That is the same year that I decided to take on freelance graphic design as my full-time job. I have been doing it since and I haven't looked back. I'm doing something that I absolutely love, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm actually excited to wake up in the morning and see what projects I have waiting for me to get into.
How were you able to acquire the client list you represent to this day? What steps did you have to take to get that list? That's a tough one. Some have been through connections, some through persistence, and some purely on luck. Now, being able to keep those clients depends on my ability to deliver quality work in a certain amount of time, and to keep a good working relationship with my existing clients. As long as you deliver quality work above their expectations, and treat them well, they will want to work only with you when it comes to their design needs. I am grateful for all of my past and present clients, good or bad, based on the fact that they came to me because I had something that they didn't see from anyone else, and they trusted me with their business.
Describe the process you go through on projects from start to finish in print, apparel design, web design, album packaging and any other media format you build. That depends on each project. If the details are given to me, there's not much to plan out. Just jump right in and execute the project as best as I can.
If it's a free-range project, I like to gather what I think I may use into a Photoshop document, and go through them layer by layer until I figure out what exactly I want to accomplish. Rarely, I will get out the pen and paper and jot down a few ideas, especially if I'm overly excited about a new project and I have too many ideas to even remember. First, I'll take care of the heart of the design and make sure it's all going to work out properly, and then I'll start adding in details, color adjustments, and final routine tweaks. Not a lot of thought goes into planning it, but rather just jumping right into it. It's just how I work. It's easier for me than sketching things out, I suppose.
How does it feel to design work for one of the greatest rock artists of our time? What was the first thing that went through your head when you found out that your designs will be representing Paul McCartney? My first thought was that anything I could design for Paul McCartney would not be good enough. When I get a project that big, I tend to step back from it and try not to jump right into it with so many ideas floating around in my head, which would otherwise cause chaos! That was not the case with this project. I was so excited that I went right into Photoshop and started playing around. The first design that was approved for Paul, was not added to my website at first, due to the fact that I hated the design. I jumped right into it without stepping back thinking about how I would execute such a large project. After the first design, I learned my lesson and the next few shirt designs that Paul had approved I actually DID like. Yes, he approves all of his designs personally. No, I didn't get to speak with him, unfortunately. And those you can see on my website. To answer your first question, I couldn't be happier to have him on my client list. He is one of the greatest music icons of all time, and I cannot believe that I had the opportunity to work on multiple projects for him. Hopefully, that will open a few doors for me client-wise. His merchandise company actually sent me one of the finished hoodies that I designed. So cool!
What would you say is the best part about working with musicians and people in the entertainment industry? Do you get more freedom with your design or do you have a checklist of exact assets you need to use to produce the piece? A little bit of both. Sometimes the client doesn't have a clue what they want, but trust my instinct to create something eye-catching, which in most cases works out on the first or second run. On the other hand, you'll have clients who know exactly what they want, but just need me to put it together and make it look pretty. In all honesty, those are the easiest projects of all. Once you both have a good understanding of the project requirements, it’s just a matter of tweaking a few things here and there, and you're done! I'd say the best part about working with the music/entertainment industries is that they're just like me. We're into the same things and have the same eye for what needs to be done. It's generally a more laid back industry and fun to work in altogether.
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