During this coronavirus pandemic, working from home has become necessary. I’m fortunate that my line of work allows this. As a graphic designer, I have been able to continue working with clients and designing online.
A lot of people have been exploring different careers that lend itself to working from home. Including graphic design.
I thought I’d share this interview which I did with Ryerson University students in 2017.
It was an honor to have been able to help Nate and Monica with this. They have told me that their professor now shares this interview with other students too.
It was a pleasure to be able to answer their graphic design industry questions. I hope it helps you out if you’re interested in this field.
Here is a condensed transcript from the interview (note this was pre-quarantine). If you want to watch the video, scroll to the bottom and click on the link.
Lorena do you mind starting out by telling us what you do for a living?
I’m a creative design specialist at Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd. here in Canada. I work in the in-house print design department. I established that department over twelve years ago. I started off in a design agency called Scribblers’ Club in Kitchener, Waterloo.
I brought my knowledge from Scribblers’ Club to Mary Kay Cosmetics since they had an increasing need for print literature at the time.
I also have my own brand called, LD Design Loft, where I create my own designs. I offer personalized birthday invitations, wedding invitations, and gifts. I do that on the side which is pretty fun and keeps me creative.
Would you say that this occupation is it for everyone or would you need a passion for It?
I can’t really say that it’s for everyone because you should enjoy graphic design. Not everyone might be as picky with Pantone colors and obsessed with kerning. So I think it’s not for everyone but I think everyone can be creative. You can start, so you can find out if it’s something that you like.
I think it’s not necessarily just passion though, you also have to have a professional intention when it comes to graphic design.
So to answer your question it’s not for everyone but if you really think you can dive into it, it can be learned.
Were you always interested in graphic design or did you have any other plans?
I’ve always loved doing design, I just didn’t know there was work for it.
I didn’t know you could make money from it.
The person that encouraged me to do it was actually my Communications teacher. (Chuck Temple – Illustrator and co-author of the Brady Brady series).
He was excited for me, he said “Yeah you can make money off of this. You can make your portfolio. You can design”.
I thought it sounded pretty fun, I always thought I’d go into teaching. Then I asked him what I would need.
He said I would need my drawings and my typography, so I made a portfolio and I applied to schools with it. I thought it was wonderful and if i can make a living out of something I enjoy, it’s a big plus!!
What was your educational background?
I went to Conestoga College. I finished a diploma in graphic design and advertising so that was a three-year course.
With your education, what sort of courses did you take and experiences that helped you get to where you are today?
So there’s, typography, Adobe programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.
What I found really helpful… was my first year of graphic design in Conestoga…. it was in the discipline of not being allowed to touch the computer.
We had to do everything on art boards with pencils, crayons, markers or air brushes… everything was analog.
You had to use your hands. To learn typography we had to trace the font type on transfer paper to get it over to an art board.
It’s a whole technique, to learn how to draw the fonts. To teach you about kerning, leading, mood etc.
It had to be flawless if there was a smudge during the critique you get nothing (a zero). First-year was very hard, they wanted to know if you understood the theory behind design. People dropped out of that of course so fast when they knew what it was like.
Then second year we learned to use the computer using Adobe programs.
I found having the experience from first year, expanded my design knowledge. By using real textures and not limiting myself with the computer.
It was also important to learn about other topics. Such as font knowledge and copyright because you need to be a professional.
And since there’s a psychology to marketing, we also had to take a psychology course. Plus, pop culture, because you should know what’s going on in the world.
I love what one of my teachers used to say.
The computer is a tool, just as your pencil is a tool.
Dr. Vince Sowa
I mean you put a pencil and an artist together and they can do many things. So a computer for a graphic designer is a tool and it can expand your world with the things you can do with it. So don’t forget ALL of your other tools.
What would you say is a typical day in the office?
You have to be flexible! A typical day can go from working on a simple registration form to being called into a meeting that involves an advertising campaign.
For social media we have brainstorming session to talk about what we want to do for the week or the month.
You also have to check your emails and file management has to be on point when it comes to being a graphic designer.
There’s a variety of projects during a quarter, you could be designing a flyer, poster, banner, logos, and then there are meetings in between.
How do you manage your time between work and family?
Ah! Do you know that I have four kids? …lol
You know what?! The thing is, you don’t have as many hours in the day especially when you have family. I do find myself waking up earlier (2 hours before my kids wake up in the morning to work on my business).
You do need to ask for help. When it comes to family my husband has been very helpful. He’s very supportive. You do need that support to have that balance.
The thing with Mary Kay that I’m very proud of it that they do encourage you to balance your work and life.
