FLAUNT - The Generation Issue

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Where are you from? What are
your general professional and nonprofessional
interests?
Hi, I’m Lawrence. I’m 20 years old
and I’m from Hinesville, Georgia.
I’m a freelance graphic designer,
web designer, and photographer.
Of course I go to SCAD majoring in
Motion Media Design with a minor
in Film & Television.
What’s the story behind Genius
Aesthetics? What inspired you to
merge your graphic design talent
with the world of fashion and street
style?
Like I said I’m a freelance designer,
and for the past few years I’ve been
under the brand of ‘Buy Lawrence’
and I’ve kind of outgrown that. I’ve
been in the process of rebranding
myself under the Genius Aesthetics
brand. Genius Aesthetics is my
creative company, so I like to call it.
Which merges my creative design
services with my film production.
I’ve always wanted to do an apparel
line, so I figured that with the
rebranding of Buy Lawrence to
Genius Aesthetics, it would be the
perfect time to launch this line. I’m
really utilizing this apparel line as a
marketing tool, to kind of get
my brand out there. Right now
we have some cool apparel that
showcasesmore of the logo, but
definitely in the future I plan on doing
more apparel that incorporates
more typography, photoraphy, and
graphics. Doing this is just a great
medium to get my work out there,
When did you realize you wanted
to enter the world of fashion and
what was the first article of clothing
you created a design for?
I can recall wanting to do an apparel
line way back in middle school when
I first started getting into graphic
design. However I didn’t have the
resources and funds that I do now.
And honestly timing is everything;
my designs would have looked like
crap if I had done it back then.The
first design that I did for this line
was the graphic tee with my face
on it. I randomly showed it to a
friend and the first thing they said
was “I would definitely wear that”.
Which was a shock to me. I thought
who wants to walk around with my
handsome face on a shirt? Then I
showed it to a few more friends and
I kept getting similar reactions.
What are some of your
accomplishments as a designer?
Well for one I got scholarships
to attend SCAD based off of my
graphic design portfolio. I’ve been
freelancing since I was in 9th
grade. I was a designer before I
even graduated high school. My
work has been on several national
popular media platforms, and I
even have some work that has been
broadcasted internationally.
Some of your goals?
My near sighted term goal is to
get the film production branch of
Genius Aesthetics off of the ground,
and that takes time. I want to do
music videos. So I’m working on
that as well as writing screenplays
for short films and web series. I want
to put out a web series under the
Genius Aesthetics brand sometime
next year.
Who are some of your favorite
designers (fashion and nonfashion)?
In fashion honestly I’m not into
names. I probably have designer
clothes and not even know it. I just
like what looks good, but I do buy a
lot of clothes from Zara. Some of my
favorite non-fashion designers are
Gavin Taylor and Scott Grossman.
How would you describe your
personal style and aesthetic?
In regards to fashion, I have
repetitive phases. I go back and
forth through urban street wear,
to the daily semi-casual, to more
of a modern 90s west coast look.
It really all depends on how I am
feeling.
Tell me about your design process.
I usually start off with a
brainstorming session. Then with all
of the ideas and junk in my head I try
and narrow it down to one general
idea or direction by crossing off
the unnecessary things I’ve written
down during the brainstorming
session. Then the execution process
starts.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Music. When I listen to music I see
colors. I see textures and different
color palettes. So music is a very
important part of my process.
What matters most to you as a
designer?
Execution.
How would you define the style
that Genius Aesthetics exemplifies?
Color! I like vibrancy and I try to
incorporate that in all of my designs.
Whether it be one color, a specific
color palette, or even black and
white. I try to incorporate vibrancy
through my designs.
What are some things that you like
and dislike about designing?
I like designing. I like using my
brain and figuring how to arrange
different elements. I like happy
clients. However I don’t like dealing
with people sometimes. Every now
and again I’ll get a client whose
knowledge of graphic design
extends to Microsoft Paint. I could
come up with an exceptional
design, of course that might need a
few revisions,
What advice do you have for
aspiring designers?
Be yourself. There is no right or
wrong way of designing. Art is
totally subjective. However, educate
yourself. Learn the principles and
elements of design so you can have
an effective design. Outside of that,
create what looks good to you and
be confident in that.
Where can readers find out more
about you and your work?
To check out some of the apparel,
get a look at my portfolio, as well
as get information on my creative
design services, you can go to my
website which offically launches
May 5, 2014.
geniusaesthetics.com
@geniusaesthetics