We ask the tough questions
You’ve got a free half hour during your work day. What do you do?
Trawl design forums or watch design tutorials (software is always changing).
Would you describe yourself as a technophobe or technophile?
That’s a strange one actually. You’d think I would be obsessed with the latest technology as my studio is filled with the latest design equipment, but to be honest - I only buy what I need. iPads do not even remotely excite me. I don’t have an iPhone and the media exposure given to these “toys” seems a little ridiculous to me. I actually miss the days of the pencil & paper and fax machine, it gave people some space and time to breathe rather than being on-call 24/7 via their dozen or so latest digital devices. So in summary, I can’t generally say I like or dislike technology. Each device has its place.
What’s your proudest moment?
Receiving a scholarship into a graphic design course at age 15. It gave me a 5 year head start in the industry which has helped me tremendously.
What’s your number one stress relief tactic (keep it clean!)?
Playing Scrabble. I have actually played in several real tournaments and have a national ranking. Sad huh? “LOSER” is worth 5 points in Scrabble. Also reading sports statistics. Sounds thrilling, I know. I have always had a thing for numbers/stats. That has come in handy when monitoring the performance of my work. It has also been of great benefit to my AFL supercoach team, but that’s a (long) story for another day.
What’s the one resource you’d never be without?
I think my job would be significantly more difficult without my Mac and all the software on it. As much as I would love to be working in the Mad Men era. Pencil sketches don’t really cut it these days.
What’s the most enjoyable element of your work? And the least enjoyable?
The most enjoyable is just being self employed in general. Flexible hours are nice. The least enjoyable would be the times when I have very tight deadlines and am forced to be creative at the same time. Sometimes you just aren’t in the mood to be creative, so it can be very stressful when the clock is ticking. Good time management can keep that in check, but the occasional urgent request for creative is inevitable.
What’s the cheapest, most effective bit of marketing you’ve ever done?
Emailing marketing companies around Australia offering my services as an outsourced designer. It was tremendously successful.
What’s one habit you’d like to change?
Spending too long in front of the computer. Most of it is required for work – but when I get a spare moment I tend to log on to Facebook Scrabble when I should probably go outside and get some fresh air.
What would be your advice to aspiring soloists?
Never plan to start a small business. Plan to start a successful business. I hear people all the time saying “I am starting a small business”. To me, they’ve already put a limit on their success. Another bit of advice would be to not put so much emphasis on social media as a marketing tool. Yes, it’s free, and you may get 500 Facebook fans, but you should consider the quality of your leads. I have seen people with 2,000 Twitter followers, but 99% of them are other businesses also trying to get some free exposure. Simply put, with social media you get what you pay for. Pick up a phone and organise some meetings, that’s where the quality is.
What music are you listening to at the moment?
Pendulum. Drum & Bass, when combined with strong coffee, makes me work faster. Fact.
What inspires you most about your work?
How my work performs for my clients is the main driving factor in my work. I am constantly reviewing their stats to see what works, what doesn’t and what I need to improve on. If I have ideas about how to improve their lead generation I always let them know. It’s never a case of “job done”.
And now comes the plug!
What do you do? Who for? And how does it benefit them?
I am a graphic and web designer offering digital and print solutions to clients of all sizes right around Australia. I have almost 15 years of experience in the design field – and a lot of marketing and advertising experience as well, which helps my work perform better for my clients rather than only looking pretty.
And where can we find out more?
- Flying Solo Directory: theplant.flyingsolo.com.au
- My website: www.theplantbd.com.au
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/plantyourbrand
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/plantyourbrand
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