Designer Interview: Gabriel Melcher

PD: Describe your current role as a designer.

GM: I'm the Senior Design Lead at Something Special Studios in NYC and I occasionally take commissions as an independent studio.

PD: Describe your relationship with music today and in the past.

GM: I grew up listening to classical, jazz, rock from the 70-80s, and an array of eclectic but older music and didn't get a lot of exposure to more contemporary stuff until I was in my teens. I never listened to Drake until I was in my 20s. This carries over in a lot of ways to my tastes and my relationship with music today. I keep up with current music but I have a comfortable familiarity with old shit. I'd rather see the symphony than a DJ set.

PD: What is the most influential piece of music you've heard?

GM: Michael Jackson's "Rock With You"

PD: Describe how music integrates into your design life and career?

GM: In design, a lot of work or styles or gestures can be described in music terms. Musical vibes so easily get attached to visual ones and so musical genres or even specific songs or albums serve as really useful reference points when positioning work or trying to guide work into a specific area.

PD: What kind of music do you usually listen to when working?

GM: Depends on the type of work. Music really sets a tempo for my work and can really influence an outcome. If I'm grinding on production or trying to create a lot of energetic gestures really quickly I can work with something high energy, but if I'm working on concepts or writing or really need to focus, I prefer something without vocals or [something] I can really sit back.

PD: What designer do you think is most like a musician?

GM: Every designer is a DJ

PD: What musician is most like a designer?

GM: Beyoncé

PD: If you could have an "intro" song for when you come into the office or studio, what would it be?

GM: This is hard. This would change almost daily. Maybe some heavy trap. "Act Up" by City Girls was a go-to commuting song a couple years ago for me. My top 3 songs on Spotify this year were "Sleepy Time Gal" by Jackie Davis, "Ella Baila Sola" by Eslabon Armado, and "Rich Spirit", by Kendrick Lamar, so maybe one of those.

Thanks for sharing Gabe!

Signing off…