Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Daria Stevenson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Daria, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity is constant, like a flowing river. Imagine you are a writer who is given a task to write a work of fiction about a magical world with a robust plotline and fanciful characters. How would you go about starting? Pen to paper straight away and write the entire novel? Or would you research, read inspiring works, and plan? Likely, you would map out your entire novel first by reading similar stories and creating a rubric for your own story. You could even go outside of writing and explore visual arts, performing arts, and architecture. I turn to things outside of graphic design to help inspire me when I am in an artistic rut. I never know what will speak to me in various media forms to ignite that creative spark.
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?
Strategic marketing is something I am very passionate about. Put yourself in this scenario: you are a tight-rope walker on top of a high-rise building. Your task is to get from one end to the other in a specific amount of time. How do you approach this challenge? You could start putting one foot in front of the other quickly or do the opposite and move forward very slowly. Each path could lead to a fall. Balance is key. We must balance the task before us. In graphic design, the art cannot take over the strategy, and the reverse is also true: the strategy cannot take over the art. They must work together, hand in hand. They are not rivals but the best of friends. And they must be friends for life. No piece of branded artwork can be made without strategy. Artwork needs structure and strategy to bring it to life and help it withstand the test of time. The main focal point of my business is to help my clients achieve their goals through the union of strategy and creativity.
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 love of reading, of story-crafting and of drawing were most impactful on my journey to owning a graphic design business.
My advice to others is to read books. Read many books. Read the classics, look at art books, and read strategy books. The Art of War, surprisingly enough, had a great impact on me. It is outside the realm of fine arts, but it encompasses the necessary tactics in order to beat the competition. Another one of my favorite books is from my childhood about the turtle and the hare. I much preferred the turtle to the hare. He had a wideset strategy. He was slow and methodical, yes, but he achieved the ends with well thought-out means. He wasn’t fast, but he developed his critical thinking skills – something that came natural to him. Cultivate your natural talents whenever possible, refine your skills and acquire new abilities by educating yourself and taking classes.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is someone who has a unique organizational concept already fleshed out. They have done all the steps to work out the mission and vision for their business or organization. This way when we have our discovery call, we can maximize our time effectively. I can use my time and expertise to create corresponding brand assets for the client. Very importantly, my ideal client is passionate about their organization and the service or product it provides. It would be wonderful to connect with people who are looking for a strategic graphic designer; one who creates and is able to pitch ideas to solve problems. Creativity can be used to fashion art, and it can also be used to propose solutions to challenging puzzles.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alopixels.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alopixels/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561908853567
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daria-d-stevenson/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/DariaStevensonAlopixels/
Image Credits
Vera Djackova
