CreativeMornings/Berlin Interview - Susann Massute on PUNK

We’re excited to introduce a new CreativeMornings Berlin short interview series, where we welcome our next guest. Susann Massute is a Berlin-based freelance graphic designer and illustrator, and the speaker at CreativeMornings Berlin on 20th of June. This month we had the pleasure of catching up with Susann to talk about our monthly global theme PUNK, about artificial intelligence, and the upcoming event.

1. PUNK often challenges norms.  How does the spirit of punk resonate in your creative journey as graphic designer and illustrator?

Punk is very important to me on a personal level. The music made it easier for me to grow up in the Brandenburg countryside and the aesthetic of rebellion naturally appeals to teenagers in particular. When you study design, you quickly learn that you have to do a lot of things yourself – from bookbinding to developing photos – and that it will never be as perfect as when professionals do it. But in the end, this perfection is not so desirable and the process can be incredibly educational and fun. For me, this has also reduced my fear of things that I haven’t yet mastered.

2. Technological advancements are very present. What role do you think artificial intelligence could play in the work of an artist?

AI is now omnipresent and I have experimented with it a lot. I don’t think we can completely avoid it anymore and I welcome the debate. On the one hand, like all creative professionals, I find it difficult that all AIs are trained with our work and that there is no appropriate form of remuneration and appreciation. On the other hand, it’s an interesting tool to create aesthetics that you can’t yet produce yourself. But I’m bored by what most people do with it: A Studio Ghibli-style image now feels like an Instagram filter in the 2010s and I’m waiting even more for application scenarios that are less about copying and more about actually creating.

3. On your website is written that ‘you love telling stories utilizing a wide variety of tools within the realm of visual communication’. Could you please offer us a short insight in the story you plan to tell on the Creative morning Berlin June edition?

I would like to tell an encouraging story that it is less about perfection and high-level specialization and more about the creative work process in a small team. That you can still achieve a lot with limited resources and little time and that it’s actually fun.

Feature photo credit - Kristina Wedel

Interview conducted and written by Aida Mola - an economist that blends business insights with creative writing and travel notes, with a passion for both numbers and culture. Discover more at aidamola.com or connect on LinkedIn.