Interviews
Meet Tom Graham, the latest designer to join our team.
Tom is a senior UX UI designer and graphic designer from Melbourne, Australia who does his best work when exercising both analytical and creative abilities. He’s currently based in a small town near the Australian Alpine region.
Georgia Watt: Hey Tom! How are you? How does it feel to be part of the Noise team?
Tom Graham: It feels great! I feel like I’ve known everyone on the team for such a long time, but it’s only been a little over a month. I received such a warm welcome when joining the team and onboarding. I honestly couldn’t have asked for much more!
GW: That’s great to hear. So, how did you get into design? Can you tell us a bit about your journey to UX/UI?
TG: The first time I developed a curiosity for design was when I opened up a cereal box as a kid and saw the print registration marks on the inside. I had no idea what they were but I remember thinking it was pretty cool. As a kid, I would spend hours and hours drawing, taking photos, attempting to write music (would love to dig up some of those recordings–cringe, I’m sure), and making and building things too. Although I didn’t have the vocabulary for it at the time, I guess I always enjoyed the process of creating. I didn’t go to design school until my early 20s, but I knew I had found the right path when I was actually excited to do my assignments.
My journey into the world of UX/UI came from an interest in understanding how things worked, and how someone might interact with a product. Throughout my time at design school, I was working as a Junior Designer for a one-person show (two if you count me), who is now one of my best mates and a mentor for all things design. This was the perfect foundation for gaining future experience and employment. I have since worked in-house at startups, a few different Melbourne-based agencies, and some freelance here and there. But now, I’m stoked to be part of the Noise team.
GW: And we’re stoked to have you. You Met Ida — Co-Founder and MD of Noise — in Tokyo, Japan. Is traveling a big part of your life?
TG: That’s right! I met Ida at a co-working space called Midoriso, in Tokyo. I had been traveling and working throughout Japan for a couple of months before setting myself up in Tokyo for a while. I was living with a Japanese family at the time and needed a space to work from. Joining the co-working space was a total game-changer. It was so cool to meet a bunch of people and form some really great friendships. Traveling is definitely something that is super important to me. It sounds cliched, but I love meeting new people, experiencing new things, eating different foods, and being pushed outside my comfort zone. I’m currently back in Australia, living in a small town near the Australian Alpine region. Perfect timing to catch the short snow season and ride the many bike trails in the area.
GW: What is it about remote work that appeals to your personality?
TG: I love working remotely because of the flexibility that it allows; both within the day but also in terms of location. It doesn’t get much better than being able to ride my bike all morning or enjoy the sunshine while it’s out, and then working throughout the afternoon and evening. I also really appreciate being able to work from whichever location I choose and with a team that is fully global. I feel like I gain so much just from chatting to the team about what they’ve been up to over the weekend and that kind of stuff.
GW: What part of design interests you the most, and why?
TG: I think there are two aspects to this for me. I love learning new things, whether that’s learning about a new industry, product, client, or technology; the list goes on. To me, this is a massive part of working as a designer. You can’t really design a solution without knowing the foundations, researching the problem, and investigating potential opportunities. I also love the process of problem-solving. I guess this couples nicely with enjoying the research and learning phase before seeing potential solutions.
GW: And how would you describe your approach to design? Is there something about your process or style that makes you uniquely ‘you’?
TG: Ohhh, tough one! In terms of my design aesthetic, I definitely lean into a ‘less is more’ approach. I really resonate with clean, minimalist layouts that follow a strong grid system. From a user experience approach, I like to design with the mindset of creating something that is functional while also designing an element of delight within the experience. Finding this balance isn’t always easy but I guess that’s something that I always strive towards while designing. Something else that I always keep in mind while working through the design process is the necessity of being adaptable. Every project and client is different and you can’t apply the same solution to achieve a solid outcome. That’s where the fun starts.
GW: Where do you find your creative inspiration? Is there anything that is influencing your work a lot at the moment?
TG: At the moment, a lot of my creative inspiration is actually coming from physical product design. More so, furniture and sculpture. I’m always amazed by how many different ways you can design a chair, for example. It’s a pretty common, simple product that we use every day, but there are so many different adaptations; some functional, some not. Getting outdoors is something I value for maintaining creativity. I love getting out for a ride or a hike when feeling a little bit creatively blocked. But ultimately, I think inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere and it’s important to maintain presence even during mundane tasks.
GW: What is your favourite type of brief? And if you could have one dream project or client, who would they be?
TG: Good question! I think a dream project would be a huge experiential cycling-related project. If I had to narrow that down to a specific client, at the moment I would say Standert. They’re a Berlin-based bike brand making some of the coolest bikes around at the moment. That would certainly tick a few boxes for me. My favorite briefs blend the need for a well-crafted strategy with big conceptual thinking, before needing to strip it right back to thinking about how the user will actually interact with a product, platform, or website.
GW: I know you’re big into cycling and hiking. Are there any other sports or outdoor activities you love?
TG: Yeah, that’s right! Cycling is a big one for me. I’ve been around bikes all my life and I’ve tried a few different styles throughout the years such as BMX, mountain biking, and road. Nowadays I’m mainly into gravel riding. I’m planning a 3 to 4-day bike packing trip along the Great Ocean Road and through the Otways here in Victoria, Australia for later in the year. I also really enjoy getting out for a hike. I grew up skiing and snowboarding as well, and although I don’t get up the hill all that often, really enjoy it when I can.
GW: Awesome! Finally, what are you most excited about now that you’re part of the Noise crew?
TG: I think the biggest thing I’m excited about in being part of the team is learning from everyone else and the other departments. It’s so cool to see such a close-knit team work together and sharing knowledge. And of course, I’m looking forward to continuing to develop, learn and grow as a designer with such a great team.
Interested in being a part of this story? If you want to work with us on either side of the table, please say hello@noisestudio.co
Noise Studio is an international creative agency working at the intersection of digital and branding. We create unexpected design solutions for some of the most exciting names in sports, outdoors and sustainability.
🖥️ www.noisestudio.co | 💌 hello@noisestudio.co
