Q & A WITH GAIL ANDERSON

Step Inside Design, Nov/Dec 2004 by Heller, Steven

SH: Finally, many designers like to be one-person bands. Do you prefer being the auteur or the collaborator?

GA: I've spent the last 20 years as the collaborator, and it's a role I'm comfortable in. It's just more fun to work with other designers and art directors; I really enjoy the back and forth, though every now and then I definitely need to design alone, in my office, with my music on. I still like being hands-on, moving things around, especially when there's the luxury of a little time. It's almost impossible to work on a show by myself at this point though, since I can't sequester myself from my department for long stretches. Most hi-octane solo designing has to be done at night, I guess, and I'm working toward leaving this job at a decent hour. I'm trying to change my ways before I look up and I'm 50. Plus, the AC goes off pretty early and SpotCo becomes SaunaCo.