Celebrating Small Triumphs

The year 2023-24 has proven to be truly exciting for me! I successfully launched my new website, DesignDelights, honed valuable skills through engaging projects that both challenged and motivated me and began a new professional chapter at R+L Carriers.

I've always believed that true success is not only defined by reaching the ultimate objective but rather by acknowledging small triumphs that lead you there. Success can be visible through tangible accomplishments or the commitment and drive to persist despite any negativity holding you back. Reflecting on my journey, I've realized that it's not just about the projects I've completed or the skills I've gained but also about the personal growth and self-discovery these experiences have brought. Each project has unique challenges. It has taught me something new about myself and my capabilities, and I've become more confident and resilient.

While at APC as a production artist and graphic designer, I had the opportunity to work on various exciting projects, including creating a bobblehead of a famous pitcher. The Bobblehead project was an incredible learning experience for me, as it was my first time working on such a project, and I was thrilled to take it on. To create the 2D art representation of the player, Stakeholders provided me with pictures of the player from various angles and in action on the field. It was a fascinating journey of growth and curiosity to see the entire process from start to finish! In addition to creating the bobblehead, I also worked on promotional merchandise such as apparel, mugs, pens, and other items. Through this work, I gained valuable knowledge about the properties of various materials and production processes. I learned how different substrates and printing methods can impact the outcome of designs.

Design projects can be both thrilling and demanding, regardless of their scale. They provide an opportunity to explore something new that you haven't tried before, allow you to improve in areas where you need more skill, and open the door to excellence.

I had the opportunity to design a billboard for one of the stakeholders at R+L. It was a unique experience because of the challenge of working with such a large size and the need to quickly capture attention while effectively conveying a message to drivers traveling at high speeds. This project taught me that simple and focused design is crucial, and color contrast is essential for standing out against the surrounding environment. I also learned to create print-ready files for production from this project correctly. Whether it was Figma's responsive UI/UX web project, a magazine article, or a newsletter, I enhanced my skills and learned something new from each.

Recently, I completed my performance evaluation at work, which allowed me to reflect on how much I have progressed in my skills, what mistakes I made, and what I hope to achieve in the future. The secret is to set realistic goals that are within reach and keep pushing through any setbacks. Start with small, short-term goals and watch how they pave the way for your bigger dreams. This has inspired me to push myself towards higher goals and appreciate every small win.