Design

Creative Fridays: An Interview with Amy Arthurs

Amy was one of the first bloggers I made friends with online when I started blogging, and I instantly fell in love with her Oh, My Design Blog. She is also a super talented graphic designer and all round nice gal. Welcome, Amy!

Hello! Who are you and what do you do?

Hi! I’m Amy and I’m a graphic designer. By day I work designing for a big mass market women’s magazine, and by night I’m a freelance designer and occasional blogger. My freelance work is quite varied, from blog designs and logos, to packaging and wedding invitation suites.

What work are you most proud of to date?

Oh this is a hard one! I don’t think there’s a specific project! But the projects that I took on following my instinct, even if it meant going way outside my comfort zone or against the advice of others, always seemed to have the best results in the end. Those I am most proud of.

What was the turning point in your career?

Definitely getting my work online and working with my first freelance clients. I really wanted to freelance but I was so incredibly shy about showing my work to almost anyone, let alone the world. Once I got over my shyness of getting my work online, I didn’t even have to put it out there that I was available to freelance. Again I was really shy about taking on my first freelance projects, but when people started emailing me saying ‘Are you available for work? If not, do you know a designer who can design something for me, in your style?’ I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity.

Who would you love to collaborate with one day?

Although I do a lot of web work, a big chunk of my heart belongs to the print medium and magazines. I’d love to work with the team at White Magazine again one day.

What’s your number one tip for someone wanting to start their own business/blog?

Just go for it, don’t be shy! And don’t worry if your style isn’t what the ‘popular’ bloggers or designers seem to be doing. My style definitely isn’t. Own your niche – there are people out there who will find you. And you’ll be exactly what they’re looking for.