As a designer, I found that when I worked at the design agency I was expected to work overtime. I mean I’m not gonna lie to you, it is part of the life of a designer. You’re gonna have to do some overtime.
Right now I found a place in an in-house corporation which allow me to have that balance. Because you clock out at a certain time, and if you have to stay late, it is planned out. So it does happen but not all the time.
I do need to be there for my children and my family, so if I’m doing stuff for my business it’ll be when they’re asleep… You know so I don’t sleep..LOL…j/k
Balance is important and you will find different seasons of your life when you have a different need. But I did pay my dues in the beginning when I was staying late hours…Just don’t forget to take care of yourself.
What other groups of people do you work with, and the tools you use?
We have copywriters and editors, photographers. I do photography as well but we do have external freelancers. When it comes to tools we have the camera for video. As for platform choice we use Macintosh, but we also use PCs for our web designer as well.
How do you solve conflicts with clients and/or co-workers?
Conflicts…you will have them (lol)… But seriously, you need to know that you have the same goal. And that you’re trying to make sure that the client gets the right brand.
You have to be respectful in whatever it is that you do. You don’t have to raise voices and get all mopey. You need to do what’s right and make sure that you’re being a pro.
You want to be able to come out of a meeting where they can say that you know what you’re doing.
You have to have the best interest of a client.
Criticisms will come up, and hurt feelings, that’s why you have to be able to brush it off.
No one needs it to be hurtful. You need to be diplomatic and treat others as you want them to treat you. The Golden Rule :).
What is the process from the beginning stages, to the finished product?
There are different scenarios. So if you’re working with different project owners; in the beginning you need to understand what the project is about.
Make sure you read what they give you. Gather any materials they supply. Understand their objective and what they want to communicate. Explore if they need virtual tools, flyers and/or social media. It’s important to understand and do your research.
Sketch on paper. Don’t be afraid of of using your pencil. It kind of brings us back to what I learned at school. Use your pencil and paper, write things down. It’s not essential to draw all the time but if you’re jotting down notes it’s important.
Then after, you can dive into the computer and see what you can come up with. Look for styles, research magazines such as Communication Arts and Applied Arts. Look for tools that can help inspire you.
Go out into the world and look at things, I always find that when I travel I come back with ideas. When you see things applied it expand your ideas.
What is another important aspect of graphic design, other than designing?
Communication and people skills, is important.
It’s one thing to know how to design but if you can’t explain your idea, it can fall flat — they won’t be on board. And if it’s hard to work with you, they won’t want to come back.
You have to be approachable. You have to allow other people to feel that they can share, especially if it’s someone’s brand. Don’t you want to know what they’re about?!
If someone was a fashion designer for example and they want a logo, don’t you want to know who they are?
Be a good person.
Plus, always have the eagerness to learn. It’s very important because you can’t know everything already. We’re lucky we live in a world where knowledge is at your fingertips, you can grab it and use it.
Why do you think graphic design and communications is so important in our society?
To make things pretty!! 🙂
….but also it is important because …it reminds me of Michael Bierut the designer from Pentagram. He was talking about the election with Al Gore and George W. Bush. There’s a controversial topic where the ballot that they were using in Florida. The way the voting punch holes were lined up was kind of funny. It looked like people wanted to punch in Al Gore’s name but they kept punching in a different person’s name. It shows you that design is very important.
You can’t just slap it on and expect it’s fine. You have to care about what you’re doing, it is very important because it can cost an election.
So other than making things pretty, it has to be able to communicate and be effective in what you’re doing.
Do you have any advice for us students, and for the first years in our graphic design program?
For me, you need to keep creating for yourself.
It’s one thing if you work for a company, it’s great you’re getting projects but I’ve said this before on Twitter.
“Your creativity is no one else’s responsibility”
Lorena Depante
You should be creating, you should be doing things that make you happy and always keep learning.
Be a pro in all that you do because that’s what separates you from other people.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and watching the interview.
I’m excited about your desire to explore your creativity. I would encourage you to learn, and look into different art mediums, through photography, handlettering, watercolors, crafts and more.
I’ve discovered throughout the years that you have to be willing to begin as a student, and give yourself the grace to acknowledge that you’re learning. Don’t disregard the steps you’re taking. What you create doesn’t define your worth.
I hope you find joy in the process of learning. If you’d like to see some of my designs you can visit the portfolio page. If you have any other questions for me please feel free to add it to the comments below or send an email. You can also be part of the email list. Hey! I may still pursue teaching and if you’re part of the VIP list you’d be one of the first to know ;).
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