Today we have a designer interview with Tracy Miller, one of our recent graduates of The Ultimate Portfolio Builder. Tracy Miller from the USA took the seven week course in May 2015.
When did your interest in design first start and how did that come about?
My interest in design came as I, as a child, trailed my Mom through fabric stores. She was always buying and sewing fabrics for garments and home decor. I saw the power in that, in determining for myself what colors and patterns I could wear and surround myself with. I began sewing in 6th grade, and eventually became a professional dressmaker. I’ve often said that if you can sew, you can do anything.
What steps did you take to get to where you are now as a designer?
I began in the art department at Evergreen Enterprises with zero experience in graphic design. Learning on the job, I designed appliqued home decor house flags. When I got laid off from that job, I spent the next two years unlocking the secrets of Illustrator and of making the perfect repeating pattern.
Step by step, as I gained experience, I found jobs via Elance and through an agent. In my “free” time, I pursue lots of types of designs.
How would you describe your style?
When making repeating patterns, my style is super clean and precise. You should see the ai files my clients receive! Flawless!
But I do gravitate toward vectorizing vintage images, which gives them new life, and then grunging them up again. In a lot of ways I don’t have a style. With all the variety of freelance work I’ve done, I’ve learned to design to suit the client.
What kind of designer do you want to be known as?
I want people to look at my work and feel that it enriches their world in some way. Whether it’s a fabric I’ve designed, a card or a piece of art, I want them to say “I love that!” ever time they pass by it. And I also want to be able to create works that people look at and say “How did she do that?!”
What are you working on currently?
One of my favorite clients is Seth at Needlepaint. I spend quite a few hours each week converting designs to needlepoint grids. It’s not glamorous, but it’s steady work, and I’ve become really good at it.
Other than that, there is usually an “art call” that I submit to, I hustle for jobs at Elance, and I have a LONG list of designs I want to create.
What advice would you give emerging designers wanting to build their portfolios?
If you sit in your seat and and create designs, day after day, month after month, you’ll have a portfolio. This can only happen if you LOVE IT!
What would be your dream design gig?
My dream design gig would be to license something I’ve done, it becomes a huge hit, and then stands the test of time. The royalty checks just keep coming. And then do that a bunch more times!
Looking ahead, what are you major goals for the next couple of years?
Graphic design found me later in life. My goal then, is to stay in robust health and live long enough to be a huge success: I live a vegan life style with a plant-based diet, I workout, run, bike, hike, do yoga, meditate, laugh a lot, sleep well, drink lots of clean water, am kind, am patient, and am sweet yet proactive.
If you were a pattern, what kind of pattern would you be and why?
I would be a vectorized version of an 18th century floral textile done in a modern colorway. It (and I) would be traditional and approachable, yet precise, bold and contemporary. Timeless and ageless.
What was the most important lesson you took away from UPB?
The most important lesson I took away from UPB was to keep pushing my limits in terms of subject matter. It’s easy to always do florals, but I’ve got to keep working on developing my holiday conversationals!
What difference did it make to have a supportive community of fellow students, and how important do you think that will be going forward?
It was so great to remember that we, as designers, pretty much all have the same fears and insecurities. To encourage each other helps us to overcome those fears.
Please tell us about your experience of the live briefs and student work reviews.
The live briefs worked out well for me: I made a sale to Cardmaking and Papercraft. And while I didn’t make a sale to Card Crazy, I was asked to contact the reviewer personally. That may lead to something.
The reviews were great. I watched all of them and learned a little something with each one. The reviewers were kind with helpful critiques and suggestions. It taught me to look at my own finished repeats with a more critical eye.
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As a freelance graphic designer, my focus is creating cohesive collections of dynamic, commercially viable patterns in bold color palettes. I learned my craft during a series of unexpected circumstances.
I am prolific, having designed over a thousand designs, and feel that one of my greatest strengths is my versatility. My portfolio is united though, by beauty, precision, an exemplary work ethic and joyful, swift communications with the client. I’ve sold to top brandnames who would agree, and have asked for more.
Amazed by what you see above from our talented students? Join our next class of The Ultimate Portfolio Builder which starts September 21st 2015.
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The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design is the definitive guide to becoming a surface pattern design professional.If you have ever dreamed of seeing your designs on stationery, homewares, fabric or other products, this series of interactive online courses is for you! Thriving surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor will guide you along this exciting path from developing your signature style, to putting a collection together, and from protecting your work to monetising your designs. With a rich combination of design inspiration, practical advice, demonstrations, creative exercises, resources and interviews with leading industry practitioners, this is the go-to guide for anyone wanting to develop their design skills and break into the industry. Our next classes begin September 21, 2015 – we hope to be able to welcome you to class!
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