When I Grow Up: Becoming a Graphic Designer

And we're back with a new post in the When I Grow Up series! Today we're hearing from Stephanie Woody, a graphic designer located in the Dallas area. I met Stephanie right after I moved to Dallas back in 2009 and even though we don't see each other often enough, I still count her as a good friend! I watched as she left her first graphic design job to follow her dream and travel the world as a missionary for 11 months. Now she has an adorable baby girl and is back working as a graphic designer. Let's hear all about it now!

As a child, I wanted to be a ­______ when I grew up. An Olympic gymnast!

 How close (or far) is your current career from that dream? Pretty far off! I didn’t accomplish making it to the Olympics, but I did get pretty close! When it came time to decide if I wanted to home school so I could practice more than the 5 hours a day I already was, I chose my childhood instead. Such a tough decision when you are only 12! To this day I respect my mom for supporting me no matter what I decided and not pushing me one way or the other. Somedays I still think that would have been really neat to stick out, but at the same time I know I wouldn’t have all the wonderful friends and experiences that I have now. That experience also taught me a lot about self discipline at an early age, which is a must for the career I chose.

What is your official job title? Graphic Designer

Ok, now what does that really mean? The boring way of explaining what it means is that I sit in front of a computer all day, haha. And the exciting way of explaining what I do is that I get to take people’s dreams and passions and put a face to them; turning their ideas into something impactful and creative! Whether their dream is to start a non-profit, open up a restaurant, host a concert or announce a new baby, I help put that to paper through designing logos, invitations, packaging, posters, websites, t-shirts, ads, etc.

 What is a typical day like? Graphic designers like their sleep (which oddly we don’t get very often) so I usually don’t get into the office about 9 or 9:30. Some days we have meetings with clients all day long or phone calls with printers and others we have the day free to just design. Depending on the project, some clients are billed by the hour so we have to watch our time and some are open ended! The amount of projects we have at a time changes constantly, we can have 2-5 or 12-15. My company is small; there are only 4 designers, so we will work together and bounce ideas off each other. It’s a very fun environment. I’m supposed to work till 6PM, but most of the time I am there till 8 and if we are on a very tight deadline we will be there till midnight. That is the part that can be very exhausting!

 How did you end up in this career? It was my second semester my freshman year in college and I was undeclared. I had no idea what I wanted to do the rest of my life (who really does at 19 years old?!), but I knew I needed to pick something ASAP to avoid having to go for 5 years and end up with even more debt! I also knew I was not a fan of writing papers or studying all the time and I had a good friend who was majoring in graphic design. I loved art and being creative so I thought “Hmmm, why not? Let’s do this!”

 What kind of education or training did you complete for this career? I have a BFA in Graphic Design that I definitely earned. Art classes are actually double the hours you take so for every 3 hours of class credit you get, you are actually in class 6+ hours. I had many all nighters in college. I recently had a sweet baby girl and when she was only a month old my friend asked me what motherhood was like and I simply said pretty much like college (up all night) only you are taking care of a tiny human! Like many other career fields, you need more than just a degree though. Experience is just as important as the education. Before working where I am now, I worked for American Airlines designing for the American Way magazine. It was a completely different environment, much more corporate, but just as fun and rewarding. I am a firm believer that the people you work with can make or break a job not matter what it is you are doing. I have also done various freelance jobs for friends on the side. Those are always really fun, but very hard to make a consistent living off of.

 What advice would you give to someone who wants a similar career? For anyone who wants to go down this path make sure it is because of your passion and not for the money. It takes a lot of dedication and self discipline to make it far! It also is very fast paced and changing so if you know that going in, it makes it a lot easier to adapt and grow. Don’t let anyone tell you you cannot do it because you can’t draw or you are not creative enough. What do they know! This field is always open to new and fresh ideas. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish a lot.

Do you have any other career dreams? What do you want to be when you grow up? I do! I have been very fortunate to live overseas in first and third world countries and I have a huge heart for people, traveling, other cultures and mission work. I especially love designing for non-profits. Unfortunately, it is very hard to find a paying graphic design position with a non-profit to be able to solely live off of. My ideal dream job would be to live overseas working with a mission organization, doing life with people while also still being able to do design. What is neat about that, is graphic design transcends all languages!

