How would you describe your graphic design practice? How long have you been doing it?

I've been hooked ever since I took a class in high school. So I've been doing it for a while— so about six years! Six years seems so short in comparison to what I have learned and how I feel my skills have multiplied.

Often students get discouraged after receiving negative feedback. Can you share a time when you were given negative feedback, and how you learned from it?

Of course. I remember I had taken not as much time as I should've on a design, I didn't give it my all. I finished the design, just to "finish" it, and be done with it. Not necessarily to stretch or challenge myself. We all have design pieces like that. There was this one problem of type hierarchy that I was ignoring, hoping that it was my obsessive want of balance and I've been staring at it way too long.

I showed a buddy of mine, the "finished" piece and she voiced exactly what I was thinking but ignoring, hoping it would cease. It certainly made me more humble that a friend of mine, who didn't major in design, saw the problem I chose to ignore. It taught me how important it is to get a second eye on your work. It's a plus if they have a background in design, but not necessary. Don't be too prideful to get a second pair of eyes on your work.

What is the best advice you have for young designers to boost their productivity?

Carry a sketchbook with you everywhere. That is always my first piece of advice. So many times, inspiration slapped me across the face and I didn’t have a sketchbook to write down the idea or I actually thought I could remember it. Carry a sketchbook and always write your ideas. Often, great ideas take us when we’re relaxed, and it’s so easy to forget them. And a sort of counter to that piece of advice is to: marinate your ideas. We all wish we could press a “movie-montage” button and suddenly start fleshing out our ideas with inspiring passion. Unfortunately, we just end up with a bucket full of crumpled paper sometimes. It’s alright if you’re stuck on an idea. Some ideas need to marinate in your brain and in your sketchbook for awhile. Some ideas lose their flavor in sketchbook limbo, while others stick. Don’t be afraid to marinate your ideas.

Are there any unventured territories of design that you would like to explore?

Absolutely. Photography without a doubt. I have so much respect for those who practically treat the camera as an extension of themselves. I love editing and manipulating photos, and would love to start taking my own photos. Not only is it a medium I respect, however it looksI'm not fond of how expensive camera lenses and bodies are, however the results seem worth it.

Are you working on any personal projects right now?

Several actually (God have mercy on my soul):

• I'm in the process of prepping files to sell prints of pieces of artwork I did for a yearlong challenge (check #emw365 on Instagram). I've been wanting to get my art in peoples' hands for awhile and I've finally found the time to do so.

• I'm starting to build my own professional portfolio website as it's about time and pretty shameful as I've went this far into the design game with using sites like Dribble or Behance. Good for sharing work, not so much for showcasing and cataloguing work. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

• I'm also motivated to keep producing art for art's sake. As I have a 9-5 design job, it is hard not wanting to just "veg" and zone out at the end of the day. I refuse to be one of those art students who "used to" make art before life got in the way.