Where did you get your degree:?

 

I graduated from the Art Institute of California - San Francisco with a degree in a Bachelors of Science in Graphic Design in May 2011.



You've won an in-house award, congratulations! Plus your work is starkingly simple, Where do you get your ideas?

 

Most of my ideas just come from working closely with my clients to come up with a concept and then doing a bunch of visual research. Once I find elements that work together and tell the right story, I start from there.

What are some of the favorite projects you've worked on?

 

My favorite projects are always designing logos and identities for small startups because there's so much potential. I love helping people figure out how to tell their stories visually. Example: Widen Media : what started as "just a logo" for a friend turned into an entire identity system for the love of my life. Jeremy and I both attended school at the Art Institute and when he was ready to graduate he needed a logo. We began dating almost a year after and I've been his graphic designer ever since. I also really love designing for the fashion industry because it's always fast paced and the trends change so often that there's always a sense of newness. SearsStyle: I've been contracting for searsStyle in Chicago for almost 8 months and have enjoyed designing for all sorts of styles and trends. My favorite weekly issue that I designed was the"sorbet" issue because not only did I design the issue, but I took some of the photography for the supporting tiles.

 

What is the most challenging part of being a freelancer?

 

The most challenging part of being a freelancer is being your own mentor. When you freelance, there's no one there to give you guidance on how to work with clients, how to handle your taxes, how to estimate your worth, or even how to invoice. I had to learn everything the hard way, which is why I write about freelancing in my blog (creatively-driven.com) so that other new freelancer's can hopefully learn from my mistakes.

 

What part of the world where you born in?

 

I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii USA on May 25th 1988. I only lived there for the first 8 weeks of my life, and I've lived in California ever since I was 4, so California is home.

 

 

What is your favorite design-houses/agencies:?

 

Most of the agencies that I love the most are two man operations. Lab Partners does amazing work and it's just a guy and a girl out of Oakland. That's my dream, to be a small design and video production agency out of San Francisco.

 

Loretta May Design