Interview with Manuel Guerrero

Manuel Guerrero ("MG") interviewed on Tuesday, 20 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

MG : I’m part of BlueTypo, an independent graphic design studio and creative consultancy, focusing on typography, poster, editorial design and interaction. This studio is owned and run by Eréndida Mancilla and Manuel Guerrero, based in Mexico since 2000.

How did you become a designer?

MG : In the 90’s I become to study design, at that time I don’t know what kind of design discipline take, for one hand, I had interest in Architecture, and the other hand, I liked the Industrial Design and Graphic Design. So I start to study Graphic Design in the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Mexico, when I finish the Graphic Design program, I take the Design furniture program as complement. Years later, I take the Master’s Graphic Design program and recently I take the PhD Architecture, Design and Urbanism program at the Universidad Autónoma de Morelos, Mexico. I think that let me the opportunity to view the design from a multidisciplinary perspective.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

MG : May priorities are focus on the premise “Less is more” by Mies van der Rohe, because I consider the function is the reason to be of design. I don’t have a style in particular, I think we are the result of the time and context in we grow, so, sometimes the design style in my work remains to the early works from the Bauhaus or 60’s Ulm design.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

MG : As student I was influenced by the postmodern design with David Carson, Ed. Fella, Neville Brody and the mexican design tradition like Lopez Castro, Vicente Rojo, German Mantalvo and recently Gustavo Amezaga and the mexican culture that you can see in the handcrafts, architecture, candys and food.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

MG : Learn to do any thing you interest and try to know how the things work. I thing the curiosity is the source of the innovation.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

MG : Never work with the first idea, ask why more than five times and you will find very interesting things to work with.