My path to graphic design
I didn’t stumble into graphic design, I went in head first, passionately. It perfectly combined my love of art, my desire to be creative on a daily basis and my keen eye for detail. I was fascinated by the idea of turning thoughts into visuals, creating impact and weaving clever ideas into design. I loved that the choice of a single colour, can completely change what a brand is trying to say and who they are saying it too. My aim is always that my designs aren’t just aesthetically pleasing; they are functional and purposeful. Every website, every logo, and every campaign is a blend of creativity and narrative.
So where did I start?
After design college, I started my career out working for a print and design shop. It was a huge learning curve, coming straight out of a design course that really never even touched on real life projects, the principles of setting up files for print or the fundamentals of how large format and offset printers actually worked. Design school for me, was all about developing your visual eye, being creative and learning the software – but that was it. Well that was in my experience anyway – and that was about 14 years ago, so things have hopefully changed drastically since then. Working for a printer allowed my to grow skills I still use to this day when designing and helped me to understand the importance of correctly setting up files, colour spaces and image quality.
What came next?
After a few years here, I became a mum and I started freelancing instead. With only a handful of clients when I started, mainly entrepreneurs, small business owners, start-ups, and non-for-profits. I honed my skills and started to grow my client list, expanding to work with larger companies and government agencies across multiple industries.
Raising kids while running a business? Let’s just say, it’s a whirlwind! Juggling design projects with school runs and bedtime stories became my new normal. But you know what? It added depth to my work. I discovered that clients were loving what I did and that positive feedback flowed, word or mouth recommendations grew (still to this day I have never paid for any marketing or advising for my business) and I was, at least in my book, successful.
It’s been about 10 years since I started freelancing and running my graphic design studio. What keeps me going? The personal touch. I dive deep into the essence of every business I work with. It’s not just about understanding what they do; it’s about feeling the heartbeat of their brand. And that, my friend, is where the real design magic happens.
My Graphic Design World
Graphic design isn’t just a job; it’s a passion, a way to tell stories, to connect with others. To be a good designer you need to constantly explore and redefine the boundaries of visual communication. What worked for one brand won’t work for another because their values and messages are different. It’s about understanding the soul of a business and translating it into visuals that resonate with the world.
I hope this gives you a better insight into the kind of designer I am and continually strive to be. If my design style resinates with you, or you’d like to start a discussion about how I can help your brand become the best it can be, then get in touch → I’d love to hear from you!
Welcome to my graphic design world; it’s lovely to have you here.
