Liz Goulet Dubois graduated in 1989 from the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in illustration. She was instrumental in developing the Club Earth line of nature-themed toys, and still contributes to that line which is now under new ownership. She also helped develop the popular FRED line of housewares, and currently contributes to the line as Senior Designer. Liz’s products have been featured on The Today Show and HGTV, and in Oprah, People, Family Fun and Good Housekeeping magazines. In addition to product design, Liz writes and illustrates for children. Clients include Golden Books, Houghton Mifflin, Simon and Schuster, and Scholastic. Her most recent book is called, “What Kind of Rabbit Are You?” published by Little Simon in 2008.
Current Project:
Never just one! I am in the midst of illustrating three different features for Highlights Magazine, I just received a 32-page picture book from Scholastic to illustrate, and I am constantly working on the next line of products for the FRED company. Independently, I am working on new designs for licensing, and a few new picture book ideas (when I can find the time).
First step in my design process:
Sit down with a pencil and a tracing paper pad, and get as far out of “the box” as possible.
Aspect of design I give the highest priority:
Originality
Method for overcoming creative block:
Organization. I find that if the rest of my life is organized, it frees me up to think about illustration or products.
One typical myth about design:
That it’s easy!
Most challenging aspect about design:
Trying to come up with things that haven’t been done – or at least to do things in a completely new way.
Most underrated aspect of design:
Connecting with the audience. Any product or illustration or writing needs to make a connection with its audience quickly, or else they lose interest.
When I first knew I wanted to be a designer:
Literally, by age six or so. I was already interested then in making my own toys, and packaging them as well.
Inspirations:
Vintage art from the 1920s-1970s, Disney, Rankin-Bass, Dr. Seuss, Tasha Tudor, Holly Hobbie.
Favorite tool:
Prismacolor 90% Cool Grey colored pencil. Essential!
Favorite design resource:
Vintage children’s books
The one typeface for a deserted island stay:
Any BOLD type, I guess, in case I lost my glasses overboard.
Bookmarks:
etsy.com, notcot.com, www.fredandfriends.wordpress.com
Design-related book I highly recommend:
The Elements of Pop-Up, by David A. Carter
Currently reading:
Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
Life lesson:
Don’t get in your own way.
If I weren’t a designer, I’d be…
An archaeologist
Favorite (non-design) past time:
Gardening