Who the hell is Jake Richardson?

We’re a group of creatives who are serious about changing the world for the better. Introducing the people of DixonBaxi; get to know some of the brilliant minds behind our work as we dive into all things professional and personal. We caught up with Jake–one of our interns–about digital design influenced by traditional art practice and giving Legolas a run for his money. This is the rest of that conversation:

Who are you and what do you do?
Hi I’m Jake! I’m a digital design intern at DixonBaxi, with a background in motion design and branding.

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What’s your story?
Originally from a fine art background, I’ve always had a passion for anything creative. Whether that meant making DIY sculptures in the back garden when I was a kid, drawing hyper-realistic portraits in school or screenprinting during university – I have always been making things.

It wasn’t until I reached college (high school) that I discovered my passion for traditional design where I was able to explore printing and letterpress, bringing my hands-on skills into the world of design.

Interestingly, this all changed due to COVID as my personal interests shifted more to the digital world, where I now explore the use of creative coding and motion design within the context of branding. That doesn’t mean I gave up on print – I still love a good screenprint here and there!

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What are you working on right now?
Currently helping to build a visual system that captures the idea of harmony and partnership through motion and digital prototypes. A very exciting project to be a part of!

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“In a world surrounded by communication and visual culture, the things we see influence what we do. Whether that be through more physical or digital outputs, design is everywhere and it’s our purpose as designers to help make an impact on our lives for the better!”

Describe your working style in 3 words.
Conceptual. Experimental. Practical.

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Tell us about some of your interests. What are you into?
Growing up near nature, I’ve always loved being outdoors. Whether that be down the coastline or in forests, I always loved escaping into my imagination. That being said, I have always had a love for archery – something I’ve been doing since I was 9. At the time this involved me running around in the forest pretending to be Legolas from Lord of the Rings – which was great fun. But now I’ve moved to London I do a more tamed version of it. I also love music, film and overall just being a social butterfly!

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Do you think design can change the world? How?
100%! In a world surrounded by communication and visual culture, the things we see influence what we do. Whether that be through more physical or digital outputs, design is everywhere and it’s our purpose as designers to help make an impact on our lives for the better!

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If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Power and ego. I know that’s technically two, but both go hand in hand. I think if we were able to let go of these traits as humans, we would live a much more peaceful life and it would allow us to embrace more empathy and equality overall.

What’s the last song you listened to?
Cinnamon by Tamino in his new album ‘Sahar’ – a very magical album to get lost in.

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Why do you do what you do? What motivates you?
I love problem-solving, and I feel design is a powerful tool to fulfil these needs! Whether that be within the process itself or creating the final product, it’s all a learning experience and it feels like there are endless possibilities now to create unique and exciting work. For me, that motivates me.

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What’s your definition of good design?
Anything that solves a purpose! If it has a reason to be there and fulfils its need, then to me that’s exactly what it should be doing. I guess it also has to look pretty too, but that’s open to debate.