We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Irene Neyman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Irene, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
To be honest, I didn’t, and I don’t think I ever will. I believe that many creatives encounter this feeling periodically, where it seems like you’re not capable, not deserving, won’t succeed, and various other emotions. In my opinion, this is influenced by how people actively share their successes on social media, but no one sees what happens behind the scenes and what challenges they face. That’s actually the most crucial part and what helps us become who we are – challenges. Comparing myself to others sometimes affects me, leading to apathy and disappointment in my abilities. But in those moments, it’s important to remind myself of what I’ve achieved and the enormous effort I’ve put in. And, of course, we should learn how to appreciate ourselves.
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 self-taught illustrator and graphic designer from Ukraine, now living in Canada. I work on different projects like editorial, apps, websites, brands, and character design, always adding a bit of joy to what I do.
Even though I’ve loved drawing since childhood, I only started freelancing full-time about 4.5 years ago. At times, I combined freelancing with full-time employment at companies, which I currently do too. I had to learn a lot because I wasn’t just an illustrator – I was my own accountant, content manager, consultant, PR manager, and more. Now, I’m truly grateful for all the knowledge I’ve gained.
Recently, I started a blog on Medium where I share my experiences and tips that helped me during my freelancing journey. I hope my articles help other creatives feel more confident at the start of their careers and help business owners understand how creatives work and how they can thrive together.
I also just launched my own design studio called Deeply. I had this idea for a long time, but I also had a lot of doubts and fears. Then, I realized if I didn’t try, I’d regret it (thanks to my husband for supporting me). I’m happy I can do that now. We will work with all things illustrations, graphic, and brand design. The website is still in progress, but you can find us on social media.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Reflecting on my journey, I think these three important things were most impactful: managing time, improving myself, and never giving up.
You have to know how to manage your time to be efficient with your projects and responsive to clients. Nobody wants to see missed deadlines or receive email responses later than a day. Plus, a few projects at a time can come up suddenly – you need to know how to juggle them together and still have time for your own social media presence, personal brand, etc.
Self-development was essential as well. Taking on different roles like being my own financial or content manager meant I had to keep getting better. If you’re starting your journey, think about staying curious, finding ways to learn, and always trying to get better at what you do. Every time I learned something new or enhanced my skills, the number of opportunities around me grew. I found ways and ideas to apply this in my work.
Remembering tough times, not giving up was crucial. Facing doubts and uncertainties required sticking to my goals, even when it was really hard. Support from my family was crucial too. I thought of setbacks as chances to grow. Keep going, and you’ll get there.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes! I’m always thrilled to connect with other creative folks. Now, with the launch of my design studio Deeply, I’m on the lookout for graphic and brand designers to collaborate on various projects. It’s crucial for me to find someone I can rely on and entrust with both partial tasks and full-fledged projects, confident in the outcome. I’m seeking someone who can be independent and proactive, taking ideas and responsibilities into their own hands, rather than waiting for instructions on the next steps. I welcome proposals and portfolios via email at [email protected] and look forward to exploring how we can work together!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ireneneyman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irene_neyman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neymanirene/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ireneneyman/
- Other: Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/irene_
neyman Behance: https://www.behance.net/irene_neyman Deeply Design Studio: https://www.instagram.com/studiodeeply/
