This interview features Graphic designer Mathias Nösel. Based in Munich, Germany, this designer has a unique vision and sheer talent that would blow you away! His works features a variety of styles, concepts and inspirations. Get to know more about the ups and downs of being a graphic designer through this interview.

First of all, thank you for letting us have this opportunity to interview you. Can you tell us more about yourself?

Born in 1987 in Tegernsee, grew up in Miesbach – a place with many mountains, woods and cows in Bavaria, Germany. I noticed my love of graphics really late. I started with building simple HTML websites in 2001 but I hated it. Then I had to make some buttons and I installed Fireworks MX. I hated it too… But I realized I could improve my pocket money! So I built some websites during school. I visited a technical school, because I always thought I wanted to become an engineer … But after graduating that school I got to know a new friend, a designer, and after he has seen my websites he said I have to study graphics. And so I did … and I have no regrets! It is the perfect job for me. Until now I'm working at Serviceplan Munich - one of Germany's most successful ad-agencies.

Can you tell us about your learning process? How did you get to where you are now as a designer?

Tutorials!!! You have to do tutorials. It is the most efficient way to get know to your creative tools. But that's not everything. To be good in this job you need an excellent flair of taste. And you get this, for example, by watching what other good creatives do – creative networks, blogs - all the time.

And of course: experience. Its not that easy to learn. Always look at your own work after some time/years. The more you have to laugh about yourself, the more you've learned.

Do you have any creative rituals to help you come up with a concept?

I think there is only one thing I can tell you what's never wrong:

• Everything starts with a blank piece of paper and a pencil.
• And a 'Pencil-Sharpener-Ventilator' (I will explain that later).
• There are a lot of creative techniques you can use.
• You can develop them on your own – that takes time.
• Or you can read some books about creative techniques to speed that up.
• I do that.

Color, line, shape, texture. Which is most important to you when creating your designs?

I don't think that I have a straight line, where there is something very important, when I'm working. It always depends on the project. At the end of a project it has to simply look really good and color, line, shape and textures should build one unit.

Do you have a particular trademark that you keep in your designs?

I like to make dark things with glow and shine, but as well as other things. I have no particular trademark. And I think, I don't want one. I want to do everything in every creative section with a maximum style of variation.