Interview with Von Glitschka, Illustrator

CreativePro Staff Von Glitschka

Von Glitschka (aka Vonster) is a superstar in the world of vector drawing. His design firm, Glitschka Studios, has produced work for clients such as such as Disney, Microsoft, Pepsi, Kellogg’s, Major League Baseball, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A master of logo design, Von has also employed his signature style as a font designer.

In addition to producing work for high-profile clients, Von is also a popular and prolific trainer, having authored six books and dozens of video courses on vector drawing. He is a regular speaker at events such as Adobe MAX and CreativePro Week. And we are thrilled to have him as a speaker at The Adobe Illustrator Summit, which takes place September 22-23, 2022.

Von Glitschka speaking at CreativePro Week 2022

Leading up to the Summit, we thought it would be fun to get to know the man behind the Pen with a little Q&A.

How did you first get into this industry, professionally?

I graduated from Seattle Art Institute in 1986. I learned everything traditionally (pen, markers, paste boards, stat cameras, etc.). I was introduced to vector art by a friend who was a beta tester on one of the earliest programs. Four years later, I learned FreeHand and used that for 15 years until my baptism by fire in Illustrator in 2002.

What’s the one thing/technique/goal/workflow/process/idea that’s most commonly under appreciated or misunderstood in your design niche?

Drawing helps with ideation and problem solving. It also facilitates better vector craftsmanship too. Having a systematic approach will help you be more efficient and productive through the whole creative process. So establishing how you approach creative work is vital in terms of successfully producing it.

Do you have an obscure tip or trick you use all the time?

Illustrator has features for aligning objects, but they use hard, unforgiving math. You need to develop a designer’s eye to optically align associated elements instead of relying on the program. This will help to button up your design and make it read better visually. These are skills that’ll serve you for a lifetime of creativity.

What are you most excited to share in your upcoming session?

How to approach a diverse range of styles and themes regarding logos and icons and how to use simple build methods to pull them off.