FortyTwo Studio – Say Hello...Alex Gemie

Name: Alex Gemie

Role: Creative Artworker

Since: June 2018

WokWok Order: I don’t normally work Fridays so I often miss out on WokWok but I love it when we get a mid-week burrito from the guys at Latin Way!

For those who don’t know give us a quick rundown of what you do:

Basically I’m here to back up Sam and Jill with anything and everything they throw my way. That could be helping come up with random ideas or rolling out 50 bits of artwork as part of a big campaign e.g. posters, adverts, brochures, packaging, labels. Other times I can be creating brand guidelines for a new client or setting up a full stationery set. I’m a keen bean when it comes to detail so I often get involved with fiddly aspects like colour matching or sending jobs off to print after making sure all specs are correct.

Occasionally Ross and Ryan need a couple of web graphics created or there’s times Mark will ask for client merchandise to be specced or a presentation flushed out with images and other content. I’ll also create social media graphics to accompany a digital campaigns as set-up by Gina.

Favourite aspect of your job:

Can I only pick one thing?! As corny as it sounds, probably making dreams come true. When someone comes to you with an idea inside their head, it’s your job to get it out of them! Client or colleague, I love helping solve a problem and proving to people that anything is possible. When someone says “I have an idea but not sure what to do” or “This isn’t working” it’s my job to find a way! Nothing is more satisfying than finding a solution or reaching a final outcome and helping someone out or making an idea a reality.

What do you like doing when you’re not in the studio?

Anything and everything that gets me outside in the fresh air and exploring the great Scottish outdoors! I took up rowing aged 12 and represented Scotland over the years, so I like to keep myself as active as possible. Usually that involves paddling up and down the River Dee in my boat, floating out at sea on my paddleboard or running through fields and forests.

Tell us a wee something about you that folks might not know and or care about.

I have no sense of smell and can’t smell anything, absolutely nothing. Don’t even bother trying to shove the strongest, most potent item you can find under my nose as it won’t work. I’m lucky I can’t smell f*rts but also unlucky that I can’t smell burning or lovely home baking. Yes I can still taste food (taste and flavour are actually two separate things) as I definitely still enjoy eating! It’s a real condition called Anosmia - look it up for yourself. I must have been able to smell as I have ‘smellmories’ from the age of about 7, 8 years old so it must have disappeared sometime then. I don’t know how/why but believe it could be the result of a head injury suffered as a child, perhaps when my sister hit me on the head with a hammer (thinking she was Timmy Mallet) or when I fell off swings/jumped off walls (thinking I could fly). I don’t miss having a sense of smell however I do wonder if it will ever come back one day...

Lastly - what’s your guilty pleasure:

Disney Tunes so much so that I had guests sing ‘A Whole New World’ at my wedding (was better than singing hymns!)