Q&A with Rob MacArthur

I had friends submit questions that would help potential clients or partners of AQR get to know me. After eliminating some totally inappropriate questions (you know who you are), and combining those that were similar here are 20 that made the cut. – Rob

What are some design influences?
I love Polish movie posters. So much more interesting than their North American counterparts. Big fan of a number of jazz labels design from the 60s. And book covers, or anything that represents a series. Interested in creative ways of representing an ongoing item in a shared manner while allowing each item to have its’ own individual look or feel.

What are some of your favorite things in Halifax?
The people and people watching. The green spaces, Common, Public Garden, Citadel Hill. Drinking beer on the patios downtown in the summer. Its’ small size. Lots of different special events. October is amazing here: Halifax Pop Explosion, a truly scary haunted house (seriously, walk through by yourself next year) and an amazing night of city-wide art called Nocturne. So much goodness pretty much has October as my fav month outside the summer to be here.

Where would you recommend folks eat in Halifax?
Any sushi place whose name starts with a D.  Morris East. janes on the common. Coastal Cafe. Ardmore, where I had my first meal with my future wife.

Name a book that has had an impact on you?
The first Irving Layton poetry book I ever read – I have to track down which one it was exactly though. I’ll end up purchasing it eventually. Eye opening to the power of words and how there were no hard and fast rules for poetry or any style of writing. Then extrapolate that to life and business.

Pets or kids?
Not sure if this is asking to pick a preference or state if you have any so I’ll go with the latter.One simese cat, Neko Yoshi. And a new baby girl, Simona June Louise. I do think puppies are far more work than babies though.

Do you read any magazines?
Love ‘em. (See design response). Inc, Fast Company, HBR, Dwell, and Wired are my regular monthly reads. The Economist sometimes. Utne usually. And a grab bag of various music, design and business/news magazines depending on what they cover and what is happening in the world at the time.

What is your favorite band? or style of music?
Impossible question.

Ok, well is there any music you dislike?
Anything written by a team of people most likely. Definitely “artists” using autotune. Anything with a shelf life shorter than week old bread.

Do you cook?
Sometimes quite well. If you’re nice I may even invite you over.

Did you know your eyes are the highest holes on your body?
I do now.

Business goals?
Plenty. Stay self-employed. Use AQR to influence other businesses to rethink how they do business for the better. Really try to use the crowdfunding site we are redesigning now to change the way musicians think about their own careers and potential. I want to test Kevin Kelley’s 1000 True Fans idea a well as help push musicians past the 4-mile record mental barrier for direct to fan relationships. besides those modest goals, I have some pretty audacious goals I should sit on for now.

Life goals?
Make sure my little girl knows I love her until the end of time. Be successful on my own terms. Build my own home someday. Travel the world. Write. Spend as much time as I can with friends and family when and while I can.

Best trip?
Week long honeymoon in NYC. Runner up was probably in NY state as well, Woodstock ’99.

Future travel plans?
Travel the world including South America, UK, France, Italy, Germany – other parts of the EU, Netherlands with my wife’s family. Tokyo. San Fran and back to NYC for certain. I also have yet to travel across Canada.

Sign?
Capricorn

Favorite social network?
Twitter.

Any role models?
My mom instilled all that is good about me in me. Richard Branson was the first business person I looked up to. The AQR quarterly SPIDER was a plan I had back in university inspired by his Student Magazine. Though the current incarnation of SPIDER is definitely a different beast than the initial idea. There are probably a few others I am just not thinking of, maybe musicians or writers. And friends that pursue their passions definitely inspire me everyday.

If you weren’t running AQR you’d be…?
Maybe running with a band. Probably another business. Maybe writing.`

Superpower?
Freeze time for everyone and thing other than myself. Like a second would take a month to pass. I use to think mind reading, then decided slowing time would allow me to just read your emails or notes anyways and spare me the learning the stuff I just wouldn’t want to know.

Something most of your friends do not know about you?
I have a science degree from Dal.