Meet Monique: How I Became A Designer

Hi, my name is Monique, and I’d like to reintroduce myself. 

Superheroes from comic books and movies aren’t the only ones with origin stories. We all have one. I think it’s high time I dive into my origin story – what inspired me to become a designer and the path I took to get there. 

At heart, I’ve always been an artist, dabbling in all things related to the arts since I was a kid. I taught myself calligraphy and portraiture. Being creative was second nature to me. I had this intrinsic desire to create, but as a child and throughout my adolescence, I only thought of it as a hobby. When high school rolled around, I took art classes. My teacher told my mom I should consider an artistic career after graduation. Knowing it could be a legitimate pursuit sparked something within me. 

After high school, I attended Syracuse University, where I got to really delve into painting, drawing, and experimenting with colors. In the post-college world, I immediately started working in illustration. However, I learned quickly that being an illustrator isn’t the most lucrative profession. From there, I packed my bags for California and began working as a junior art director at a greeting card company. Then, I made the move to a design firm, where I honed my graphic design skills. While there, I branched out into designing websites and brochures. 

Even with this shift to graphic design, there was always something tugging at the corners of my mind – branding. So, I took a leap of faith, quitting my job and pursuing branding on my own. I took a class at Hivery called “What’s Next,” which proved to be a boon for me. I met a woman thanks to this class and offered her free branding for her business, Laurel Jewelry Design. 

That was it. The branding bug bit me. Now, I mainly work with women-owned small businesses. I find it so rewarding. It took a minute, but I discovered my passion and haven’t looked back since. All my endeavors – the figurative blood, sweat, and tears – were worth it. 

I encourage you to find your passion and cling tightly to it. Life’s too short not to do what you love. 

photo credit: kimthompsonsteel.com