With our Fall 2018 collection inspired by still life art, we interviewed three local artists to learn more about their perspective on art. In our first installment, we meet with Fernando Augusto, a designer based out of Dallas, TX.
What is your occupation?
Fernando: I’m a designer trying to “Make Ideas” happen, creating interactions between my work/brands and the people who experience it.
What’s your favorite movie?
Fernando: My childhood movie is the original Ghostbusters - I see it at least once a year - but one of my favorite grown-up movies is Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog - The way of the Samurai. I like the discipline and working to code mentality of Ghost Dog.
A book you plan on reading?
Fernando: I’m super interested in us Humans and what we can achieve, so I’m planning on reading Yuval Noah Harari’s two books: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind followed by the Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow.
A book that you read that positively shaped you?
Fernando: Although I’m not a big fan of novels, Arturo Perez Reverte “El pintor de batallas” (The Painter of Battles) it’s a very interesting book that taught me that the work that you do and put out there for people to experience always have consequences, good or bad. It taught me to be conscious and responsible with the things I do.
On a scale of one to ten how excited are you about life right now?
Fernando: 8.95 - you can never be fully content otherwise you’ll settle and stop trying to create new stuff.
If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be?
Fernando: A late night supper with John Coltrane.
Who do you look up to?
Fernando: I look up to makers of tangible things that affect people’s lives: architects like Oscar Niemeyer & Tadao Ando, product designers like Dieter Rams or Charles & Ray Eames, Japanese designers like Nigo or Hiroshi Fujiwara and artist like Tom Sachs or Cai Guo-Qiang.
What’s your favorite food?
Fernando: Any traditional Portuguese dish, although I have to admit that pizza is my number 1 - sorry grandma.
Least favorite food?
Fernando: Any variation of cooked salmon & imitation crab/crab sticks - what is that anyway?
Favorite drink?
Fernando: A bold red wine.
Work to live or live to work?
Fernando: Work is living™️.
What’s your dream job if money was not a factor?
Fernando: Money should never be a factor when you’re thinking about that dream job. We all got bills to pay and we should meet those obligations but the rest is always extra. My dream job would be collaborating in the creative process with some of the people I admire - not a “job title” but I hate labels anyway.
Favorite season?
Fernando: Fall just because September is my favorite month of the year.
What’s your favorite city to visit?
Fernando: My hometown Lisboa in Portugal.
What’s the last city you visited?
Fernando: Lisboa for Christmas with family & friends.
Who do you miss most?
Fernando: Not one person in particular but my family & friends back home.
When was the last time you cried?
Fernando: I don’t remember the time or the specific reason but I do often cry whenever I’m frustrated with life.
If you had one superpower, what would it be?
Fernando: Teleportation, although I firmly believe in the Chinese proverb “the journey is the reward”. The problem is that a ten hour airplane ride is not really rewarding, so teleportation would be amazing.
What’s the weirdest word in the English language?
Fernando: Salmon, just because it’s confusing why the L is not pronounced.
Do you like your handwriting?
Fernando: I love my handwriting and I try to make a living out of it.
What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
Fernando: I’m always pissed at something.
What is your most favorite thing about yourself?
Fernando: The fact that I’m always ready to help others.
Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Fernando: The 6th robot that called me today saying that I won this amazing weekend at the resort.
Who was the last person you sent a text to?
Fernando: To my favorite person in the entire world - Filipa.
What has art taught you?
Fernando: Art taught me to be curious about everything, to keep exploring and to be free to experiment on whatever I want.
What’s next?
Fernando: Get another cup of coffee and go on with some other ideas.
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