Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alex Dewar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alex, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I think society generally paints a picture of creativity that is false. We have this vision of the “genius artist” that has a sudden stroke of inspiration while they’re staring at the ocean or drinking a glass of whisky with a paintbrush in hand. From my experience, creativity can be easily brought out by repetition. Logos and branding require a lot of ongoing creativity. Coming up with fresh new ideas to convey a message in the simplest way possible doesn’t just happen. Wrapping up an entire business into one simple visual representation is a hard enough challenge on its own, and I don’t have time to just wait for inspiration to happen to me. I need to make it happen. Instead of sitting and waiting for an idea to strike, my process includes sitting down with a piece of paper, and drawing simples shapes. Draw a circle, then add a line to it, draw a new circle with a triangle in it, just keep drawing, keep going…suddenly that circle is a donut with a crab holding it and tadaaaa!..Your creativity is flowing. Typically I end up with 100-200 of these loose sketches for every brand project I do. I keep going until the idea is solid, at which point I move into the digital realm. This process is so so important for the type of work I do, and it can be applied to many other creative fields. If all else fails, staring at the ocean couldn’t hurt. 
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hi I’m Alex – a Vancouver based freelance Graphic Designer specializing in branding, logo design, illustration, layout, packaging, & marketing collateral. I am experienced, qualified, organized and creative. I approach your design strategically to reach your target market. I have extensive experience in sales & marketing, project management, leadership roles, and both in-house & freelance design. I hold a certificate in graphic design from BCIT and have been working freelance since 2018. I love working with colour and illustrative elements to bring your projects to life.
This year is already off to a firecracker start for me. I’ve been working on some inspiring projects, with some fantastic clients. My dream projects this year include;
1. Designing illustrative packaging for a food product (chocolate bars, coffee bags, etc.)
2. Designing a full illustrative brand suite for someone who isn’t afraid of colour and creativity (See Flower Beds Farm on my website.)
3. Doing some work for a non-profit and offering them my Passion Project Rate.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I’ve found my Sales and Marketing background very useful in my design career. Knowing the importance of informational hierarchy, viewer psychology, and how to target specific markets with marketing collateral has been extremely helpful. Marketing and Design work hand in hand to speak to the viewer and connect with them, and I am able to collaborate with clients to help them achieve this.
I have also found my background in classic art very helpful in graphic design. Entering the field with an already established understanding of layout, composition and colour theory gave me a big leg up in accelerating my education.
My third secret super power is anxietyyyyyyy. 😉 As a business owner, it takes an incredible amount of self motivation to wake up every morning and get the work done that needs to be done without anyone checking in on you or holding you accountable. Many of my projects are multi-month long branding processes, and no one would know if I phoned it in for the week. Anxiety is both a blessing and a curse in this case. Sometimes it can be inhibiting, but I find for the most part it keeps me motivated and true to my timelines. I never deliver projects late or sub-par, because I just couldn’t handle it internally.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I have been lucky to foster deep and impactful friendships with fellow business owners and entrepreneurs. Vancouver has an amazing array of talented graphic designers, illustrators, and people working in the digital realm that have had a huge influence on my career. Sometimes it can feel very isolating as a freelancer; you have no coworkers, no annoying boss to whine about (just me,) no water cooler to chat at…Connecting with people in my field has been a game changer for asking questions, bouncing around ideas, and helping me feel like I’m not alone in my experience. Over the pandemic, I had weekly online meetings with another designer. We kept each other accountable, gave feedback on current projects, and vented about work to each other. I highly recommend this practice for anyone who is feeling stagnated or lacking motivation.
Contact Info:
- Website: alexdewardesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_dewar_design/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexdewardesign/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-dewar-design/
Image Credits
Shannon Elmitt H2 Restaurant (Westin Bayshore)
