Getting and Staying Inspired

Maybe it isn't specifically graphic design knowledge, but continually keeping up with the trends and forecasting the future is my main goal. I sought out inspiration the past year by attending technology and food trade shows in NY and FL, taking free leadership classes from work, collaborating with talent to produce fashion photoshoots, participating in art shows, and treating each experience as an opportunity to learn. Pulling my inspiration from places that are not graphic design or banking-related helps in building a solid bank of creative knowledge without having to worry if I'm copying other companies. Also, I asked if I could attend a credit union marketing tradeshow and was denied because they were only open for managers. Instead of getting discouraged, I sought ideas elsewhere and read CU-related articles voraciously. Of course, I'll research companies that have done a concept just to make sure mine is different.

Music at Deluna Fest 2011

Bridal shower invitations

Art Party 9 flyer for {entwined} - alternative art scene and party

Restaurant POS company branding

Art Party 9 {entwined} - alternative art scene and party

interior design for our house remodeling project 

Sushi deli branding for Kakasan Sushi bar in Mobile, AL

Restaurant POS company branding

Restaurant POS company website redesign

Here's a taste of the diversity of my work from just the past 2 years.

Post #___ Trip #4 to the Big Apple!

I love NY. Clearly as this will be my 4th trip up there within 6 years! (3 years in a row) For real, this is what I want to do - live like the locals, visit Chinatown, Greenwich Village/SoHo, experience the awesome styles made available to me.

We fly out Saturday morning of the 14th and fly back Friday night via Jet Blue.

Here is what I've encountered and/or learned:
- That Greenwich village is actually pronounced with a soft "e"
- That the 3 speakers I listened to were not very motivating. What a bummer because this is supposed to be the biggest retail technology show in the US. Sephora and Aeropostle's VP of Visual Merchandising didn't seem too passionate about their field. The president of CAB Marketing (who worked on clients such as Circuit City) gave a marketing 101 speech to mom-and-pop retailers. Sigh. I tried so hard to sneak into Bill Clinton's speech but to no avail. I needed a powerful speaker to help me out! At least the speaker for "Fashion and the Future" was interesting because he talked not only about fashion but the science behind it and how it's actually lagging behind other industries such as architecture, interiors, science, gadgets, etc.

And then some! Overall it was a good trip!