Interview with Agung Syaifudin
Agung Syaifudin, also known as "diekave", is a 23 year old freelance illustrator from Indonesia. He has studied visual communication and started working as a 2D animator for an e-card website. Agung finds inspiration and ideas for his illustrations from simple daily life and loves to draw relaxed, funny and fresh illustrations. Read more about him in this interview.
Q Hello Agung, can you give us some background information on yourself and your work?
I first want to thank Vectortuts+ for this opportunity to be interviewed. My name is Agung Syaifudin a.k.a. diekave, I’m a 23 year old Illustrator from Indonesia. I started working and studying art in depth 5 years ago. I’m working as a freelancer for illustration, icons, web Layout, and 2D animation. I’m still busy with several projects.
I’m the Real Designer 2nd
Q How did you get started in the arts? Do you have any formal education or are you self-taught? What was your first design job?
I came to know about computer art from my brother, and I became very interested in the art world, especially illustration. I studied at university majoring in visual communication design in Indonesia, after that I learnt more about arts on my own. My first job was in 2D animation for an e-card website which made me feel very happy because I received the money that comes from hard work.
The King
Q What software do you use to create your illustrations? What does your workstation look like?
I use Adobe Illustrator CS3 to create my illustrations. My workstation is only a second floor room with a 5-year-old computer, speaker, and one printer. (I need to upgrade my computer).
Monstee
Q Describe your creative process. What is your most common approach for completing a project?
This my simple creative process for commercial projects :
- I first read the explanation from my client and communicate about what type of work they need.
- Looking for some basic ideas, may be with internet browsing.
- Rough sketch on paper and photograph the results (because I do not have a scanner).
- Make the basic lines and then color it.
For a personal project, it’s almost the same.
Nature Becomes Angry
Q Where do you get the ideas for your illustrations? Where do you draw your inspiration from?
All the things I see, hear, feel all are a source of ideas and inspiration for my illustration (daily life, friends, family, neighbors, soccer, another artist, artwork, and many others).
Easy Way
Q What is it about vector illustrations that you enjoy the most? Can you share your favorite Illustrator tool, tip or technique?
I like many types of illustration, it can be seen from my work that it is not my style to "race on one course". But my favorite illustration style is relaxed, funny, fresh and detailed. I plan to make the illustrations that have a level of detail that’s cool, I still think about new things. In working on an illustration I often use the pen tool and color gradation, maybe these are just the tools that I use frequently.
Microbiology Club
Q What are you currently working on, do you have any interesting or exciting projects? Do you have any specific plans for the future direction of your artwork? Out of all your work what is your favorite piece and why?
I’m working on four jobs this month, web layouts from Poland, Illustration for web content from Germany, illustrations for t-shirts from an American brand, and Illustrations of animal heads for a brand from France. Of all my work, my favorite is the illustration for the Microbiology Club in Malaysia, as they liked my previous work "I’m The Real Designer 2nd" and it gave me the freedom to make the illustration.
Lazy Day
Q Apart from art and illustration what other things do you enjoy? How do you recharge your creative batteries?
I like soccer, running with my dad, traveling, thinking, friends, hiking, good things, good movies, and much more. I recharge my creative batteries with lots of things, I often do things outside the arts; a walk, see a beautiful scenery, doing good things, and others.
Never
Q Thanks for the interview Agung. Would you like to leave us with any tips or advise for aspiring designers and illustrators?
I’m still a new artist, but I have a few suggestions, do lots of drawings, post your work regularly, do the best according to the field that you love, and life is difficult but still must be faced. Do not give up and smile to the world. Vectortuts+, thank you so much for the interview. Cheers.
Agung Syaifudin on the Web
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Wooooowww,, another fine man from my country!!! i’m proud of him!
yeah, another inspirational man.
selamat mas agung, wah hebat2. hahaha…
semoga seuatu hari nanti saya bisa juga!
Unique !!
Gawd, please.
Is his copy of Illustrator even legit? How can he be working on a 5 year old ancient dinosaur? The same mentality of another fake: being miserly on your most important tools, doesn’t even own a scanner.
And we all know the truth behind the bragging about “International Projects”; here’s the flowchart:
-> Go to some cheap freelancer-exploiter-ripoff website
-> Bid at least 90% lower than the lowest bid on the project (the cheap economy advantage), and give out an impossibly small deadline
-> The ripoff idiot customer pays you a few pennies just to pay less than he would a true designer with skill from his own suburb/community, and there you are: “A Project”
-> Surf the internet, “Get Inspiration”, complete the project. Of course, all the drawings that are made on paper will not be scanned, just taken pictures from the cheap chinese mobile phone.
-> Lick ***, hope to get paid. Move on to the next one to get exploited again
You let me down with this interview, vectuts. Truly.
I didn’t own a scanner until a year ago and it was given to me by a friend who didn’t need it. I was also working on a 6yr old computer while I saved the money to get a top of the range one so I could then use it for another 6 years and save myself the pain and cost of upgrades. I agree the industry definitely takes advantage of foreign currencies but I don’t think you should hold this against Agung, as you can see there’s talent in the images he creates and I would rate him up there with the better known vector illustrators of his style and genre.
