Meet Andrei Robu, an illustrator and artist based in Barcelona, Spain. Andrei specializes in crafting colorful and unexpected designs for brands to use as key visuals, packaging, events, and limited edition goods. He works with his partner Andreea Robescu as a creative studio and also designs fonts you can find on Typeverything . Get to know Andrei more as he takes us around his sunny home office in Barcelona, Spain!
Where do you work? Tell us about your space(s).
For me, creativity can hit at any time of day and sometimes at night, so I prefer to work from my home studio. We had a bigger space for a few years with some collaborators coming in, but it was too much of a distraction. The projects we do are usually confidential which makes it impossible to work from coffee shops or public spaces.
Our home is a super sunny space. We live on the top floor so we have windows on almost every wall and (wait for it)… we have a terrace! We transformed it into a tropical garden full of plants and succulents. Winters are warmer here in Barcelona (usually around 60°F) so it can be January and we will take full advantage of the terrace by working outside. During weekends, we usually go to the beach which is about twenty minutes away.
What hardware and software do you use to create your designs?
My work varies from hand-drawing and painting, to drawing digitally on the iPad. I also do generative 3D graphics, traditional vector illustration, and type-lettering and fonts. I was an Apple user most of my career, but since I got into 3D and animation I had to buy a PC to use as my main working station (for GPU rendering). But, I still keep a maxed out MacBook Air and an iPad Pro for mobility. I use Adobe Creative Cloud for illustration, animation, and general design stuff. I use Cinema 4D for 3D work and Glyphs App for fonts and logotypes. I love the computer, but every project starts with a sketch on a piece of paper. That’s how my mind works.
Tell us about your routine (or lack of one.) How do you structure your days to get things done?
I like to get up early and start every day with a coffee and a walk around the neighborhood. I might stop in a park and soak up some sun before getting to work. We mainly collaborate with clients from the United States so because we live in Barcelona, we have a five to six hour head-start to get work done before the folks in New York City and Los Angeles wake up. This actually works great to our client’s advantage. Whenever I hit creative block, I just go for a walk. That helps me reset.
How do your space, tools, and habits benefit you? What about those things do you think needs improvement?
I think the best work comes from experimentation, so I try to keep learning and get my hands dirty with every type of software or mixed media. I love what I do and often lose track of time—I’ll sometimes end up working until 10:00 pm- 11:00 pm. On that note, a very important thing for us creatives is to know when to take a break.
Another factor I’m happy about is the city I live in. Not a single day goes by where I don’t discover something that blows my mind. You are surrounded by beauty everywhere. Social media is taking up too much of my brain space right now, so I’d love to take a step back from that and maybe spend more time out in nature.
Want to keep up with Andrei? Find him on Dribbble, Instagram, Twitter, and at andreirobu.com.
Find more Interviews stories on our blog Courtside. Have a suggestion? Contact stories@dribbble.com.
