John was recently asked by the guys over at design studio Mat Dolphin to take part in their regular Ten Questions series which invites artists, designers, illustrators, photographers etc to share their thoughts with the industry at large. To discover more about other participants including Michael Johnson – johnson banks, Michael C. Place – Build and Simon Manchipp – Someone, visit their blog here.

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Ten Questions with John Dowling

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1. How do you describe what you do?
I’m a designer who draws and colours in all day (according to my four year old son).

2. What made you want to do what you do?
I found from an early age that I was very good at drawing. I was guided through my school years by great teachers who encouraged me to pursue a career in art and design. Through my college and university years I began to understand how I could make a living out of what I loved doing. This seemed like an added bonus.

3. How would you describe your workplace?
A small, bright, open space with white walls, wooden floors and thousands of books. Located in a former Victorian oil seed mill and warehouse on the banks of the river trent in Newark, directly above a bar, next door to a museum, down the road from a castle.

4. What is your favourite colour?
Red, Yellow and Cyan. You’ll find they’re the colours on the Pantone coated, uncoated and matt chip books which I designed at Pentagram back in 2000.

5. Who is your favourite artist or writer?
Without a doubt, Simon Patterson. A truly inspiring artist and friend.

6. What was your previous job?
Intern at Roundel (exciting), designer at Area (amazing), designer at Pentagram (exhausting), designer at SEA (frustrating), designer at Frost (inspiring) and lecturer at the Lincoln School of Art and Design (educating).

7. Do you work within a team? If so, how many?
In the UK it’s me and I do everything, absolutely everything. Maybe this is why I’m always stressed, exhausted and fall out with people.

8. Do you listen to music whilst working? If so, what?
Loose Ends, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B & Rakim, Madness, 2Tone, Kenny G, Gerald Albright, Bernard Wright, Curtis Hairston, Vivienne McKone, Dayton, Lenny White, Tom Browne and Kashif. Mostly old school Hip Hop, Soul, Pure Groove etc. as you can probably tell.

9. Who inspires you to do what you’re doing?
My two boys – Joseph and Harry.

10. Which advice has helped you the most?
I tend not to seek much advice – it just confuses matters. I make things up as I go along.