Any last thoughts or encouragement for others trying to decide what they want to do “when they grow up”? Some of the best advice I was ever given was to “Love God, Love people and just DO.” Meaning there is no right or wrong choice for what you decide to do with your life. College or no college? Business or Art? I think there is a tremendous amount of pressure in our society to choose the right American dream and that once you pick a path you’re stuck doing that forever. I believe that is complete BS. We have so many opportunities here in America and it is okay to have multiple dreams. It is okay to switch paths along the way. Change is good. Change is what grows us and it is experiencing life that matters, not climbing to the top of the career ladder. Loving others can look different in so many ways. Do you want to be known by how much money you make or by how many lives you have made better by simply being you?

Thank you so much Stephanie for telling us about your job! And your daughter is so adorable, I need to see her again soon :)

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

When I Grow Up: Becoming a Calligrapher

Hey guys! Today I want to introduce you to Joy Deneen. She's a calligrapher and artist who currently resides in Montréal. She's originally from California and has an interesting story of how she went from a degree in theater to a career as a calligrapher! Let's read about it now.
 

As a child, I wanted to be an author when I grew up.

 How close (or far) is your current career from that dream? While I’m not an author, I write words every day!

What is your official job title? Proprétaire and calligrapher at imaginejoy calligraphie.

Ok, now what does that really mean? I have my own calligraphy business in Montréal, Québec.  I specialize in modern calligraphy and hand lettered details for weddings and special events.  I also offer classes and private lessons for beginners.

credit: Emilie Iggiotti
 

What is a typical day like? Every day varies, given the nature of my custom commissions.  Depending on the day of the week, I could be teaching a calligraphy class, meeting with clients or going to work onsite for an event.  A “typical” day usually begins with administrative tasks in the morning – answering emails, writing contracts and handling accounting.  I typically start on calligraphy work in the afternoon, which usually spills into the evening.

credit: Emilie Iggiotti

How did you end up in this career? In 1999, I moved to Los Angeles to get my bachelor’s degree in theatre at UCLA.  The program was the perfect mix of my interests in writing, design, production and history.  I developed a love for theatrical makeup and special effects and worked as a makeup artist for a few years. However, it was my desire for structure and a steady paycheck that led me to a place where I never envisioned myself – working in commercial real estate finance.  While I have a strong administrative side, compliance checklists and audits could never be construed as creative work.  However, I am grateful for the skills I learned related to accounting, business systems and dealing with demanding clientele. 

It was during my time at the bank that my journey into the world of calligraphy began.  One Christmas, my brother gave me a box of nibs, a bottle of ink and a copy of Modern Mark Making by Lisa Engelbrecht.  I was swept away by the book and soon learned that Lisa was a part of the Society for Calligraphy, a guild in Southern California.  I showed up to a meeting, bright eyed and eager, not knowing a single soul in the room. It was a wonderful surprise to be welcomed with open arms.  I enrolled in classes and workshops and haven’t looked back since! As time passed, I began to take on commissions.  My creative life was flourishing again. 

In 2013, my husband Michael got a job opportunity in Montréal.  Both of us are native Californians and had talked for several years about our desire to one day live in a different state.  At the time of the job offer, we had only been married for six months and knew that it was the perfect time in our lives to set out on a new adventure.  And suddenly, all of the years I spent studying French became very relevant!  The move was also a wonderful opportunity for me to start fresh and establish my calligraphy business as a full-time endeavor.

credit: Emilie Iggiotti
 

What kind of education or training did you complete for this career? My calligraphy education began in the form of small group classes, studying Copperplate, and I went on to take numerous workshops covering a wide array of styles. I am a perpetual student, so I’m always seeking out learning opportunities. I’m very excited to attend the annual IAMPETH conference this summer – a full week of calligraphy classes with the masters!

credit: imaginejoy calligraphie

 What advice would you give to someone who wants a similar career? If you are new to calligraphy, take advantage of all of the resources out there.  Join your local calligraphy guild, take as many in-person classes as possible and start a habit of daily practice.  When it comes to launching your business, be sure to establish clear terms and procedures. In the realm of custom work, booking deposits and contracts are vital!

