Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael McBride. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Michael, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
On the deepest level, my resilience has come from my life growing up; my family was less than perfect. My parents divorced at a young age; I moved to and from more houses and apartments than I remember. My parents were constantly at odds, and often I was caught in the middle. Even in college, I health with financial hardships and a manipulative parent. However, despite all of that, I choose to keep pushing forward. After returning home, I eventually found a job that brought out my love for Marketing. That love and my love for art brought me to start creating artwork to sell on an online website. After getting married and moving to Arizona, my passion for art found a new spark in my love for Arizona. I started creating Arizona t-shirt designs at affordable prices without a lack of quality. I believe anyone should be able to show their love for this state, including those going through hard times.
In short, I suppose my resilience comes from my choice not to make excuses about my life happenings and to focus on bringing the joy of Arizona Inspired Clothing Design to all,
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
More than just an apparel brand, we’re a family-owned and operated Arizona-inspired design agency passionate about helping you stand out, inspire others, and proudly share your love for the Grand Canyon State without emptying your wallet.
Sure, we design our own Arizona apparel line that expands with our love of the outdoors, but we also work with you to ensure YOUR idea comes to life. We believe everyone should have the chance to make their dreams a reality without breaking the bank. We never overcharge and pride ourselves on our quality of work while remaining efficient and flexible.
We are excited about our recent seasonal apparel collection launch featuring a Copper Arizona Road Map design, a “Stand Tall” Saguaro Illustred design, a Phoenix AZ-focused t-shirt design depicting the “Phoenix Lights” incident, and two different color variations for the SuperBowl LVII vibrantly illustrating the Arizona landscape with beautiful sunset color.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The first thing is the ability to seek out and take criticism from people from all walks of life. I get feedback from a now-retired but successful graphic designer/artist, an Arizonian with zero art/design skills but who is very particular about the types of clothing material and designs she wears, a couple who traveled and continue to travel all over Arizona whenever possible, and other people depending on the designs subject matter.
Second, never think you know enough and never stop learning. Attend art shows, visit your competitors, snap photos of designs you like for inspiration, find the design and art trends, etc. Creating a design you and your family might like is great, but to have some success, you need to be willing to blend in with what everyone else likes.
Finally, have fun with it your work. I genuinely believe that the joy and passion you have for what you do is reflected in the work you put out there. Do you want people to love and be inspired by your creations? Make sure they inspire you and that they bring you joy.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We love collaborating with local companies for t-shirt designs or promotional items. We see this as an opportunity for small and local businesses to support each other in a fun and creative way. There are no purchase requirements or minimums and no forced design styles. In addition, a percentage of all collaborative products sold go to the partner!
You can find out more by emailing us at designingazonline@gmail.com or visiting our website at https://designingazonline.com/services-and-collaborations
Contact Info:
- Website: https://designingazonline.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designingazllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designingazllc
Image Credits
Michael McBride, Designing AZ; Fairly Compensated Models
