Goda Gontynte is a designer/illustrator born in 1984, Lithuania. In the picture: Working on a Spindi Jewellery project, spindijewellery.com, Vilnius, 2010.02.02.

1.Tell us about yourself.
My name is Goda. I’m graphic designer and illustrator from Vilnius currently living in Copenhagen. Interest in design came when I was 17. From that time it was my life and lifestyle. Afterward followed education in Vilnius Academy of Arts and graduation in 2007. During my studies I also got familiar with product design. That could be the answer to why I do also 3D things. I get inspired by an art world, surroundings, everyday life and by ‘keeping my eyes open’. At the moment I find myself most comfortable with freelancing and trying myself in different kind of competitions.

2. How is it to be a designer in Lithuania? And why you chose to be a designer in Copenhagen?
To be a designer in Lithuania is not a big difference from being a designer somewhere else, I guess. It’s a hard business and I’m still looking for my place here and there.  When you move to another country, you have to do some research in a totally new market for you and here your social network plays a big part.  I moved from Vilnius to Cph for personal reasons, so it was not a decision based on profession or carrier. But anyway possibility to live in another country makes me more open as a person, confident about what do and where I’m going. Its not that important to live in the same country as your client anymore. And that is an amazing thing.

3. What is design for you?
Good design makes you think. It talks about the present and context we live in.

4. What you do when you are not making visual stuff?
I’m happy by being in nature, especially in a wintertime, spending some quality time alone or with my boyfriend. I have a visual aspect to everything that I do, so all this experience must come out in a graphic form with my personal expression.

5. What do you do when you’re stuck? (if you ever are)
Usually stuck comes at the end, when I’m actually finished the project, but need to make it work for publishing. I found it most monotonous, cause creative side is just left behind at that moment. If it is creative stuck,  there is always a bunch of pictures I need to cut. Luckily, it’s not that often.

6. 3 things that you really like and would recommend to others.
Challenge yourself in different kind of competitions, collaborate with creatives you like and publish yourself. That might be my proposal..

7. How to become a good designer?
I would recommend to be obsessed by things beyond design as well. To learn from your mistakes and don’t imitate, so you can be fresh.

8. What 3 design schools you would recommend and why?
I don’t have enough experience to answer it.. Seems many good designers comes out from St. Martins. That might be a sign, right?

9. Where is the world going? And what are your plans?
We are definitely going to something very interesting. I have an idea that good design will find it’s worth price here in LT in the near future as well.  For myself… I would love to be involved into nice projects, do some creative designs. In the longer run I’m thinking about starting multidisciplinary creative studio  and be busy busy,  so I could live from it.

Goda website: www.godagontyte.com