1: I have a dangerously flimsy wall behind the desk, so instead of attempting to mount a big bulletin board and risk collapse, I developed this highly complex photo hanging system. It involves string and some binder clips. Lets play a game. Can you spot the following: a parking ticket, James Franco, a post-it note from Anna Wintour, a Fiorucci t-shirt box, Hospice, and three Zans?
2: I gave up having drawers since I’d just put things in them and forget. These striped Ikea boxes now fit everything I need but want to hide. In the foreground I have a pile of inspiration and references I’ve been looking at for a current project. Also note 1. my ever-expanding neon tape collection 2. Zan Candy, Violet flavored, from St. Martins (its disgusting) and 3. my “Somers High School Achievement in Musical Theatre” plaque.
3: A detail from my clothes line. A baby photo of me strangling my sister, an interesting postcard from an art book fair, a vintage postcard of Amish kids, Elvis, and 3D heart glasses I use for positivity.
Zan Goodman is a designer and illustrator who lives and works in New York City, the greatest city in the world. Her work has appeared in numerous blogs and publications including Nylon & Nylon Guys, Teen Vogue, and NPR.com. People like her stuff so much they’ve even gotten it tattooed on their bodies forever. She graduated with a BFA in Communication Design from Parsons the New School for Design and is currently a designer at Chandelier Creative.
I am a child of the 80s so my favorite covers of all time are for The B-52s, the Talking Heads, and The Specials. I haven’t seen any newer album art top that.
FROM YOUR DESKS: How many tattoos of your work exist out there?ZAN GOODMAN: Three known tattoos. Two are Antlers fans who got the hands tattooed, and one was a friend I did a little type thing for. Here’s a
link to one.
FYD: NPR bestowed your Antlers CD as one of the “Best Album Covers of 2009.” How did the project come about?
ZG: Peter (the lead Antler) is an old friend of mine, I went to his bar mitzvah. I had helped with some earlier album artwork so we decided to continue our partnership. He explained that the album was called Hospice and had an idea for incorporating a hospital ID bracelet. I decided to use two hands making a kind of yin/yang shape. To me its open-ended, it’s either one person or two, they are either separating or coming together. Peter loved it and paid me in vodka tonics. I don’t think anyone knew what a smash it was going to be.
Peter loved it and paid me in vodka tonics. I don’t think anyone knew what a smash it was going to be.
FYD: What other concept albums do you like?
ZG: Is the new Deerhunter a concept album? I really like that.
FYD: What about the overall look of cd covers; any you like this year?
ZG: I am a child of the 80s so my favorite covers of all time are for The B-52s, the Talking Heads, and The Specials. I haven’t seen any newer album art top that.
FYD: Being so young, who do you look up to in the graphic world?
ZG: I look up to my mom and dad who are also designers. And, any young designers who are so smart and creative that I envy them, which is to say most of them.
FYD: You went to Parsons; do you think it’s important for designers to be “classically” educated?
ZG: School is what you make of it. I’m glad I went to Parsons because of all the amazing teachers and internships. Plenty of people who go to Parsons/SVA/RISD whatever do nothing proactive, and plenty of kids go to non design school are even more driven and have less debt. That said, a good background in typography is 100% essential, so wherever you go should have that.
FROM YOUR DESKS: How many tattoos of your work exist out there?
