Zsolt Kolcsar: Pressure Makes Diamonds
Art Director of Noncommon Branding & Design
by Elizabeth Lavis
|27 Sept 2024
The best advice Zsolt Kolcsar, Owner and Art Director of Noncommon Branding & Design, has ever heard is that pressure makes diamonds. "Don't be afraid of new challenges, and don't lose motivation in tough times," he says. "Those are the situations we can learn from the most."
He also believes that natural talent is only one piece of the puzzle when making it in design. "Talent is not enough," he says. "You need humility, diligence, good friends, and luck to succeed." Kolcsar also believes in drilling into each brand and client's needs to find creative, personalized, solutions-based designs that address the core of their goal. "Our mission is to help with brave and forward-thinking design solutions in the business, cultural, and education fields," he says.
Kolcsar hails from Transylvania, the infamous home of Count Dracula. "Transylvania is Central Europe's rich, historical, cultural, and natural region. It's part of Romania in the heart of the Carpathian Basin," he says. "Its high mountains, babbling brooks, and pine trees always inspire me." As a child, Kolcsar created signs and geometric structures, prompting his parents to flag his talent early on and send him to art school.
"During my undergraduate studies at university, it became obvious to me that I loved graphic design and had a talent for it," he says. "My first major award came in my third year of university. I won first place in the Behance Portfolio Showcase. It was then that It became clear to me that this was my path."
"Publicritic - ART AND MONEY", noncommon.design studio
For Kolscar, strategic planning and finding unconventional solutions are the two most essential elements of any great design. "Strategy always comes first," he says. "I try to understand the problem, and based on that, I define the goal. Once the goal is clear, we can start thinking about the path leading us to it."
His creative approach hinges on looking at unorthodox ways to represent the client's brand or objective. "Most industries and cultures have their visual standards," he says. "Stepping out of these norms and breaking established rules can open doors to new approaches." While he champions out-of-the-box thinking, Kolscar cautions that designers should always keep the objective and strategy in mind. "It's important to note that this kind of thinking shouldn't be done for its own sake, but rather with a focus on the product's usability and achieving business objectives through design."
Kolcsar also believes that while the essence of design is in its usability and problem-solving, it's good to stay apprised of design trends. "Trends come and go and are constantly changing," he says. "However, it's important to be familiar with various trends and directions, as they are essential elements of our visual toolkit as designers. Innovation, societal changes, consumer demands, professional challenges, and self-expression are all connected to trends."
When he's not working, Kolcsar likes to travel, visit historical places, and enjoy a tasty hamburger. "I often treat myself to one," he says. He also anticipates being able to pass down his love of design to his children. "Five years from now, as a father, I want to teach my child the mysteries of colors," he says.
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