Stefanie Posavec

Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Gustave Flaubert have never looked so good. And that’s all thanks to designer Stefanie Posavec, who has re-imagined their classic book covers into artistic masterpieces. Stefanie works on new book cover designs as well, like her recent collaboration with Scott Schuman (aka The Sartorialist) to create his debut compendium of fashion images. Looking past physical novels, Stefanie just finished up designing the visual elements for MyFry, the iPhone app edition of Stephen Fry’s latest autobiography, The Fry Chronicles. See how Stefanie is taking a fresh look at 10 ANSWERS below.

1. How would you describe your work in three words?
Analytical. Obsessive. Heartfelt.

2. Who is your creative role model?
Anyone who isn’t afraid to make an idea happen. People who have the confidence to just DO things without worrying, I envy them. I am a chronic worrier!

3. If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it?
I would wander around London, looking at galleries, sitting in parks, and turning down streets I don’t know. Preferably with a personal soundtrack on headphones. When I am busy I miss the opportunity to go exploring.

4. What place in the world most inspires you and why?
I am inspired by Malawi, a small African country near Zambia and Mozambique. My husband supports a small school here (www.ganetsadventureschool.org) and each time we visit, I am amazed at the ingenuity and entrepreneurship of both the woman that runs the school and other Malawians. Also, the plant life, colours, patterned textiles, and hand-painted signs are great for visual inspiration.

5. If you could do a different job for a day what would it be and why?
I would love to work at a printer’s because being able to open tins of saturated, pure inky colour would be bliss.

6. What is your favorite homemade gift to give?
I don’t give many handmade gifts, but my favourite way to show love to all my London friends is to cook a big American Thanksgiving meal for them every year.

7. What is your favorite object in your home?
A recipe book my mother gave me of all typical family meals from throughout my youth. It’s one of the very few connections to Denver I have in my flat in London.

8. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Nothing worth having comes easy. I try to remember this when I am feeling lazy.

9. What websites do you use for inspiration?
I look on all the standard design websites (ffffound.com, todayandtomorrow.net, butdoesitfloat.com, thisiscolossal.com) but I find that randomly typing concepts into Google Image Search brings up some of the most random and interesting (and least-curated, which is sometimes a good thing) imagery that I ever find.

10. When do you consider a piece of your work complete?
When the deadline arrives. It’s one of the nice things about being a designer and not an artist, the fact that there is something forcing you to stop.