The $30 job that changed the trajectory of my life — The Everyday Designer #38
You know those moments that change you forever? This is one of those moments.
I hope you love a good story. Grab your coffee or tea, or whatever beverage of choice, your popcorn, whatever snack, maybe you’re eating breakfast. Whatever it is, wherever you are reading this from, you may not have to “buckle up” for this one cause it’ll be quick, but I hope it serves as a reminder to you that maybe that “one moment” in your life that you’ve been waiting for, is coming soon. Maybe its right around the corner, maybe its already happened and you’re just waiting to find out in retrospect.
Elementary school
My “design career” actually start out daydreaming. During my years of elementary school, I loathed when it was time for math. As I like to say, “I was the kid who was doodling on the side of my math notebook, and looking out into the window, coming up with new characters for shows or new monsters with abilities, while the math lesson was going on”. Now before you assume; yes I was a good student. I passed, did all the things, blah, blah, blah. But my passion for creating started out at a very young age, my imagination was blossoming from an early age, and it just continued to grow.
I remember in Grade 8, joining the “yearbook club” where we would literally take photos and copy/paste them into a yearbook editing software, but I thought it was the coolest thing that I putting these photos into these pages to create cool “designs”. I didn’t even know that word at the time, but I was like “I could get used to this”.
High school
Fast forward a few years, I took a visual arts class. At the end of that semester, my teacher recommended me I take a course called “media arts”, which sounded like the coolest thing ever because it was a combination of two of my favourite things; art and technology, paint brush and computer, pencil and mouse. I loved every moment of that class. I would spend hours on Photoshop CS6, which could barely run on the intel computers we had in class. Of course the year I was finally out of school, was the year they decided to get iMacs, I’ll never forgive them for that. (kidding haha)
The “moment”
I’ll never forget the day though that everything became clear for me.
It was nearing the end of the year, getting close to summer, my favourite month of the year. I was on lunch period, sitting with some of my friends, when one of my other friends, Mac King, came and asked me a question.
“Hey Alex, you said do logos right?”
Me, nervously smiling, not knowing a clue about logo design.
“Yea, I do logo…design.”
“Cool, would you be able to make me a logo for my gamer clan? I’ll pay you $30.”
…
💡
It’s as if the stars and planets aligned, the moon and tides were in harmony, mercury was in retrograde, you name the saying and it was that. “I could get…paid? To do this?”
Eureka.
From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a “designer”.
If I could create art, and digitize it, and then on top of that make money…?! I wanted to do it. The coolest part about this story, as I recall it even now, is that I feel the same sentiment today. I love being a designer. I love solving problems for people with creative executions. I love leaving the world better than I got here, through creative means. I love painting the streets with the conjurings of my mind.
Keep going
Maybe all those years ago, all along that little boy that was staring out the window dozing off in class, was trying to see the designer on the other side, looking back at him and cheering him on to keep going.
🌊 Currents
I love sharing what I’ve been up to lately and this is one way for me to let you in on what’s been happening in my life. (I’m really excited this edition hehe)
🖼️ Currently excited: #DareToShare24 - If you’re not on twitter(still can’t say X) you’ve been missing out on some wonderful design community engagement, led by Benten Woodring who first shared the idea for #DareToShare24. A few people were commenting on how its been feeling like early-day dribbble times, which has been quite refreshing! Exciting times again for the design community! 🏄
🗞 Currently excited: SnapShift AI by Alex Aperios - Another very cool project by another design friend, sharing creative AI prompts for you to input into whatever image AI generator you’re using these days, (I’m using Midjourney). It’s taken off so much, and he built a BEAUTIFUL website on framer that you can check out here, and get generating some incredible images for you next design project!
🎁 Currently happy about: Remote Supply Giveaway - ICYMI my designer friend Keith recently launched a remote-centric clothing company called “Remote Supply” and I am running a giveaway where one person will win one (1) item from the shop! The good news is that, as long as you’re subscribed to this newsletter, you’re entered! If you’re not subscribe this is your chance to. Winner will be announced at the end of February 🎉