In this edition of Workflow, we have Creative Art Director, Marina Vasilieva, talking about her love for MacBooks and flipping between A$AP Ferg and Dua Lipa for her work soundtrack.
Workflow is an interview series by Balance the Grind to get a glimpse into people’s working styles and workspaces. If you’re interested in sharing your workflow, submit it here!
Describe what you do: I’m a Creative Art Director at Host / Havas, an integrated advertising agency in the heart of Sydney. Working alongside my writer, I’m responsible for creating and bringing ideas to life for any of our brands, such as The Heart Foundation, Sydney Water, RB, and NRLW to name a few.
How do you like your coffee: Long black, dash of cold milk, no sugar.
Device(s) you use: My trusty MacBook for anything work-related, an A3-sized Wacom Tablet to illustrate and bring concepts to life, and my Samsung Note for all things business, quick sketching, and anything on the go.
Describe your working style in one sentence: I get the insignificant stuff out of the way ASAP, so I can make time to clear my head, craft, and be my best uninterrupted creative self for as much as possible each day.
What does your workspace look like: I keep my workspace as simple and clear as I can, so my head and thoughts follow.
Currently I’m working from a makeshift space in my second bedroom due to lockdown, which has floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading out to a balcony with plenty of light. My desk has not much more than a MacBook, monstera plant, and my Aesop hand cream on it – everything else is tucked away into drawers or shelves nearby.
The only downside is that my desk sits in front of an entertainment unit, but I capitalise on it by using the TV to create some ambience for my workday.
How does your workspace affect your creative process: Significantly. My environment and workspace affect the way I think and feel – the more free my space is, the more free my thoughts are. Conversely, if it’s chaotic and cluttered, my headspace follows suit.
As an Art Director I pull from a lot of beautiful things for my work, so to curate my space as much as I can, and surround myself with beautiful things that inspire me creatively where possible.
Do you have a favourite playlist for work: I could be listening to anything from the Esbjörn Svensson Trio to A$AP Ferg or Dua Lipa – just depends on the day. I find myself curating my music based on the kind of work I’ve got on, or what kind of environment I want to create for myself that day.
Who would you like to nominate for the next workflow interview: My copywriter, Taylor Thornton.
Before you go…
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