Darien Birks is a graphic designer (amongst other things), living in Brooklyn, NY. Professionally, Darien works for a corporate design agency in Manhattan, learning as much as he can about the business and about the field. Aside from that, he is always into freelance work or something music related.
AMADI: Explain to everyone what is Flwrpt brooklyn all about and what made you start this online blog?
DARIEN BIRKS: Flwrpt Brooklyn has a very simple concept. It’s all about good (graphic) design and good music. I decided to start this blog after I took a serious interest in collecting records. When I moved to Brooklyn (New York), I met a lot of DJ’s that exposed me to some amazing vintage soul, jazz, boogie and funk records. I was intrigued from that point on…so I started the blog to put others on to what I was picking up in the crates.
AMADI: I see you are really passionate about vintage music from the 70s and 80s, how did you gain such a strong interest in those eras of music?
DARIEN BIRKS: I took to those eras simply because the music that I grew up on, primarily hip-hop, pulled its influence from the 70s and 80s, so I could identify with it. Aside from that fact, I feel like creativity was at an all-time high during those two decades. Musicians were really beginning to push the boundaries of sound. It was truly quality over quantity in those days.
AMADI: From an artistic perspective, explain how the design of vintage album covers displays a form of great art work?
DARIEN BIRKS: Being a designer myself, and learning the history of the craft, I understand what it took for a designer, photographer, or typographer to create a cover 20 and 30 years ago (and even earlier), so whether it looked good or bad, it MUST be respected. But to answer your question, it’s all about how the space is being worked, especially when one is confined to a 12 x 12 inch workable area. The greatest covers are usually the most simple, with attention to detail and typography (in my opinion). It’s all relative though, it depends on the title of the LP and what the artist is trying to achieve visually. Concept covers are also quite nice, if executed properly. Another element that can make a great cover is the production technique(s), such as embossing and de-bossing, foil stamping, varnishing, faux textures, gatefolds, die-cuts, etc.
AMADI: Do you closely examine hip hop cd covers today? Why or Why not?
DARIEN BIRKS: Today, I do NOT closely examine hip-hop cd covers, but if I see an advertisement for an album, I’ll check out the art for that. I can’t speak on every cover within the genre, but over the past 8 to 10 years, the hip-hop album cover has gone downhill. I might see two or three that I like here and there. One of the main reasons for the decline is the simple fact that downloading music has taken over. Record companies don’t want to pay designers because the budgets are super tight for them. In fact, the design of the album cover is more than likely the LAST thing on a record executives mind. With the state of this economy, and with record sales rapidly dropping, I can understand.
AMADI: What other forms of art do you develop or study on a regular basis?
DARIEN BIRKS: A couple of my buddies and I are brainstorming on a clothing line that we’re excited about. We’re not consumed with that venture just yet, but we’re hoping that it will be pretty major for us in these upcoming years. I also had a brief stint with photography at one point, but the passion just wasn’t there. Far from a jack of all trades, so I tend to focus on what I am best at. For me, that is being a committed graphic designer, 24/7. There is always something to learn within the field of design, always a bit of knowledge that can be picked up…from a creative standpoint, as well as a business standpoint. So I’m definitely studying every day.
AMADI: Who are some of your favorite artists (art work)? Briefly explain who they are.
DARIEN BIRKS: That list would go on forever, but here are a few…
Max Vogel aka Razauno, a Venezuelan artist/designer living here in Brooklyn. His work contains much fluidity, while shedding some light on pop-culture, music, religion, sex, etc. He has a signature halftone dotted pattern that separates his work from anything out there, in my opinion.
Geoff McFetridge, this guy is hard to define. He’s a designer based in California, who has his hand in fashion, industrial, graphic, and furniture design. His exhibitions are always very well thought out, and he makes viewers think, but without using any really complex imagery. A lot of his work is based primarily off of simple pictograms that tend to tell stories at times.
Herb Lubalin. The MASTER of logo type. Herb is a major inspiration for most designers that know of him.
AMADI: What advice could you give to a current art student in college right now?
DARIEN BIRKS: Just work as hard as you can, don’t be a slacker. Have fun with the form of art that you’re studying. Sign up for the toughest professors courses. Read books, and always make time for inspiration. Finally, BE ORIGINAL. 
Email: darien@flwrpt.com
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Congrats, Darien. See your hard work is paying off! I always said the blog was a hit. Keep up the good work. Holla, Jessica ps. who took that pic of you under the subway?