For the first time we’re putting together a multi-person interview with three talented and upcoming designers from New Orleans. We’ll discuss design, the degrees of separation project, and personal ventures, as well as how life has changed in the past year. Let’s introduce you to Robyn, Erik, and Ken.

Devlounge: How’s it going everyone? We typically ask for some background as our first question, so mind giving us the 411, and how you’re connected to New Orleans?

Robyn: I am Robyn, 23. I really like when people make those batman jokes about my name. I moved to New Orleans at the beginning of 2004 to finish up my schooling at Loyola. That place is rad. I finally finished about a week ago, since that hurricane thing ate my fall semester. Now I am working at a new ad group in Lafayette, about 2 hrs west of New Orleans. Oh, and I kind of hate title case.

Ken: Doing pretty good man. I’m born and raised here in New Orleans (Uptown), but I’m in the process of moving.

Erik: Doing very well. Trying to not pass out from the heat! Born and raised in Louisiana, moved to various parts of the state and came to New Orleans a few years ago with my freelance operation. Between living in different neighborhoods in nola, you end up meeting a pretty solid group of people in your community, and form a really great circle of friends.

I tend to go out of my way to help friends, dropping my own wishes – and it’s great to see people doing the same, and return the same. The south tends to rock like that. As far as my connection to nola? I’m definitely an optimistic cheerleader for the city. Currently trying to get up and comers in the art community together and get their work out of nola.

Food aficionado and listener of problems over beers. I celebrate what the city has to offer.

DL: DL: The Degrees of Separation project launched prior to the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and has since become of “joining point” for New Orleans design. Was each of you involved before Katrina struck, or did the events inspire you to get involved?

Robyn: I had some stuff ready to roll pre kat. The project kind of changed after that, so I just submitted new comps. Of course after that you are going to be moved to react, dOs was a good vehicle. Plus it’s samia, you have to do it.

Ken: Actually Samia contacted me during the second issue which came out after Katrina struck. Since I’d done a bit of traveling during the evacuation I was pretty excited about getting involved with the project. But personally I wasn’t interested in doing any Katrina related pieces because the idea itself was getting watered down (or at least on it’s way). It was like the 911 campaigns, movie, etc; did it come out to soon or too late?

Erik: Many of the people were but names before the storm. I had heard of the project, but had not gotten involved because of the juggling of so many other client projects. Through my involvement with constance, is how I met many people in the network in DoS. Many of the people had left the city, whereas I had returned. Samia Saleem had asked me to participate in her project and I happily accepted. We connected on many levels of design and process – so that in itself was a kick starter to for my involvement. Right now is a trying time for everyone. So many things were inspiring before the storm, and even moreso in postK life. The beauty, decay and the fight of the New Orleanian inspires and impacts everyones work here.

DL: DL: The whole New Orleans design community really seemed to come together in the wake of Katrina. I seemed to stumble upon so many New Orleans designers and inspired art, it amazed me. Then came the emergence of Dirty Coast. How did you think the design community and particularly the N.O design community responded to the situation?

Robyn: There was a pretty tight knit design community before the storm. It is just that the spotlight was finally on us. Not knowing where everyone was spawned all of these project’s, it sort of gave me a sense of home and assured me that as soon we could get back, everything would be fine, as far as that aspect of life. And now it is really cool to see how the designer’s reaction has changed. At first we all seemed to dwell in the destruction of the city. I think we all just got tired of bitching and are now concentrating on what made/makes our city so great.

Ken: I remember seeing the Hurricane Poster Project and a few other things. I thought it was funny because there were more designers from other cities submitting pieces than designers from here. It’s great that people responded and took time to look at the crisis and true culture of New Orleans that was at stake (many people view this as just a party town). But more importantly I think the weakness was how New Orleans was the focal point and people forgot about all the other cities that were totally flattened (Gulfport, Biloxi, etc).

Erik: Community in business and art is a fickle thing here. There is a community indeed of people wanting to help one another, but solid collective efforts are few and far in between. So many levels of our community can be examined to see this trend. The lack of gangs in New Orleans, should tell you from a base level that everyone is for them self. Same holds true in the design and art community, I find. So many people, doing their thing, rarely collaborating, and executed in the usual New Orleanian ‘get to it, when i get to it’ attitude. I do find more solidarity in the arts now, because people are finding that its worth fighting for. We tend not to worry about things until the bottom drops out, hence our taste with Katrina.

I do also find that people forgot about New Orleans before the storm. Sure people know of the place, but usually associate with celebration only. It’s sad that it took a huge mess for some people to pay attention that there are things going on here. The people here are a special breed. Very real and able to deal many things that i think many in America could not deal with.