DESIGNER #3Becca Kaegi

Interview

When given the chance to interview Becca, she provided very concise, and straight to the point answers. While there wasn’t much in detail, she really drove the point of one of the main ways to be successful, is through understanding what the client may want and what they don’t know they need. While our schedules were off each others for a few weeks, she was very understanding, and had a welcoming and pleasant interest with sharing what she learned, knows, and talking about her work.

Interview

2. Are you still as passionate with your work as you were when you started?

My passion has changed as I have learned the tricks of the trade, but yes I still enjoy what I do

41. How do you plan to evolve your work?

In this line of work, you have to evolve or you get left behind. I do much more virtual/digital work now.

10. What is the most challenging thing about your job?

Consulting with the customer on what is best practice and finding new clients

12. What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

When someone loves my design

13. What is your design process like?

Depends on what it is … I need to see what the client likes and doesn’t like so I am not aiming in the dark. Do they like simple? Intricate?

Illustrated. What is the purpose of the piece or design, who is their audience, what do they want to portray?

16. What skill sets are valued most in the job you have?

Logo design, email marketing

18. What’s your work-life balance like?

Because I own my own company, my hours are fairly flexible, but I try to stay within the 7:30 to 5 pm work day. I charge double for vacation work and a little more than standard for off time.

19. What advice would you give to someone starting out?

Don’t let the big dogs intimidate you into having imposter syndrome. Be creative and always talk to people and businesses. What do you have to lose?

Reflection

Overall, this project has been successful in helping to learn more about the common mistakes made by those at entry level, and what attributes are looked at from employers, or what is needed when creating your own business. Through interviewing each person, I have gained a better understanding about what I may want to do, and what I should work on refining, and improving. Through my interview with Dustin, I got to understand the importance of networking. I understand that networking is one of the, if not the biggest way to improve as an artist, gain connections to more designers and venders, as well as promote yourself as a designer and competitor. Through my interview with Becca, I was able to see what going freelance can lead to. I was intrigued by her designs, her ability to make things simple but detailed in a way that pushes the message. When I got to learn more about the process of going freelance, and how she created a striving business, it helped me be more open to the idea of that as a possibility. Through my interview with Layne, I felt better knowing there were people out in the workforce that have the same struggles that I currently have with my own design process. When going forward, I plan on continuing to connect with other designers out in different positions to gain more understanding of other job titles. This will also help benefit in growing the amount of people I can reference to, and as for guidance while continuing the Graphic Design program. I also will be trying to look at and find tutorials on the industry used programs. This will help to have a basic understanding of those not learned in classes while advancing the tools at my disposal with the ones used in class. I plan on looking at more work related to these three styles, as they are all modern, colorful, fun, and simple which are what tend to catch my eye. I also will be trying to relate their experiences with my internship and future jobs. By looking at and interviewing these three designers I have a better understanding of being a designer in the real world and will have a head start on implying their thoughts on my learning outcomes over the years.