We first discovered Steven Wilson's lush technicolour style back in April, when Kelly and Becks had a chat with him in Brighton. Now we've commissioned him to design our latest poster on the theme of Success - which of course indicates that he's made it.

Tell us how your piece relates to success.

Well, it's pretty straightforward. It's quite light-hearted. I was just playing with that idea some people have that owning certain things makes them a success. It's always expensive material things and cars in particular that are used as status symbols. People buy them to show how much money they're earning and they think that that is what makes them a success. I decided to go a bit 80's with it as it was probably even worse back then and the Porsche 911 is synonymous with the time.

NYCGO Hotdog

What have been up to since we last interviewed you back in May?

On a personal note I've become a dad. My wife gave birth to a boy who we've named Sidney so he's been keeping me pretty busy. He is currently hollering in the background as I write this so please excuse any grammatical errors! Work-wise, things have been going really well and I've had a whole mix of projects. A couple of examples are campaign posters for the launch of NYCGO.COM with BBH in New York (these are currently up around London) and I've also worked on a project with your fine selves for 3 Mobile which was good fun to work on.

Generally this year I've been trying to experiment with type and simple iconic images whenever possible. I'm probably better known for more complicated psychedelic imagery with lots going on and hidden elements, so I've just been experimenting with some simpler stuff whenever possible.

Father Christmas

What do you do when you get stuck?

Depends on why I think I'm stuck. If I just can't think of an idea I may go and look in some flea markets for possible sources of inspiration or through some of the books on my shelves at home. Sometimes though I just need a change of scenery so I can start thinking afresh so I'll go for a walk or a run and that often helps. I get stuck a lot less that I used to - mostly because I can rarely afford the time to get stuck! Also, having been doing this for quite a while now I have more weapons at my disposal than I used to so I feel more confident in what I'm doing.

Coke

You mentioned in your last interview with us that you've used scanned Play Dough as an element of your work. What other materials have you used?

That's probably the most unusual thing I've used as an actual medium but I'm always buying weird objects to photograph or use somehow within my work. For example, earlier in the year I bought a hairdressers' model polystyrene head which I dripped children's liquid paints onto and photographed for one project I was working on.

Bullet for my Valentine

What trends in the world of illustration and typography are we seeing too much of at the moment?

Probably the whole swirly, decorative stuff. Some people are still using it in their own distinctive way, which is ok but generally it seems to me like it's had it's day. You can buy the shapes to make those types of images from illustration stock libraries and that's not good. There are lots of people ripping off the originators of that style.

Also, I hate the cute vector characters that some of the big brands have been using for a while. A large mobile phone brand in particular uses the type of thing I'm talking about on their billboard adverts all the time and I drive past and they piss me off. I don't particularly hate it but it's such a safe, uninspired route to take.

Sam Sparro

What is the most difficult commercial piece you've been set, and why?

It's never the brief or what's asked of me that's the problem. I'll have a go at any brief so long as I feel I can make a good job of it and they've asked me to do it in the first place because they like the style of my work. The problems usually arise when you have an art director who doesn't allow you any creative licence and you feel like you are creating something that is entirely their vision and none of yours. I've had many a nightmare due to that, but I'm obviously not going to name and shame!

You can pick up the Success poster with Scott's artwork, completely free at these outlets now. If you miss it, you'll soon be able to purchase it from here (or, if you can't wait - email us)

See more of Steve's work at wilson2000.com

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