MY EXPERIENCE AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT ORF

Since 2008 I have been producing all forms of information graphics for both national TV news and magazines.
Coming from flat art and print, the transition to motion and 3d was initially quite a challenge. With the help of my extraordinary colleagues, the transition went smoothly! They taught me the essentials of using 3D software and storytelling together with the peculiarities of graphic language for television.
Always looking for a challenge I soon got the chance to join the “EGR-Grafik“: working in a team of news editors and presenters adding the additional thrill of live broadcasts and the responsibilities of daily prime time news. A task that is demanding but rewarding.
With the kick-off of a separate news service for Channel One, I have been asked to take over the direction of a specialized graphic team. The creation of coverage-embedded graphics was followed by the website “meins” for Channel One with news for young people. I designed illustrated storylines that were produced daily in collaboration with programmers.
With the partial retirement of my boss two years ago, I was offered to take over his position as deputy head of the department “Aktuelle Grafik”.

HOW THINGS WENT IN VIENNA:

Arriving in Vienna as a freshly certified photo designer, for the past 25 years, I’ve met exceptional people, taken part in many interesting and sophisticated projects, fell in love three times – finally got a kid (an extraordinary guy!) and got married. During all this, I changed my profession twice (…photographer, graphic designer, shiatsu therapist) to finally become a media designer at the news department of the ORF (Austrian broadcast company).
A demanding job! As a counterbalance, I learned to play the violoncello (still ongoing).

WHAT I DID IN GERMANY FROM 12 ON

I picked up the language in quite a short time and went to the „Realschule“. Then continued my studies at the „Fachhochschule für Gestaltung“ in Nürnberg, followed by an internship at a photography studio. Though I wanted to study graphic design in Berlin I also applied for the photo academy in Munich and got accepted immediately. So I moved to Munich, and through both tough and enjoyable years earned my diploma.

HOW IT WAS BEING A CHILD IN POLAND

I grew up in a large, protective family, in the middle of the most polluted region of Poland – upper Silesia. Queueing in front of shops for food and the basic commodities of life was the norm.
Deprivation taught me to be creative. Every time I wanted something special, I had to make it myself – or find a workaround.
Ultimately I became quite proficient in most things – except for welding (This I still have to learn, most definitely!).