Growing as a GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Traits that are helpful

Summary

The speaker shares their journey of overcoming challenges and pushing themselves forward in their design career. They discuss personal traits that helped them grow, including the pursuit of new challenges and learning from mentors like Chris Do. Emphasizing the importance of saying 'yes' to opportunities, even when it's uncomfortable, they reflect on the value of constant self-improvement. Through experiences like working with top brands, networking, and public speaking, the speaker encourages others to embrace challenges, learn continuously, and follow their passions to achieve success.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Always push yourself to improve, even when it's unclear how to move forward.
• 💡 Working with big brands like Biser, OnePlus, and Adobe helped the speaker enhance their skills and grow as a designer.
• 🙃 Being an introvert doesn't stop you from networking and building connections, which are crucial in the design community.
• ⛰️ A key trait for success is always seeking new challenges and being willing to climb new 'mountains.'
• 🖥️ Learning design independently through online resources and mentors (like Chris Do from The Futur) helped bridge the gap in formal education.
• 🎯 Setting goals and milestones fuels progress; having specific objectives keeps the motivation to improve alive.
• 📚 Passion for a subject (like design) can turn failure in traditional academics into success in specialized fields.
• 🤔 Generalists can excel by transferring skills across different creative fields, aiding in roles like art direction.
• 🕰️ There’s never a perfect time to start—learn, create, and experience now rather than waiting for the 'right moment.'
• 👍 Saying yes to opportunities, even if uncomfortable or scary, often leads to personal growth and new experiences.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to push themselves in their career?

The speaker was motivated by a desire to continuously improve, learn new things, and become a better designer. They always felt the need to challenge themselves and look for tools to climb new mountains in their career.

How did the speaker overcome their introverted nature to build a network in the design community?

The speaker pushed themselves to go outside of their comfort zone by socializing, attending events, and meeting people despite being naturally introverted. They recognized the importance of networking in their field and worked hard to build connections.

What was one of the biggest challenges the speaker faced early in their design career?

One of the biggest challenges the speaker faced was the lack of design resources and mentorship in their college. This motivated them to seek out online resources, such as YouTube channels like 'The Future,' to improve their design skills.

How did the speaker’s trait of being an 'overachiever' influence their approach to design?

The speaker's overachieving nature pushed them to go beyond limits and fully commit to achieving their goals. This trait helped them quickly advance in their career and led them to learn multiple fields like photography, illustration, and branding.

Why does the speaker believe being a generalist helped in their career?

The speaker believes being a generalist allowed them to develop a broad skill set, which became valuable when directing teams across various design disciplines. This versatility helped them succeed as an art director and creative director.

What lesson did the speaker learn about waiting for the 'right time' to pursue something?

The speaker learned that waiting for the 'right time' often leads to missed opportunities. They realized it's important to take action immediately rather than waiting, as there will never be a perfect time to pursue their goals.

What advice does the speaker give about saying 'yes' to opportunities?

The speaker advises saying 'yes' to opportunities even if they are uncomfortable or scary. By pushing past fear and discomfort, they found that many of the things they initially hesitated to do turned out to be valuable and enjoyable experiences.

How did saying 'yes' to public speaking change the speaker’s career?

Saying 'yes' to public speaking opportunities, such as working with 'The Future,' helped the speaker build confidence and led to a domino effect where they started doing more live sessions, events, and panel discussions. This expanded their reach and network.

What is the significance of 'finding traits' in one’s personal growth according to the speaker?

The speaker believes that identifying personal traits, such as being an overachiever or a natural learner, can help individuals understand what drives them. Recognizing these traits helps people set better goals and achieve personal and career growth.

What does the speaker mean by 'always looking for another mountain to climb'?

By 'always looking for another mountain to climb,' the speaker means constantly seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth. They believe in setting both small and large goals to continuously improve and develop new skills.