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Primary design concentration:
Visual communications for both print
and web,
for a balance of corporate and nonprofit clients
Most preferred tool for designing:
My keen observational skills
1. How and why did you choose to
become a designer?
I don’t believe I so much
became a designer, but more accurately was destined
for the profession. As far back as I can recall. design
has always intrigued me. I was drawn to its various
aspects and how it related to and affected my life.
Luckily, an instructor in high school put a name to
my destined profession of graphic design, and directed
me towards a suitable institution of higher learning.
2. Challenges you encounter as a
designer and how do you deal with them?
Everything can be challenging, from
accommodating budgets to meeting deadlines, from obliging
a variety of personalities to managing quality control.
It takes an equal balance of creativity and logic
to remain both inspired and focused on the long-term
solutions. If I find a situation too challenging,
it is often time to reassess my goals and move on
to more rewarding affiliations.
3. Your definition of an “elegant
solution,” that is, good design?
An elegant solution is one that
is succinct and effective in concept, messaging and
execution that you “get” immediately,
yet are compelled to contemplate over and over.
4. From skills to values, what makes
a designer successful?
Success can mean different things
to different people. My ideal of success is a proper
balance of work and play. I’ve never looked
to design as a means for fame or fortune, but rather
as a means to obtain quality of life. The ability
to earn a living while working on projects that both
inspire and challenge me on many different levels
equates to success in that regard.
5. How do you stay motivated and
grow personally and professionally as a designer?
Education has helped me stay motivated,
both personally and professionally. Being trained
solely in print design, I returned to school in the
early 2000s to learn web design and development, which
helped grow my business and remain marketable in the
industry. More recently, I was accepted into a masters
program that allowed me to travel both nationally
and internationally, and meet and work with some of
the most creative leaders in our field. It’s
very difficult to become stagnant when your mind is
constantly expanding.
6. For those aspiring to become
a designer, whatever the discipline,what is your advice?
Often the easiest or most direct
path isn’t always the most rewarding, engaging,
stimulating or life-altering. Be open to new experiences,
constantly expand your comfort zone, and enjoy and
learn from the journey. Don’t be so focused
on the destination, as the destination may change.
7. What is your quest in design?
Educators of visual communications
are a catalyst for helping young designers make a
positive difference in our world. My quest is to provide
educators with solutions to integrate the concept
of social responsibility (civic engagement, ethical
actions, and sustainability) into their coursework,
hence my side project Creative For A Cause.
Heidi Cies is the Founder
of Creative
For A Cause, “a collaborative resource for
educators of Visual Communication who wish to instruct
their students on the importance of adopting a social
and ethical approach to their work.” Her inspirations
are Victor
Papanek and Mother
Nature.
Image courtesy of Heidi Cies
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