Meet Dalila Copeland

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dalila Copeland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dalila, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

Oooh, this is SUCH an awesome question! I love questions like these because you really get to know someone beyond just the surface level.

I wasn’t always a super optimistic person, but over the years I realized that what I think—or better yet, how I think—really affects my life. So I made myself start leaning into optimism and positivity, and after a while it just became who I am.

To be more direct about where it comes from, I’d say it’s from surrounding myself with things that leave me feeling positive—like positive people. I have this little “rule” I go by, and it’s this: after I leave a place, a person, or an activity, I ask myself, How did that make me feel? How am I feeling right now? And if the answer isn’t positive, I generally won’t go back or keep that person around. Not sure if that works for everyone or in every situation, but for me it’s a good indicator of when to step away.

Now, in the graphic design world, some things aren’t that simple. I can’t always walk away just because something didn’t make me feel “positive”—like I can’t just quit a job or drop a project. So in those situations, the next big thing I do is make a choice: don’t take things personally, assume the best in the situation, and—this one is huge—let things go quickly. Like, really quick.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a graphic designer with 10+ years under my belt. I’m all about visual storytelling, especially through branding. In simple terms, I make sure your brand looks and feels like you everywhere—on your site, socials, packaging, ads, you name it. I’ve gotten to play with everything from logos and color palettes to packaging, swag, and even copywriting and strategy. Basically, if it touches your brand, I love making it shine.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Gosh, this is such a good question! Okay, not totally sure what “category” this lands in, but here’s my top three:

First: Be open to learning. In graphic design, you have to adapt—and fast. The industry changes so quickly that you don’t really get the luxury of deciding whether you feel like learning something new. It’s either you keep up or some 15-year-old tech-savvy kid who’s been tinkering with tech forever will take your spot. I actually love that challenge—I enjoy learning new things. And now with AI in the mix, there’s literally something new to learn every single day.

Second: Don’t stress about “developing” a style. Honestly, that was the dumbest thing I got hung up on early in my career. I thought not having a defined style meant I wasn’t good enough. I was barely out of college and already comparing myself to seasoned designers with signature looks. Give yourself a break. Go with the flow. Enjoy the process. You’ll naturally hone in on what you like, or maybe you won’t—and that’s okay! I’m not even sure I have a style, but I don’t care anymore because I’d rather focus on enjoying each project and solving problems for my clients.

Third: Don’t take it personally. Easier said than done, I know, but when you actually practice it, work becomes way more fun and positive. This goes for any job, not just design. When feedback comes in and you don’t love it, put yourself in their shoes—it’s not about you personally.

So yeah, my biggest advice? Let things go. It may sound cliché, but it’s seriously powerful. And by “let go,” I don’t mean shove it down—I mean really release it.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes! Absolulety! I love collaborating with any and all sorts of industries. To be honest, that’s part of the fun when it comes to graphic design—that I get to touch so many industries.

But to get down to answering this question more concretely, I’d love to collaborate with brands that are open to using typography as their main piece of design or anyone open to experimental typography. Also, you don’t need to be a Fortune 500 to work with me—I love teaming up with brands of all sizes!

If you’re not familiar, experimental type is all about breaking the “typography rules” and just playing. I’ll grab whatever feels right for the project—flowers, fruit, dirt, food—you name it—and build letters out of it. It always gets a little messy, but that’s the fun part! The textures and materials bring this extra layer of emotion people instantly connect with in graphic design, and that’s what makes the words hit harder and solve the client’s problem. Honestly, it’s one of the most fun things I get to do.

Even if you think your industry doesn’t really “fit” with experimental type, I’d say—reach out anyway. There’s always a way to make it work, and that’s what makes it so fun. The materials take on a life of their own, and people end up connecting with them in unexpected ways.

Like, I once made typography out of jam. Total chaos—sticky, messy, everything—but it turned into some amazing letterforms. Another time I used soap bubbles. Try getting bubbles to behave? Nearly impossible. But the end result was beautiful and surprisingly powerful.

So yeah—shoot me a message, and let’s figure out how to make your project come to life in its own wild way! Also, check out the experimental type photos attached to this interview so you can see what I mean! They’re made out of real jam, bubbles, and dried flowers.

That being said, if you’re a fun brand or business, I’m open to graphic design work as well—not just experimental typography.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dalilacopeland.com
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/dalilacopeland