Today I am very happy to be interviewing not only an extremely talented Logo & Web Designer, but a dear friend as well, my fellow Aussie mate Fabian Marchinko of Brand Simplicity. I have been tweeting with Fabian for almost 6 months now and he is one of the most down-to-earth designers I have ever come across. His brand creating style is also very unique and is most often inspired by nature, a perk of hailing from the Australian continent which abounds in breathtaking natural beauty. Fabian has been developing brands and building websites for almost a decade. Join me as I ask him some personal and some fun questions about where it all began for him and what lies in the future for him and his own brand, Brand Simplicity.

Fabian Marchinko Of Brand Simplicity

Thank You for doing this interview for us. It is an absolute pleasure to have you answer some personal and professional questions for us today.

Who is Fabian Marchinko when he is not being a designer?
Perth has one of the best climates in the world, so I can’t complain too much. I enjoy a quiet life with my girl, kicking back with our 2 dogs Jack and Jill and 2 cats. If Huey’s got his act together, I’ll go for a surf at my local beach and pull into a few. In summer, the pool gets a thrashing and I’ll spark up the BBQ with some close friends.


How long have you been involved in creating brand identities? What is the story behind “Brand Simplicity”? What was the motivation for your business name?
What started as a hobby in 2000 has now become a passion and I find myself thinking about design 24/7. It’s not uncommon for me to suddenly wake up at 3AM to sketch out an idea envisioned in a dream, which my girl is tickled pink about…NOT. The name “Brandsimplicity” came about from my belief that memorable branding comes from one thing, a strong mark or presents. Take a look at Coca Cola, same logo for a hundred years and still one of the most recognized brands in the world today. That my friend is the essence of branding at it’s simplest.

Brand Simplicity’s Pink Bunny

Tell us something about your pink bunny. What does he symbolize? How did he come into existence?
This goes back to my childhood. Skinny kid with buck teeth. He’s got the angry head on as I had a major chip on my shoulder as a young fella, the cane and me got to know each other quiet well. Nowadays I’m older and greyer and hopefully mellowed a bit, so the pink is to portray my more positive outlook on life these days, but don’t you dare cut me off in traffic;)

You seem to have a fondness for birds in your designs. What about them inspires the creative in you?
I’ve always been fascinated by flight, the ability of a small bird to make simple adjustments to change direction. Much like life, simple changes can change your direction. I can relate too that as I was heading down a dark path for many years.

Evotweet by Brand Simplicity

Tell us about the quickest logo you ever made and the one that took you the longest?
A recent logo for Mobile Active came to mind whilst watching a Motorola AD on the idiot box. Once I realized that the aerial could represent a raised arm it took a total of 2 hours to finish the concept and present it too the client. The longest one was “evotweet”, at 2 weeks in concept development alone. This was an experiment using geometric shapes and made for an online contest. This was one of the most enjoyable as it had a steep learning curve. After winning the contest this design has gone on to feature on numerous graphic design sites like Logo From Dreams and Logogala.

Logos Designed by Brand Simplicity

Share with us your process of client interaction before, during and after the whole logo designing process.
After the initial contact I will supply a questionnaire that contains a carefully constructed series of questions. The valuable information gained from this first step will set me on the right footing for a successful project. Once a client chooses to go forward, a sum of 50% payment of the chosen package is then requested, I will then begin the brainstorming process and will generally supply a client with a first concept within 3 to 5 days. Each concept is sent separately as a JPG and requires feedback before the next concept is put forward. I do this to not overwhelm the client with choice and allow the design to be judged on it’s own merit, now it’s time to crack a cold one. After the requested revisions are made to the clients needs and they choose a concept to finalize, I’ll supply a final proof similar to the one  I supplied to a recent client. Once they sign-off on the above and forward final payment I will then send though the final files and begin other branding pieces such as stationery or print media.

What logo by another designer truly inspires you and makes you happy to be doing what you are doing?
Oh my goodness, I really cannot single out one logo as I have many styles I like. I will say I tend to lean to the clever designer that use a simple shape to capture a feeling or message. The Martin Newcombe Property Maintenance Logo recently sent me for six and grabbed my attention.

What color and font do you find yourself turning to time and again while creating logos?
Blues and the Gotham family, lately I have been moving away for this.

The Big Book Of Logos 5 features Fabian Marchinko’s work

In your career as a brand developer, what has been the most memorable event for you?
A few years ago receiving “ The Big Book of Logos 5” in the mail, opening it up and seeing 10 of my designs in there … I could have cried … my babies.

Amongst your work, what is your favorite logo and why?
Without a doubt it would be “evotweet”, as it was a learning experience. I had never developed a design in this manner before. The greatest joy of designing is that you never stop learning and pushing yourself.

Do you have a funny logo story to share?
No, but I’ll place two points and curve you later … sorry that was bad

The most unusual place that you have found inspiration from?
Surfscouts came to me after getting thrown up against the rocks after going too deep. On a set wave, the wave breaks along a rock groyne. I seriously thought I was going to be pushing up daisies … the reason for the angel like wings/ waves breaking down the surfboard.

Logos by Brand Simplicity

Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? What can we expect to see from Brand Simplicity in the coming months?
Hopefully, I’m happy and healthy and earning a good income from design. Currently working with the Malaysian Government, rebranding their civil aviation department.

Any parting words of wisdom for new designers?
RRRun Forrest Run … no sleep, limited food, girl friend calls you the ghost … it’s a dark path and should be chosen careful, because the little thing you once called a life … well that’s over … You are now a designer! Now grab a pencil and paper and just draw, draw anything and make believe you are designing a logo for a real company. Think about what message you are trying to give off, as all a logo really is, is a salesman trying sell a product or message. It needs to be simple, clever and memorable and provoke a response … clear as mud eh!

Thanks for the interview Sneh.

And Thank You Fabian for this delightfully light hearted interview and sharing some wonderful stories about your logos. We wish you the very best with all your future projects.

You can contact Fabian Marchinko via his website Brand Simplicity and on Twitter. Don’t forget to check out his logo showcase on Logopond.


Sneh Roy is a designer and creative trends blogger. You can follow her @LBOI on Twitter and keep up with her at her site, Little Box of Ideas.