Here she is, the Italian Berliner, the humorous and talented Giulia Hartz. In this explorative read, Berlin based Giulia Hartz discusses her publication project, how she developed her communication style, and her hopes for a more diverse creative industry.
Q N°1: Tell us what you do and what projects you’re currently up to!
As with every beginning of the year, it’s not a busy time on the client front. So I am focusing on updating my portfolio, creating social media content and customisations of objects. I am additionally working on a personal project that will be launched later in Spring on my online shop: the Summer Book, a publication designed and written by me. I already had a first volume last Summer and I am just about to send a test print — I’m truly excited! As for the rest, you’ll find everything on my Instagram!
Q N°2: Where is home for you?
6 years after moving to Berlin I finally feel at home! It’s a mix of people and objects to me — let me explain. On one hand it’s the people around me that make me feel like I am part of a safe network of creative humans who make me feel like I belong. On the other hand is my actual space, all the little things part of my daily life that make my day comfortable and familiar.
Q N°3: What kind of skills are important to possess in your industry or role?
I’m an illustrator, a brand designer, a content creator and I also run my online shop — so the required toolset varies as technology and society evolve and it’s constantly challenged by how briefings are formulated. What I believe is important however is a proactive and flexible mindset: that can overcome any lack of skills.
Q N°4: Describe your creative life in 4 words?
Passionate. Humorous. Tormented. Holistic.
Q N°5: What advice would you give your younger creative self?
To my younger self I would say that you don’t need to be shy about your creative side and the whole journey is not going to be easy. When you feel discouraged, look around and bond with people going through similar challenges. You’ll be surprised by how much strength that can bring you!
Q N°6: Was there a moment or learning curve that dramatically shaped your path as a professional?
I think for me it’s never been a moment that changed it all — it’s been more about each daily learning that you take home, being that I was in university, employed in an agency or at the design in my studio apartment. I look at what I am doing and try to check in with myself on how it feels. For sure switching from a full-time job to a freelance life has been a big step, but it felt like the natural next step, what I needed to do.
Q N°7: One thing within your creative industry that could be improved?
I wish there would be more awareness of the kind of effort that goes into the design work and what consequently it deserves to be retributed. Additionally I wish for a more diverse creative sector.
Q N°8: Recommend a book, platform or other that re-shifted your perspective and approach to creative work!
I try to keep up to date with the design world everyday and for sure social media is a huge part of it. However I particularly am fond of magazines (online or printed) like Brillo Magazine, Collateral.al, Eye On Design, ItsNiceThat… Just to name a few. I listen to podcasts like CaffèDesign (in Italian) weekly talking about innovation, design and branding. I love reading designers’ autobiographies and I recently finished a book called “Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-racist, Non-binary Field Guide for Graphic Designers” that I think is the one book any contemporary designer should have on their desk.
Q N°9: Please share one of your driving values or principles you adhere to on the day-to-day.
I try to be very transparent and honest regarding everything I do with my clients, my colleagues and my community. For clients it’s about having an open communication style, guiding them and having them be part of the design process, explaining where certain creative decisions came from.
For fellow creatives I think it’s important to be open about the challenges, stand by each other and don’t be afraid to tackle (taboo) topics like money. For my creative community on social media I try to show how bad days, anxiety and insecurity are a big part of me and the job.
Thanks for reading Heart to Heart with Giulia Hartz (@giuliahartz)!
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