Ian Lynam’s design work is an integral part of PDX visual culture…even though he’s currently based in Tokyo. You’ll recognize Lynam’s logos for Le Pigeon (and before that Colleen’s), Peripheral Produce, the logotype for Gus Van Sant’s company and next movie, Paranoid Park, and for the PDX Film Fest three years in a row.
Lynam did the new identity for YES’s online shop and way back when did the design of Red76’s Dis-Connect mag. So the rest of the world found out about Lynam and he did art direction and editorial design for Rap-Up magazine as well as corporate work for Pony, Nike, Motorola. But you know he’s going to be telling the grandkids one day about doing work for MC Hammer’s travel company the t-shirt designs for Billy Joel and Kiss.
Qualities you most admire in design:
When writing, image-making, research, quality typography and considered layout collide in a graphic design project.
Qualities you most despise in design:
American graphic design magazines. (�migr� R.I.P.)
Reading:
Muj�ng (The Heartless) by Yi Kwang-su & Penguin by Design: A Cover Story by Phil Baines.
Listening to:
Perenially: Mountain Goats, Lungfish, Magnetic Fields This week: I have been on a weird old thrash kick lately. Early Corrosion of Conformity, Reencarnacion, Y.A.C.H.T.
Dream project:
Hmmm… That�s a toughie. Designing and creative directing the full identity and output for a company whose output included music packaging design, editorial/book design, and apparel design.
Favorite virtue:
Enthusiasm
Favorite vice:
Breaking into the milk trucks that line Oregon Street in NE Portland when I am in town and trying to go for a swim.
Tragic flaw:
Scar from a burning marshmallow flung in my eye as a child by a fellow young camper.
Secret superhero power:
Sterile.
That which keeps your afterburners firing:
Miso ramen and okonomiyaki
What you’d like to be when you grow up:
This is it. I couldn’t be happier.
Portland’s best kept secret:
David D�Andrea is an amazing illustrator who recently moved to Portland. His recent screenprinted poster for OM & Asunder is one of the most amazing pieces of illustration work I have ever seen.
Portland heroes (sung or un-):
E*Rock, Jeri Blocker, Selena Hoy.
Interesting on the horizon (PDX…in your case maybe not PDX):
I just started a small-run vinyl-only record label www.moldrecordings.com and I am really stoked on that right now. Also, writing about design and continuing to work with my awesome clients on new unexpected projects.
WHAT TO DO NOW?