MEET #825 RICH TU

Designer • New York City, NY

WNW Member #825 Rich Tu is an ADC Young Gun and has exhibited at galleries and festivals in New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, as well as the SCOPE Miami festival during Art Basel. Commercially, some of his clients include The New York Times, The New Yorker, Business Week, Alfa Romeo, Bombay Sapphire, G-Shock, NPR, and Skype. Rich spoke to WNW about how freelancers should approach their game like athletes.

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1. How long have you been freelancing?

On and off since 2009. Add two more years if you count during graduate school.

2. Is there a time or place that you feel most creative/have the best ideas?

I’m off to the races after I’ve had a cup of black coffee. My best ideas happen when I’m away from the desk and take a walk or work out.

3. What's your ideal Working:Not Working ratio?

90% Working, 10% Not Working. But I’m usually thinking about work constantly, so I’m never really “Not Working”.

4. Do your parents understand what you do?

Yes, kind of. They are still very concerned for my future and call me regularly to make sure I have eaten today.

5. What scene from a movie makes you laugh just thinking about it?

Pretty much all of the movie Clue. It’s pure gold.

6. If you were stranded on a desert island, with your computer, what 3 websites would you take with you?

Wikipedia, Comic Book Resources, and Netflix (so I can watch Survivorman and learn how to build a raft to get off the damn island).

7. What do you do when Not Working?

A couple of years ago I rediscovered the joy of reading comics after a long time not. So I’ll do that, or make a serious effort to disappear at the movies.

8. Do you have a hidden talent?

I bboy (breakdance) with decent proficiency. I was really serious about it years ago. I spent many nights in dimly lit hip hop and jungle clubs in NYC with a backpack full of dry-fit shirts and elbow pads.