 Do you have any other career dreams? What do you want to be when you grow up? Going back to my childhood dream, I would still love to write a book.  As a child, I envisioned writing novels but I’ve found that I really love interviewing other artists and learning about their journey and creative processes.

credit: imaginejoy calligraphie
 

 Any last thoughts or encouragement for others trying to decide what they want to do “when they grow up”? One of my favorite quotes is from Picasso:  “All children are born artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Can you identify an interest or fascination that you’ve had ever since you were a child?  Our passions are often evident at a very young age, but they will usually evolve over time.  I’ve found that it is incredibly helpful to reflect upon your goals in writing, be it through journaling or making lists. 

credit: Emilie Iggiotti

Thank you for sharing your story Joy! I love that Picasso quote so much :) Please visit Joy's website, Imagine Joy, for more information or if you are interested in her services. I wish I'd known about her before our wedding!

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

100 Rejections. Ten Months. | Thirty Before 30

Rejection is terrifying, isn’t it? To be perfectly honest, my fear of rejection is one of the reasons I ended up going back to accounting as a day job. I was terrified of sending out emails to the magazines and websites that I really wanted to write for. I was even approached to be a contributor to an up-and-coming website, and I was too scared to send them a couple of articles. Fear is a nasty thing, y'all.

Now, I could take that overwhelming fear of rejection as a sign that doing my own thing isn't for me. But that is so not true. When I did put myself out there, I had a pretty great success rate! The first client I ever landed is still a client nearly four years later. I've turned a profit in my business every year, even the past years when it has been a part-time thing.

The funny thing is, rejection doesn't bother me in most other areas of my life. Not everyone is going to like me, and that’s ok. I haven’t gotten every job I’ve applied for, I haven’t befriended everyone that I wanted to, and I haven’t always succeeded. And that is totally ok.

But for some reason I'm terrified of rejection when it comes to my writing. Perhaps because I feel so strongly that it is what I am supposed to be doing. I've been writing in one form or fashion since I learned how to hold a pencil and string letters together. I have notebooks full of stories that I wrote for fun in elementary school. As a kid I spent a summer sitting in front of a computer writing a "novel".

Writing is what I love to do. And I'm terrified of being told I'm not good enough. I’m afraid someone will tell me that I’m being ridiculous, that I have no business submitting to their website or publication, and that I am just wasting everyone’s time.

I'm tired of being afraid. I'm going to turn 30 this year, and I'm getting too damn old to worry about rejection and what people think. Ok, I know 30 isn't that old. But I think 30 is the age when you begin to realize how much time you wasted in your 20s wondering what people thought. You realize what is important, and what is important to me is being a writer.

So now that I’m staring 30 in the face, I’ve decided to challenge myself to receive 100 rejections before my birthday. I have to submit/apply/audition for 100 things. For instance, I submitted a pitch to Hello Giggles last week. And even before I submitted that pitch, I asked a blogger I know via social media to review the pitch, as she'd written for them before. I was sure she would say no, but she didn't! Instead she looked it over and gave me some great feedback. It was a great example of why it is worth trying. Sometimes the answer is yes!

As it turns out, there is actually a woman out there who has a whole coaching program on this 100 Rejection Letters thing. I really thought the idea just came to me, but maybe I'd heard it mentioned somewhere before. I listen to a lot of podcasts, so I could've picked up the idea from something I heard. Once I realized this was a thing, I checked it out. Her program sounds interesting, but it is a year long program that started last fall so I missed the boat. Which is totally fine. I wanted to do this for myself.

And I am! I'm not focusing on rejection letters, per se. No, my goal isn't quite that narrow. I don't want to just send 100 pitches to magazines. I want to put myself out there in more ways than that. I want to get some big names to agree to be featured in my When I Grow Up series. I want to land my dream client. And ok, I do want to pitch to some magazines. My goal is to put myself out there and received 100 rejections in the less than 10 months until my birthday.

I'll keep a running tally as a I go, and I'll try to do monthly recaps on the blog. But first, any advice for me? I know rejection therapy is a thing, anyone ever tried it?

If you're interested in learning more about my writing and editing business, you can head to www.jbryantcreative.com and poke around :)

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...