We recently connected with Aryn Landes and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Aryn, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I know it’s cliche, but developing self-confidence doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes, I wonder if confidence is something I’ll ever truly master. But I do know over time, the voice of self-deprecation has gotten quieter. I think back to the sixteen-year-old version of myself who hated everything she made because she didn’t think it was quite good enough to be of value to anyone–even if that work won an award. As I’ve grown into the designer I am today, I’ve let go of the idea that my work is “good” or “bad,” and focus on creating what brings me joy instead. I think part of becoming confident in yourself is to simply make the things you like and your audience will find you. Stepping outside of what is comfortable is the only way I’ve built my confidence.
Five years ago I would’ve never guessed that today I’d be a freelance illustrator. I wanted to draw so badly, but the fear of perfectionism kept me from even starting. After an Inspiring weekend at the 2019 Creative Works Conference, I felt the fire to finally say “yes” to making art. That spark led me to start a one-year design challenge I created for myself called Sunday Punday. Every Sunday, I would draw a silly pun and post it on Instagram. Looking back, some of those designs were ROUGH, but it got me on track to finding myself as an artist. As my audience started to grow, so did my confidence. People liked what I was making and it was exciting to post something that others looked forward to each week. When Sunday Punday ended after 52 long weeks, I felt a little lost. I tried to keep creating puns, but it didn’t feel the same. I wanted to illustrate for my career, not just a hobby.
At that time, I was a designer for a small web agency in Dayton Ohio called Jetpack. While Jetpack’s bread and butter was website design and development, they never missed the opportunity to help hone my illustration skills. Through murals, elaborate client Christmas gifts, and plenty of social media posts, I finally found what I wanted to do. I loved designing websites, but it wasn’t as exciting to me as illustration. I grew from being unsure of my abilities to being completely confident that I could draw just about anything – and I’ve made some real weird stuff for Jetpack.
Through practice and failure, I’ve developed my confidence. Not every illustration is going to be a home run, but every illustration is conditioning for future projects. Being confident in yourself means being okay with failing. It means being okay with a client wanting to go in a different direction. It means being okay with doing work that isn’t always fun. And it means being okay with maybe not getting very many likes on Instagram (still learning to be okay with this one). I’ve always wanted to make art that makes people laugh, that is silly, and that is memorable, but the only way for those things to happen was to put myself out there first. And each time I step outside of my comfort zone, I get a little more confident in myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’ve been a part of the design industry for nearly a decade. For most of that time, I worked as an in-house web designer, but in the summer of 2024, I took the leap into freelancing. I’ve worked with a variety of clients, but my main focus is illustration, branding, and packaging design. I love creating experiences that make people happy. It’s such an honor when someone trusts my creativity to craft the perfect silly illustration or whimsical mark to represent their brand.
When I’m not drawing I teach online classes for The Modern College of Design. Over the last 4 years, I’ve discovered how rewarding it is to help young designers grow and find their place in the industry. Nothing beats seeing the progress a student makes from the beginning of a semester to the end. If I can make even a small difference in one student’s life, it’s all worth it.
At the end of 2024, I also launched Souper Good, a goods & gifts shop on Etsy. It’s my creative outlet where I design fun, lighthearted products that hopefully brighten someone’s day. Right now I have a mix of greeting cards, prints, stickers, and drinkware, but I’m constantly expanding with new products. You can follow updates on Instagram at @souper.good or on Etsy at shopsoupergood.etsy.com.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back at my journey as a graphic designer and illustrator, the most important qualities have been resilience, finding my creative voice, and mentorship/community. Whether I’m working with clients, students, or creating for myself, I strive to bring these values into everything I do.
1. Resilience: Pushing Past Fear and Perfectionism
Building my confidence hasn’t come easily, it has been a process of quieting my self-doubt and embracing imperfection. Early in my career the fear and doubt prohibited me from pursuing what I truly wanted in my career, but once I started stepping out of my comfort zone, I began to flourish. I know that is easier said than done. For me, starting the year-long design challenge, Sunday Punday, was an easy step in the right direction. It forced me to create, share, and keep going even when I felt discouraged with my work. Embracing failure is just a part of the process. Through practice and persistence, I’ve gained the confidence to take on new challenges–even when they scare me.
2. Finding My Creative Voice
The thing that makes a creative individual unique and stand out is the voice of their art. One of the things I love about my work is creating things that make people happy. Whether it’s a silly pop-culture reference for a personal project or a whimsical illustration for my professional work, I’m always looking to spark a little joy. I’m naturally sarcastic and quick-witted, so for me, it is important that the designs I create represent my personality. The world can be a dark and depressing place, so I hope my creative voice shines a little brightness in my little corner of the internet.
3. Community/Mentorship and Helping Others Grow
Teaching has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career. Watching students grow from wary beginners to confident creatives has been incredibly rewarding. I believe that not just focusing on technical skills, but also helping designers find their confidence mirrors my own journey. I think about what I needed when I was just starting out and try to bring that energy into the courses I teach. Additionally, surrounding myself with positivity and encouragement helps me continue to grow. I’ve spent the past few years building friendships, mentorships, and internet friends that make me a better person. It’s important to have someone to call you out on your b.s. or show you another way of looking at something. For a creative person, empathy is one of the best skills you can have. Most of my work has come from the community I’ve built.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
A couple of years ago, I was listening to an episode of the Creative Pep Talk podcast about being overwhelmed with work. Andy Miller shared a piece of advice that has stuck with me and has become a part of my process whenever I’m in a rut: take it one piece at a time. I’m paraphrasing, but his tip for tackling an unbearable load is to spend just a little bit of focused, undistracted time each day–even if it’s just an hour.
Whenever I’m faced with a never-ending list or a monstrosity of a project, I tackle it piece by piece. I put my phone on “Do Not Disturb” and set a timer for one hour. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in that focused time. I may not finish the task completely, but I feel less overwhelmed than when I started. I’ll keep at it every day–one hour at a time– until it’s finished. Then, I move on to the next thing.
Of course, this strategy may not work for everything in life, but it’s a helpful reminder that you can only handle one thing at a time. I’ve also learned to be easy on myself—taking breaks and making time for something fun is just as important. I am very treat-motivated, so that’s another way I trick myself into being productive when I’m overwhelmed.
I love listening to the Creative Pep Talk podcast because it’s a great reminder that any stressful or discouraging situation I’m going through, another creative has been there too. It’s another aspect of community–you’re not alone in your struggles and learning from others’ experiences can make all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aryn.fun/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aryn.fun/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryn-landes-349648107/
- Other: Etsy shop: https://shopsoupergood.etsy.com
