Zan Goodman.

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 NylonNylon GuysTeen 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.

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