Steve Mahn

I’m an art director, designer and proud Midwesterner, currently working at Firstborn in NYC. I believe the best work centers on a great idea, but without meticulous execution it will always fall short.

10 questions for Steve Mahn:

• What did you do before becoming a designer?

  During my sophomore year of college I switched majors from Art Education to Graphic Design after I came to the realization that, as a high school art teacher, I would only be getting through to a handful of students per year. I wanted to have a bigger impact. Once I really got into the core design-­centric curriculum, I was hooked.

• Where do you turn for inspiration?

  It comes from everywhere. I find myself looking at many types of creative work—from films and motion design to packaging. But sometimes a quick break for a cup of coffee is all the inspiration you need.

• Which are your favorite studios, designers or agencies?

  There is a ton of great work out there right now. It’s kind of hard to ignore what Watson/DG and Hello Monday did last year. I always have my eye on the work coming out of Instrument, Tool, and Huge. And I’m proud to be a part of the team at Firstborn. It's cool going to work every day and being inspired by the people in my own office.

• Is your city a good place for designers?

  As a recent transplant to New York, I don’t see how any city could be better. The competition, resources and inspiration are endless.

• Which technologies are you excited about in 2015?

  I feel like The Internet of Things is the big, emerging tech on everyone’s mind right now. I’m anxious to see the evolution of wearables. The development team at Firstborn is also doing some rad stuff with Oculus and WebGL. For me, it’s about finding the right idea to pair with these technologies to really make great work.

• Do you listen to music while you work? Describe your playlist.

  My playlist is pretty schizophrenic. It all depends on the weather, my mood, time of day, etc. My wheelhouse is probably indie rock and underground hip hop, but the only thing that is totally forbidden on my Rdio account is mainstream country and EDM.

• Tell us your funniest anecdote related to your work.

  The Nerf basketball court at my previous agency is named Sang Han Memorial Court at Steve Mahn Fieldhouse, and can be found on Google Maps – http://bit.ly/1C5RAKP (Yes, we had a dedicated Nerf court where we had many knock­down, drag out games of H.O.R.S.E.)

• What are you cultural influences? (Music, books, films, ideologies, etc.)

  The term cultural influences sounds so heavy and formal. I think one thing I really try to do is not take myself too seriously. With that in mind, I will say that I am a huge Anthony Bourdain fan. The way that he uses food as an outlet for exploring other cultures is incredibly inspiring. I’m also a huge history nerd. I like knowing who came before me and why they were successful.

• Have you got an academic background or are you self taught?

  I attended a four-­year university. My studies were rooted in traditional graphic design with a heavy influence on typography. I really didn’t get into interactive design until I started my first professional job.

• What do you do in your free time?

  I really love aimlessly wandering around with my girlfriend, Jess, and taking pictures. We cook at home a lot, and I can be found screaming at the TV during St. Louis Blues games and Arsenal matches.

• Where do you see the industry in 5 years?

  I feel like we are about to enter a really special time for interactive design. The lines between disciplines will continue to blur and the content will continue to become more immersive.

• Are you working on any personal projects?

  I am the worst about starting personal projects and letting them sit for months on end. I have been collaborating on a couple different things with two close friends for a while now. As we continue to move across the country they get pushed lower and lower on the ladder of priorities. But we will finish them. We will.

• If you could give one piece of advice to newbie designers, what would it be?

  Work hard and don’t be an asshole, the rest will take care of itself.