I also teach yoga. I target shoot (give me a 9mm. and I’ll be happy). I go to as many live concerts as possible. The mere sight of Sephora makes me giddy (and glittery, by the end of a visit). I love winding around back roads with the windows down. Last night, I joined a fight club.

None of these things really go together, and they definitely don’t fit into my design world. That’s the point. If all I did was design all day and night, I would be facing a quick and recurring burn out. With the deadlines, fatigue, meetings, and business aspect of freelancing, I need to be able to step away and let my mind relax now and then. Even though my brain is saying to keep working, some of my best ideas come from these times away from my computer. Staring at a design for hours doesn’t usually help me, the design, or the client.

Another benefit of being involved in so many different things is that I learn to see a variety of aesthetics and environments. Want to know how design for people? Get to know people. The inner city gym guys, my fashionista single ladies, moms of all ages, and my flower loving hippie friends all offer me new ways of looking at the world around me. They give me color palettes I would never use on my own (I just used yellow for the first time in a design) and they have information that would take me hours to research. I am challenged in new ways and stretched as a person and as a designer.

Whether you design or not, I would encourage you to do something completely unexpected and new. Get away from your desk, your work, and maybe even your friends for a while. Talk to a stranger next to you at a show, join a fitness class, or go to an unusual event. Learn how to cook, draw, or throw a mean punch. I can guarantee that you’ll meet some interesting people and possibly learn more than you expect. I’d love to hear about the experiences you have!

Some places to start:
Wild Goose Creative
Ohio Fight Club
Junctionview Studios
Justice Gardens

*Photo via Ffffound.

Have a few favorites of your own? Send them my way!

While Mr. Roat showed an impressive portfolio, and Armin gave the most entertaining presentation, my favorite speaker of the event was Mike Janda of Jandaco. His name was last on the bill, and I had no idea who he was before that day. Out of everyone that spoke that day, his information has been the most memorable and helpful as I have gone out on my own.

He spent years going through a cycle of being hired and laid off as the economy and design field shifted. Finally, tired of the cycle, he started his own company. He started out in his basement and eventually hired his first employee: a neighborhood high school kid. In 2008, his company was named the 17th fastest growing company in the Utah Valley.

His presentation was a list of  practical points that have proven to be helpful. He talked about how to design better, work better, and manage better. He kept going back to the fact that “it’s all about relationships”. He emphasized that no one can afford relationship arrogance. The girl who made copies for him eventually turned into an art director who hired him. The high school student he hired helped launch what is now a thriving company. Some of his best contacts came from the most unexpected people.

I’m fortunate to be a part of a great creative community. I have talented designers, programmers, photographers, and writers a phone call away. Some of them work in offices and wear heels every day. Some of them work outside and in coffee shops. Some of them have been my supervisors and some of them have been interns in offices where I’ve worked. We learn and grow by sharing clients, projects, and resources.

Social networking on sites like Twitter and Facebook has been an amazing tool in all of this. That said, there is no substitute for meeting people in person. Go to networking events, conferences, and mixers. Talk to people, get to know them, and learn about what they do. Eat lunch with strangers at information sessions. If all of those sound intimidating or overwhelming (we were not all born extroverts, after all), just be nice to the people you interact with on a daily basis. Even if it never leads to a big job, you’ll probably get to meet some really great people.

Unlike a portfolio site, I am hoping that this new space will allow a more connected and creative space to share and connect with others. I will be sharing my own resources, observations, and lessons and hopefully helping others in the process. In return, I’m hoping to meet new people and share in their experiences as well.

Thanks for stopping by!