I’ve never considered myself a great designer and will probably never be one. But design took me out of poverty, brought me to Canada, and allowed me to buy a house. There is a lot of success in the middle. You don’t need to be the best out there to live a good life.
“My biggest learning was to put passion into my speech. Not only when presenting work but especially when talking in meetings. Be truly excited about your work and show this excitement to everyone working around you.” — Andrea Pacheco
I miss the time when design magazines were a thing. There’s something magical in reading about design on a monthly issue. Is there any design magazines still up and kicking?
Stop design clubs. Stop gate-keeping. You're not special. We need community. We need to help and celebrate each other. We're not competitors. We all have something unique to bring to the table. Stop comparing yourself to others. There's room for everyone. Keep up the good work.
7 years as a full-time freelancer and I still get anxious about not having anything lined up after a finish a project. Even though something always shows up.
Taking on new projects from April 20th onwards
I’ve never had such a warm welcome from a community like that before.
Thanks to everyone that sent the good vibes after I announced I joined
@yugalabs
.
Feeling good! Let’s go!
My only rule on Social Media: if I see something I like, I let the creator know. If I see something I don’t like, I just don’t interact with it.
Stop hate comments on people’s posts. It’s so easy to not make them.
I’m having a terrible week so far. I’m barely functioning and I’m afraid I’m gonna get into a low for a while. Yesterday I was able to work for a few hours but spent most of my day in bed. I’m sharing this because I know most of us are dealing with stuff daily but we mask it here
Sadly I was impacted by this restructuring and no longer work at Yuga Labs. I’m available for work starting in November. Both Freelance and Full-time opportunities. I’m grateful for the people I worked with and I’m looking forward to new opportunities.
Yuga Labs is announcing a restructuring that will better focus our team on our core priorities. While certain roles have been impacted, these changes are necessary to evolve as an organization.
For more see a note written by
@dalegre
on our official blog.
I got the best rejection letter for a job I interviewed for. Seriously. The care that went into crafting that email was mind-blowing. Some people are just on another level. 🖤 Yes, I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get the job, but still, well done.
As a designer that takes on a lot of webdesign projects, sometimes I hate programming. Even if it’s using a “no code” tool like Webflow. Gotta try something else like
@framer
at some point. Because most clients don’t need anything fancy. Awwwards websites are not the real world
People my not find this a good thing but I don’t see other designers as competition. I’m a firm believer that there’s space for everyone and I genuinely get excited about other’s success. So here is my wish that you accomplish everything you dream of 🖤 night!
Design career advice is so weird. Lots of “gurus” here teaching people how they should do this and that. These advices should be more like open conversations. So people could learn a about different ways of doing things and find the one that suits them personally. Or not?
@ormanclark
I would say that aesthetic decisions are always part of the solution to any design problem. Lately, mostly in digital, we often solve UX problems and neglect the UI. To me, these go hand-in-hand and, shouldn't even be separate disciplines. It's all under the Design umbrella.
The more experienced I get in design, the more I believe you must develop your sense of style.
People won’t come to you because you CAN design something. They will come for HOW you design things.
Yes. Non-payed internships keep talent that comes from simpler backgrounds out of the market. Taking on an internship for the “experience” only, is something only privileged people can do. It keeps the elitism in the design industry alive.
If you're looking for daily design inspiration. I would highly recommend
@justsavee
. It's like Pinterest but without all the ads distracting you. I practice my aesthetics every day and curate the most beautiful things I find online.
In the last few years as an Independent Designer, I’ve spent more time doing work that won’t be on my portfolio than work that would make the cut. But still, I’m working. I’m making money and paying my bills. I take that as a massive win.
My creative outlet are my side projects.
Okay, I'm actually stoked now. My client and I decided to not do any animations whatsoever on their new design studio website. The result? Almost perfect score on Google. We just need to rework the images to reduce their size and we should be gold!
I’ve joined a lot of “talent boards” for designers. They all promise connecting us with clients but I’ve never got a single gig off these boards. Pretty much all my freelance opportunities come from referrals and an amazing agent I connected with a couple of years ago.
