8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Features
Work
News
Nicer Tuesdays
Shop

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 1/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Advertising
Animation
Architecture
Art

Digital
Fashion
Film
Furniture Design

Graphic Design
Illustration
Miscellaneous
Photography

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 2/31
 8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That
Product Design
Publication
Sculpture
Set Design

It’s Nice That

About
Contact
Submit
Advertising Opportunities
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

Network

Printed Pages Magazine

Here London Symposium
Nicer Tuesdays Event
Company of Parrots Shop
If You Could Jobsboard
Lecture in Progress
Anyways Creative Agency

All Sections
Features
Work
News
Opinion
Watch
Publications
Events
Partnerships

Regulars

Things
Bookshelf
Diary
Friday Mixtape
Double Click
Monthly Brief
The Graduates
Review of the Year
Ones to Watch
The It’s Nice That Podcast

Editorial Staff

Matt Alagiah
Lucy Bourton
Jenny Brewer
Ruby Boddington
Jyni Ong
Rebecca Irvin

Social Media

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
The Dots
Tumblr
Newsletter
RSS

Championing creativity

Animation • Art • Digital • Graphic Design • Illustration • Photography •

View all categories

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 3/31
 8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio

Work / Graphic Design

“My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht
Words by Ayla Angelos, Tuesday 16 July 2019

Stephanie Specht, founder of Specht Studio, didn’t always plan to become a designer. In fact, she began her studies thinking that she would enter into the realms of architecture, and even took a
course during art school at the age of 16. But what initially pointed her towards graphic design was a certain concern regarding her maths ability from her teachers: “I should have known,” says
Stephanie, “since I was always fascinated by the lettering on buildings – mainly old buildings – and the way architects would have their name on houses like a signature (as seen in Belgium during
the 1930-40’s). I did not realise I was already looking at graphic design back then.”

Since this realisation, she went on to complete a master’s in graphic design at the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, and later “ran off to Cape Town to follow love, abandon
graphic design and to study oceanography.” Swept away by romance and the ocean, she tells us how she had always been a fan of the French explorer and naval officer Jacques Cousteau, so surely
this would have been the right choice for her. But, again, this came to an end shortly after she heard that her maths wasn’t strong enough – “and that was the final sign to stick with graphic design.”

In 2006, Stephanie became self-employed and travelled across Brussels, Princeton and Brooklyn, working from “home” – “where ever that ‘home’ was” – and later moved back to Antwerp in 2013
following a break-up. “I feel like all that experience and having lived in many different places has had a huge effect on me, because in my head I am so free,” she says. “Every day I wake up and
feel like anything’s possible if you have the right mindset. When you have a certain trust in life and you love what you do, the right people pick up on that.”

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 4/31
 8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Stephanie Specht: Like Water

From her varied past and experience across the globe, Stephanie now lends her hands solely to design. She has worked with numerous clients and collaborators, including Ace & Tate, a publication
design for Noord Zuid Limburg, a new logo for Sip Snack – a new market in Highland Park, Los Angeles – a poster for Community Day in Belgium, as well as Elusive Archive, a project for The
New Masters at Biennale Interior 2018, Kortrijkin, in collaboration with Levi Lanser. Her recent project, Like Water, sees a self-initiated poster project featuring text by Mooji. “This text really
matters to me,” explains Stephanie. “I often make these types of posters and print them out and hang them up in my office as a reminder. It’s also a nice thing to do something else outside of
commissioned jobs – to experiment and to be free.”

When designing, Stephanie prefers to wake up with the sun to experience a moment of calm before her working hours – “sitting outside with a tea or coffee and listening to birds really is the best.”
Then she sits behind her computer, starts to plan and begins her day. “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture, so I listen to a lot of different genres. There are some jobs where I want to
be in a certain mood and music really enhances that.” Most importantly, however, is that architecture still remains a constant influence throughout her work and daily life. “When I look at a building
that I find interesting, my brain does this thing where it exports the structure into single lines and shapes. The building or house suddenly becomes a layout,” she explains.

“I like the fact that the profession I never turned out doing became an important source of inspiration.” A gentle reminder to all that change is never a bad thing.

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 5/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Noord Zuid Limburg

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 6/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Jefferson Hack

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 7/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Elusive Archive

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 8/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Brussels Museums Nocturnes

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 9/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Lifted

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 10/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Ace & Tate

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 11/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Isness

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 12/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Detach

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 13/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Specht For Corners

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 14/31
8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Otis Talk

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 15/31
 8/22/2019 “My creativity is sparked by music and architecture”: meet graphic designer Stephanie Specht | It's Nice That

Specht Studio: Baloji B

www.stephaniespecht.com

Most RecentMost Popular

Join It’s Nice That and Adobe XD for an evening of discussion on digital design 9 hours ago
In her latest series, Lauren Harris captures moments of violence and tenderness in the boxing ring 9 hours ago
Bold and borderless, Ji Soo Eom’s designs echo the multiverse 10 hours ago
Max Siedentopf's new series injects some excitement back into the humble passport photo 10 hours ago
Graphic designer David Rindlisbacher disrupts his typography-heavy designs with technology 11 hours ago
Joe Melhuish’s zany creations are populated by “joyful characters with manic, chaotic auras” 12 hours ago

Creative inspiration delivered direct to your inbox. Sign up to our newsletters

Your email address

Daily Round-Up
Weekly Edit

Subscribe
Please select the newsletter categories you'd like to recieve

Sign up to our newsletters for the latest creative news, projects and more delivered straight to your inbox

Your email address

Daily Round-Up
Weekly Edit

Subscribe
Please select the newsletter categories you'd like to recieve

More like this:

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/specht-studio-graphic-design-160719 16/31