Well, could you please tell me what’s wrong with “working on a 5 years old ancient dinosaur”? Honestly. I think his art is great. I don’t think not owning a scanner or using a 5 years old computer is a sin. Besides, why are you even hate people from Indonesia so much?
And we do use legit software here, btw. Of course, not with our money, but at least our company let us use a legit software. Yes, all of the software, from Windows, Office, Adobe Master Collection to Pinnacle studios is legit here. So please, stop insulting people here, will you?
I don’t think there’s an issue with “Indonesia” – Again, I think we can all agree that this illustration speaks for itself, it’s great work regardless of what computer it was made on.
it simple, you just jealous and you are racist
if you are not successful as him, mind your own bussiness than just trash talking.
The line “5 years old ancient Dinosaur” stopped me from reading further Jason’s ignorant post.
The latest =/= better artwork. And I’ve heard so many arrogant kids these days who think they are the top of the world because the latest software makes their life easier…
grow up, we’re just designer.
If you have the cash to burn, getting a new computer every other year is fine but some of us make do with what we have if it isn’t hindering us. My Power Mac at the office is 6 years old and running CS2 just fine. My year old Mac Mini at home is running CS4 just fine. I don’t have a scanner or printer at the house since I don’t want the clutter but I get by with using those items at the office.
I’ve known of plenty of people who purchase new computers just to suddenly decide purchasing the software is too expensive and so download pirated versions. Old hardware is not an indicator for probable theft. I’m sure his stuff is legal.
His illustrations look nice. I’m sure he gets a lot of work.
I don´t see any problem working with an old computer, What´s your point? and what´s all that stuff about freelancer-exploiter-ripoff website??? That´s only your opinion, no a fact.
Using a Mac and a fancy cool scanner make you better artist? I don´t think so, is about the results.
D.
Agung is just great artist even without scanner can get good result. The pretty impressive, bro.
So cute! You really are talented.
I would like to say what great illustrations u got Agung! U should keep working at it and getting better at it. despite any negative criticisms from people who clearly dont understand.
everyone has their own creative process and as designers we should respect that.
I agree Agung’s illustration clearly speaks for itself.
What’s your problem Jason?
Why should people cough up money like robots when Adobe decides they should do so? Especially if their current copy is more than adequate for what they want to achieve.
What a silly and ignorant attitude. Even prople finding success might not yet have the greatest cashflow to be able to jump up and shed hundreds/thousands out on equipment.
Sorry to distract from the aswesome work here, but those pathetic comments hit a nerve.
funny idea and creative illustration, love indonesian!!
congrats mas agung. we proud of you.
I am glad there are people in the world of Indonesia to the international graphics, congratulations mas agung, go for vector Indonesia.
This is very cool
I love the color composition …
Congratz Mr. Agung !
Congratz My bro…we all here Proud of you…
Great work, Agung! Don’t hear discordant voices.. just grow up and grow up with your style
awesome!! Very talented. And I think Agung make some people feel jealous with his skill, so they just can write junks. keep rockin!
wow mas agung, karya anda sangat hebat…
thats so cute. funny. & original
Don’t like his style…
Everything is – kitsch & streaky.
I don’t want to put any of his arts on my t-shirt either. (especially the “the King” toilet stuff yuk! )
Sorry for this negative feed , but I couldn’t restrain myself.
the customer just want to see the result.. no matter how complicated the workflow is. you are insulting Agung with your comment and seems like you have personal problem with him.
yes, there better designers than him and personally i’m not really into his design but he got his own style. Jason Bourne, your comment are made to condemn people, not to motivate them. next time, please comment with brain.
regards.
P.S- i’m not indonesian.
great design,,
Another great man from my country,,,
Wow amazing, Salute for Agung, your design have special character…
Salam kenal mas Agung
Congrat to Agung. Desainnya bagus-bagus. Saya suka kartun warna-warninya
wow there’s another great indonesian people,
proud of you !!
Anda memang hebat mas agung, salut !!
congrats… we all proud of you..
Congratz Agung Syaifudin,.
awesome & inspiring bangets… keren… well, congrats yah Agung Syaifudin…. ^^
semangat bro,, we love u,,
wow… congrat…inspired me
very nice interview! thanks!
Nice Illustration. Keep going!
Good work Agung!!!
!! Keep it up!!..All of you guys out there are awesome and I love the work you do. It is such an inspiration to go through all these interviews, so first of all thank you Vector tuts for this amazing site. I am myself a textile designer from India and I work mostly with Adobe photoshop and corel draw so I am kinda new to Illustrator. Just recently i started to use Adobe Illustrator so i stumbled upon this site for tutorials and since then I have never stopped going through all these awesome interviews and others work. And by the way I will soon be a premium member for tutorials, i.e when i get my paypal sorted 
!!…So far i am only into sketching florals and organic abstract art for textiles. I hand sketch it first and then take them to photoshop from there. I’ve always wanted to develop graphic artworks for different purposes like packaging, products and magazines etc and this I begin here on a serious note. I even need to do a lot of sketching other than flowers 
…so here I am guys 
!!..just dabbling around, doing my thing, waiting to be criticized, guided and most of all be inspired by people like you 
!!..thank you!!