Tricky questions are just known to come up in interviews. I was recently asked, “What do you want in a job?” I took a quick moment to think and responded, “To be able to create artwork and continue to better myself and learn along the way.” After the interview, I thought more about the question. I wanted to add, “To be able to be creative.”

Being a creative thinker is what makes me who I am and my work. Creative thinking allows me to think outside the box and put existing ideas together for a new idea. Internal motivation also fuels the fire underneath me for my need to be creative. Together with my knowledge and experience allows me to be a creative graphic designer.

I also want to work with other people, I think the best ideas come from when you can bounce ideas off each other. Be inspired by others or get constructive criticism, to really push your design that much further. Design is really about a collaboration. Whether it with a client or a co-worker.

That’s how I wanted to answer the question. So next time I’m asked, I will be ready to respond.

In February… North Carolina came in fourth with an unemployment rate of 10.7 percent. I was laid off on February 28th, due to the budget being affected by the economy. At first I was in complete and utter shock. First thing that raced into my mind was fear. Fear of not being able to make my recently new mortgage payment. After speaking with my mother, I learned about unemployment benefits. I just had to simply fill out a form online and update my status weekly. It’s a very easy paycheck and keeping me from having to pickup a crap part-time job while I search for a job. It’s not as much as I was making, but it’s definitely better than nothing.

I never thought I would be laid off, I thought it was the sort of thing that only happened to factory workers. I know searching for a job is rough, at least in my field. It can become very emotional, I will get excited about the jobs that are being advertised on Careerbuilder, Monster, SimplyHired, and Craigslist. Problem is, I know there’s so much competition out there. On a previous interview, I asked how many applicants they had apply while they were advertising Careerbuilder. I was shocked to hear the number 350+! Made me feel excited just to get to the interview! Then waiting starts to get to me and I start to question myself. Am I not good enough? Did I just waste my time in school? And then I will get confirmation that I am good enough when I get a call for an interview and they rave about how great my portfolio is.

And then I’m waiting for a phone call again. It’s such a rollercoaster. I try to distance myself and not get too excited until I get an offer, but it’s hard. I just hope I to get a good job with a good company and good people, with an acceptable salary in the not too distance future. There’s only so much yard work and house work to keep me out of boredom.

I had created a logo for The Tech Fellows a few years ago and wanted to redesign it. I spent some time on their competition’s website (Geek Squad), and was noticing how personal and friendly the vernacular was. After all, people coming to use their site are less likely to know all the technical language. They just want their computer fixed! Once I started getting ideas on how to revamp the website, it gave me ideas on how to redesign the logo. I wanted the new logo to be about helping the customers with technology.

I hope to start redesigning The Tech Fellow’s website very soon.

Taylor Bakes was a logo I did for a friend. We bounced ideas off each other, while looking at other names of bakeries for inspiration, for what to name her future company.

She wanted it to be fun, modern, simple, and colorful, yet muted; To relate to her style of baking. I created a simple silhouette of a cake with fun textures and colors, while keeping it modern.

Taylor currently has a food blog, Baking Arts.