Tell​ ​us​ ​a​ ​little​ ​bit​ ​about​ ​your​ ​2017​ ​at​ ​Blades​ ​Creative.

Phew.​ ​2017​ ​brought​ ​a​ ​ton​ ​of​ ​positive​ ​change.​ ​​I​ ​took​ ​on​ ​more​ ​work,​ ​pushed​ ​for​ ​the​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​work​ ​I​ ​really wanted,​ ​and​ ​started​ ​to​ ​get​ ​rid​ ​of​ ​the​ ​work​ ​I​ ​didn’t.​ ​I’m​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​nurture​ ​the​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​clients​ ​I​ ​really​ ​care​ ​about. The​ ​office​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Business​ ​Development​ ​Center​ ​was​ ​still​ ​pretty​ ​new​ ​to​ ​me​ ​in​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​2017,​ ​and​ ​now that​ ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​here​ ​for​ ​a​ ​year​ ​my​ ​growth​ ​and​ ​exposure​ ​has​ ​been​ ​exponential.​ ​It​ ​really​ ​helped​ ​me​ ​take​ ​myself seriously​ ​as​ ​a​ ​business​ ​owner/designer​ ​and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​it​ ​helped​ ​other’s​ ​see​ ​me​ ​that​ ​way​ ​too.​ ​I​ ​also​ ​learned​ ​to celebrate​ ​my​ ​wins.​ ​As​ ​designers,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​be​ ​overly​ ​critical,​ ​especially​ ​of​ ​ourselves,​ ​and​ ​celebrating​ ​the​ ​positive helps​ ​me​ ​keep​ ​going.

What​ ​has​ ​been​ ​your​ ​biggest​ ​challenge​ ​of​ ​this​ ​year.​ ​Did​ ​you​ ​conquer​ ​it?​ ​Or​ ​still​ ​working​ ​on​ ​it?

It’s​ ​taking​ ​me​ ​a​ ​long​ ​time​ ​to​ ​answer​ ​this​ ​because​ ​it’s​ ​complicated.​ ​My​ ​biggest​ ​challenge​ ​this​ ​year​ ​was​ ​learning how​ ​to​ ​take​ ​deep​ ​breaths.​ ​The​ ​overarching​ ​solution:​ ​knowing​ ​immediately​ ​who​ ​has​ ​the​ ​final​ ​say​ ​on​ ​a​ ​design and​ ​communicated​ ​VERY​ ​clearly.

Have​ ​you​ ​learned​ ​a​ ​new​ ​design​ ​skill?

I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​I​ ​learn​ ​something​ ​new​ ​everyday​ ​-​ ​at​ ​least​ ​about​ ​Adobe​ ​Illustrator​ ​and​ ​InDesign.​ ​There’s​ ​always​ ​a​ ​trick or​ ​tip​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​know.

​Best​ ​design​ ​advice​ ​you’ve​ ​ever​ ​been​ ​given​ ​or​ ​would​ ​give?

Start​ ​with​ ​pen​ ​and​ ​paper.​ ​Always.​ ​Maybe​ ​that’s​ ​the​ ​UTC​ ​BFA​ ​program​ ​in​ ​me.

If​ ​not​ ​a​ ​designer,​ ​what​ ​would​ ​you​ ​be?

A​ ​travel​ ​agent​ ​or​ ​event​ ​coordinator

Favorite​ ​podcast?

For​ ​Fun:​ ​My​ ​Favorite​ ​Murder
For​ ​Business:​ ​Being​ ​Boss

​What​ ​is​ ​your​ ​favorite​ ​Thanksgiving​ ​dish?

Mom’s​ ​Broccoli​ ​Casserole!