Nine to Five: Mariano Pagella / Vasty

Vasty is a contemporary design studio founded by Argentinian designer Mariano Pagella. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach to art direction & graphic design, they create bold, sleek concepts by combining traditional graphic design with craft compositions - often working in paper.

He currently lives between New York, Buenos Aires and Barcelona where he has based his studio. We invited him to take us through his non-typical working day, from morning coffee to late night beers.

I’ve been always sure and passionate about my vocation as a graphic designer, but that as a
career has many steps and stages. I like to think that after 10 years in this business
working for different studios, Vasty is now the closest to the studio I’ve always dreamed of owning. A small studio boutique where I can work with collaborators depending on the project, and
have my time to explore and work on personal ideas.

Vasty is a small boutique studio that offers me the chance to collaborate with other designers, depending on the project, and have my own time to explore and work on personal ideas.

Mariano Pagella

I have spent a lot of time travelling between Buenos Aires and New York, but for the last two years we have finally settled in Barcelona which has had a direct impact in my work. Having a
permanent working space after all this time makes a huge difference.

A typical day starts with a shower. It’s like a second alarm! Then the smell of the coffee being brewed I already like the idea of morning just by typing it. I usually sit down in my desk, which has to be perfectly organized and clean hoping that my mind will flow naturally. I drink my coffee whilst I check emails.

The rest of the day really depends on the projects i’m working on at the moment. If it’s a
papercraft project, the day most likely will pass by with me going back and forth to the art
supply store getting different papers, sketching, cutting, trying lights….it’s time consuming,
but it’s definitely fun and one of the challenges I enjoy the most right now.

I like to think I have some sort of virtual remote team I can always rely on.

Mariano Pagella

If i’m working with collaborators, for sure I’ll have to dedicate some hours a day to have
Skype meetings and make all the necessary arrangements. Fortunately, I usually work with
colleagues I’ve already worked with so it’s usually easy to get to understand each other or
brainstorm about a project. I like to think I have some sort of virtual remote team I can
always rely on.

In the slow weeks I try to stay creative and work from my computer on some classic digital designs.

Mariano Pagella

In the slow weeks, when we’re waiting for feedback, or approvals for a project, or when i’m
abroad and I don’t have time to experiment on my own desk I also try to stay creative and
work from my computer on some classic digital designs, like The Ladies’ Faces or the City Poster Series both born from myself spending many hours at Astor Row Cafe in Harlem, NYC last winter.

Now that I’m in Barcelona, if time permits, I try to enjoy the outdoors that seems to be all that Barcelona is about in the warmer months! Having one bar per corner, at least, is hard not to get tempted to sit down and have a beer even if you’re on your way to the supermarket.

There are a bunch of Argentinian designers who also relocated (to Barcelona) and they’re doing wonderful things so it’s a cool scene to be a part of.

Mariano Pagella

So I try to make time to get out and about in the city and connect with whats going on, meet with other creatives…there’s a bunch of Argentinian designers who also relocated here and they’re doing wonderful things so it’s a cool scene to be a part of.

http://vasty.coinstagram.com/hellovasty

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Posted on Sep 19th, 17 by | Twitter: @lisahassell

Founder & director of Inkygoodness, Lisa is a published writer and arts journalist, focusing on creative business, graphic art and illustration and design education. Her words regularly appear in Computer Arts, Creative Bloq, Digital Arts and IdN.

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