356 - Umut Göldaf

Umut Göldaf is an Art Director & Freelance Graphic Designer from Turkey.

He left his position as Art Director at the agency in January 2022 and currently continues his project-based work as a freelance graphic designer. He also contributes to the Canva Türkiye Community with the templates he designs.

His wife was previously featured in reader-favorite edition #284.

Behance → behance.net/umutgoldaf
Instagram → instagram.com/umutgoldaf
Twitter (X) → twitter.com/umutgoldaf

Inside Umut's Workspace

PC Specs

• CPU Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700
• RAM Corsair 32 GB (4x8GB)
• GPU NVIDIA MSI GeForce RTX 3080
• SAMSUNG (SAPSI) NVMe 980 1 TB SSD
• SanDisk Ultra 3D 500GB SSD
• ASUS PCE-AX58BT
  

Workspace Items

• ‍‍Macbook Air 15”
• iPad Pro 11”
• Viewsonic VP2768A 27" Monitor
• AOC PDS241 24" Monitor
• Logitech MX Keys Keyboard
• Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse
• Wacom One 13 Pen Display
• iPhone 13
• Jabra Elite 3 Earphones
• Logitech G Pro X Headset
• Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker
• IKEA Elloven Monitor Riser
• IKEA Tertial Work Lamp
• Goldsit QUATRO Office Chair
• Specially Made Desk
  

Software

• ‍‍Illustrator
• Photoshop
• InDesign
• Lightroom
• After Effects
• Blender

What is the most useful item in your workspace?

The most useful item in my workspace: Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse! After being introduced to the MX keyboard, I decided to upgrade the mouse side as well. I can quickly switch between my computers and transfer data with a single click. Thanks to this feature, I minimize the loss of time while working. In addition, the ergonomic design of MX Master 3S Mouse supports my wrist. Thus, I finish the day comfortably.

What does your typical daily routine look like?

Working as a freelance graphic designer is filled with the feeling of freedom I gained after 12 years of agency experience. It is a great privilege for me to be able to determine my own daily routine and to have the chance to wake up early in the morning and control the day. At the beginning of the day, reviewing the agenda and sipping my first meal of the day with coffee is a great start to an energy-filled day.

Then, I create my work schedule to plan my day. Focusing on project deadlines and setting priorities ensures a productive day. If there are times when I feel stuck, I immediately go for a ride on my bike. Being in touch with nature stimulates my creativity, and then I return to my work more focused.

I set aside one day a week for face-to-face meetings or visits with my clients. Communicating and discussing projects directly strengthens collaboration.

You never know when inspiration will strike! After dinner, I can sit in front of the computer at any time and continue the day's work. This is a great opportunity to push my creativity to its limits and work in depth on projects. Being able to set my own working hours helps me balance both my work and private life. The freelance world allows me to not only do my job, but also work in a way that suits my lifestyle.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being an art director?

I have to emphasize that managing a team as an art director is a great reward for me. Uniting the team around an inspiring vision, bringing together different talents and making them a whole is a truly satisfying experience. Encouraging creativity, guiding team members and unlocking their potential allows projects to be realized not only in terms of design but also as a collective success.