Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Adria Vey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Adria, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I think a lot of self-esteem and confidence stems from how you were raised and what kinds of situations you were put in while growing up. From a young age, I loved performing! Singing, dancing, making silly videos with my friends, I enjoyed entertaining people. Luckily as a child it was well received. My parents were also performers when they were younger and encouraged me to do anything I wanted! I think that has stuck with me – my family and friend’s acceptance of whatever venture I have coming is far more valuable than what any stranger could possibly think of me. As an artist now, I do the silliest things to market myself and never hold back on my personality. It helps develop trustworthiness between me and followers or potential clients!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I specialize in illustration and graphic design and have been running my business, Draft & Ink Design Co, for over 4 years. Being a solo business owner is the toughest and scariest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also extremely fun and rewarding. I run an online shop with my designs on phone cases and apparel, and offer design services such as visual branding packages and murals. When I’m not wearing the many hats of a business owner, I am rocking out to show tunes, hanging out with my partner Michael and our two cats, or rollerskating!
This year, I started a monthly subscription service for the phone case inserts I developed in 2021. This has been my favorite product, as you can collect your favorites and switch the design anytime. Adding a subscription has really brought back my love for connecting with my customers through my art and creating something special for this community each month. It’s so fun!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
It’s important to keep in mind that everyone is creative, you just need to practice to turn that creativity into something you are proud of. No one got their talent “naturally”. My first word of advice is to try not to compare yourself to others, rather compare your current self to your past self.
With that being said, imposter syndrome and comparing yourself to others is often inevitable in today’s age with social media constantly showing us all sorts of successful people. Just know that everyone has their low times and that social media really is a highlight reel. I got asked on social media the other day “how are you always so creative and motivated”, when that day in particular it took me 3 hours to get to my desk and work because I was so unmotivated. However, I didn’t share that, so that follower would have never known.
Try different things, pivot your business to work with you, be mindful of what your heart wants. It will not always be easy and fun, so make sure to give yourself breaks often!
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
A challenge I am currently facing is a low year in sales. With the economy in the place that it is and inflation effecting so many, a lot of businesses are struggling this year. As a graphic designer that does depend on other businesses to hire me for visual branding services, it is hard to make those conversions right now, as most people do not have the income to make an investment in their brand at the moment. Definitely looking at other streams of income and trying new social media tactics to find a new customer base that may be finding more success in their field.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.draftandink.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draftandink/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@draftandink?lang=en
Image Credits
Arielle Vey
