based society when it comes to design which requires you to seek visual solutions to strategic problems. Therefore not only are you learning to design, your critical thinking has to constantly be developed and challenged.
What are some of your favorite pieces?
As a creative I am really hard on myself, it allows me to push myself harder. So technically, while there are things I really love that I made, I can’t really point out a favorite piece. This issue of Astonish Magazine is one of my most conducive bodies of work. I grew so much during the process and the process in itself was so beautiful.
What’s are your favorite musicians to listen to while working?
I have a pattern of repetitive behavior that allows me to focus, I listen to the same album hundreds of times. My favorites are Blue by Joni Mitchell, Hissing Fauna, are you the Destroyer by Of Montreal, anything by Aphex Twin, The Weeknd and most recently I was introduced to Marilyn Manson & The Spooky Kids.
What advice would you give to beginners?
- Its ok to be sensitive, but don’t take yourself seriously to the point you become a tragic caricature.
- I’d encourage anyone wanting to pursue a creative career of any sort to seek three types of people: people who are your equal, people you can learn from, and a person you can teach your knowledge to.
- Keep creating, artists don’t only create when they’re inspired, inspiration comes from the process, it’s all about showing up and doing the work.
- A career in a creative field shouldn’t be romanticized, romanticizing can be detrimental to growth because the lines between reality and romance are blurred.
- Problems are not solved on their own. Design can be like a math problem, you have to keep pining at it until you figure out the equation. The answer will come to you.