One of the most important things I do to improve my designs is to practice my aesthetics and curation. Collecting images cohesively daily is crucial. Now, go add more stuff to that beautiful board of yours 🖤
I had this idea a while back, but I wanted to add a section on my website to share my favourite books I own with a short description and a link to where to find it.
Should I do it?
I definitely need to work on detaching my self-esteem from my work and art.
Sometimes I feel like I'm just trying to justify my existence in this world by making things and feeling useful.
I’ve been a designer for 16 years and worked in 3 different continents. Mostly working with Brand Identity and Interface Design/Design Direction for brands like Nike, Google, Meta and many others.
Any questions about design I could help you with?
Skills I most want to acquire a the moment:
1. 3D modelling and lighting
2. DSP development
3. Higher level of French
None of them “make sense” for my career but I’ve been thinking about it for literally YEARS.
What are yours?
I haven’t read a book about design in a while. In the past few years I’ve been focused on learning more about business to better understand clients and big brands. But I’m back at it and started with this short and sweet book about the grampy Massimo Vignelli.
#designbooks
Stop telling people to quit their 9-5. Not everyone is built for freelancing/entrepreneurship. And that’s ok. Some of my friends thrive on their 9-5 jobs. So, you do you.
Design hack:
Practice your aesthetic sense every day.
Why?
It will improve your "taste" in design and improve your ability to use the right inspiration for a project.
I collect beautiful things every single day with
@letsavee
—
This year, I will have been designing for 16 years without being able to see colours like everyone else.
Yes, I'm colourblind.
And I was still able to work on three different continents and with big brands like Nike, Google and Meta.
READ:
Is a graphic design diploma necessary in 2023?
Short answer: no.
Longer answer: yes, if you ever want to get a work visa. Of course you can get an O-1 but it’s way harder than a regular work-permit.
I lost a lot of opportunities because I couldn’t finish my Design degree.
Dream project? Working on interface design for a luxury car brand.
Louder for the universe in the back:
INTERFACE DESIGN FOR A LUXURY CAR BRAND.
Thanks,
Felipe
It has been a little over a week since I got back to full time freelancing and I’m already having a great time 🖤 thanks to everyone that reached out after I left Yuga Labs. The community is strong 💪🏼
@matt_gray_
Not everyone. We should stop pretending that anyone can be a business person. Some just don’t have the profile to do it, and they shouldn’t feel pressured to do it. There is just way too many people spending their hard-earned money on courses that promise miracles.
— Felipe Elioenay (
@felipeelioenay
) is a man of product and taste who can make an interface feel as premium as thick soft paper. That is always the goal.
The design industry works against the designers growth. It makes you value more your portfolio than being a good co-worker. Focus on working with cool people, not possible cool projects/clients and your will evolve way faster. And don’t forget to get paid accordingly 😉
Yay! I was accepted at
@TOFilmSchool
for their Graphic Design Program. I will finally be able to finish my degree 🖤 19 years after high school and 14 years working professionally with design. This means a lot to me.
@himani__patel
You should never worry about how many designers are getting into the industry. Focus on your own self development and find your path. There’s always something unique only you can bring to the table. My career has never been easy but if your patient and keep working, you get there
So this is it! I’ve been working hard for the past few months to make it happen.
@ofcinaco
is my small design studio in Montreal. Design practice focused on contemporary identity design
I come from the slums of Sao Paulo, Brazil, but I recognize my place of privilege. For instance, if I were a woman of colour, I would have faced WAY more obstacles. There's a lot of work to be done as a society to say, "anyone can do it if they work hard". Meritocracy is a myth.
After over a decade of learning about productivity, I came to a conclusion: I don’t want to do more. I want to do better.
So next chapter will be called: focus.
Clarity on what I need to accomplish and kindness towards myself when I feel I’m not moving forward.
This trip to Berlin, Dublin and London has fulled me with inspiration. I was supposed to be on tour but after it was cancelled I decided to go anyway and I’m glad I did. I’m having the best time. Feeling like myself again. Just wanted to share my happiness with you 🖤
One of the coolest things about the internet, is meeting your internet friends in person after months or even years of friendship. The hangs hit different 🖤
When I started freelancing I thought the majority of my projects would come straight from clients. It turned out to come from temporary work with agencies.
Be adaptable and go where the work is.