Hust Wilson
A spotlight on Hust with 8 questions and our favourite pieces.
Huston Wilson, known as Hust Wilson, is a self-taught Designer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He grew up learning different design skills to improve his knowledge on the history of design but has an aesthetic for lettering, typography and illustration. “Always improve yourself and get out of your comfort box” are words constantly employed within his mind.
Do you remember the moment you knew you wanted to become a designer?
I started drawing at the age of six and I knew then that this is something I want to carry on doing for the rest of my life. I didn’t study design at all, I’m totally self-taught. Coming from a poor background, I had to hustle from the age of 16, working to put bread on the table while watching YouTube tutorials, learning, practising other people’s techniques for my personal use and asking ‘how can I improve by doing something similar, but keeping the aesthetic that I love?’ I wanted to explore every type of design, every type of art.
Did you go to design school? Do you think it was necessary to get to where you are today?
I am self-taught. I think it all just pays down to working hard and how badly you want it.
Who is your favorite designer right now?
Okay so I got a bunch of them of designers that I’m inspired but at the moment it’s Alec Tear.
What is your all time favorite font?
My all time favourite font has to be Gotham by Tobias Frere-Jones.
What is your method of getting out of a designers block?
Creating a treasure of thumbnail sketches helps for me, maybe going on a hike or going to gym.
Can you describe your ideal working environment?
All I need is some RnB music and a quite room and my work station has to be clean. I love a clean space that smells fresh as well.
Some of our Favorites
What advice would you have given yourself 3 years ago?
Never allow anyone to not break, what you dream and see for your yourself and family.
What is the greatest challenge you have faced in your career so far? How did you overcome it?
My greatest challenge I faced has been working on my first typeface with Yvonne Orji for her HBO special. This was big for me and going through that process and trusting and believing in myself, helped me to push through. I got to learn so much in that process.
