Insights and Personal Story of Drew’s Journey in Graphic Design
He found it and was like what the *redacted* is that?
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My name is Jackson Crandall, and I work as a graphic designer who is fascinated by the craft of graphic novels. A love for creating visual narratives was sparked by childhood days spent absorbed in comics. My journey revolves around the fascinating concepts of graphics and storytelling, starting with making little comics as a child and continuing with a graphic design degree. People’s ideas must be known because most people don’t try to learn more. I’ve always believed that you feel as like you’ve learnt or experienced something new the more you know with little effort on your part. Early on, I grappled with the challenge of laying out a story and discovering the nuances of composition, paneling, and pacing. This curiosity evolved into a profound love for the entire graphic storytelling process. The need to create was very strong within myself, but I felt the older I got, the more responsibilities I have, the less I felt I could do. The graphic design field as reignited my desire to create once more. I liked graphic novels and their use of panels, I felt like I could do that, but without using the right tools. I felt as it made me like a tool.
In addition to honing my artistic abilities, my studies increased my understanding of how media design combines technical accuracy with creativity. I’m motivated to use my skills to expand my ideas of storytelling through pictures with crafting stories that speak to all of us, and bring back the sense of wonder that captivated me as a kid. How we react to these individuals and their efforts is what keeps us alive.
I ask of you, join me on this visual journey as I explore the boundless possibilities of graphic storytelling. Where it is driven by a love for the craft and a dedication to impactful narratives. The ideas of the people bring, are the brightest. I believe the more we allow them to shine the better they are known. Although not every light can be brightened to what they should be; That is life.
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When I asked Drew about his favorite design project, he didn’t hesitate. He reminisced about a basketball tournament he worked on, where the theme was graffiti. This project was particularly special because it allowed Drew to draw on his past as a street artist. He was always a street artist he said, “I was really into graffiti before graphic design, so this project let me combine those passions, with complete creative
freedom.” Drew splashed graffiti-inspired designs across the event materials, infusing the corporate world with street art flair. Drew’s route to graphic design started with a love for graffiti. In high school, he avoided traditional classes in favor of art, eventually selling paintings at music festivals. A friend encouraged him to take his skills digital, and he took it to the next level.
Drew opened up about the rapid turnaround time in his workplace. Deadlines are tight, which means designs need to be produced quickly. Logos and business materials don’t always leave much room for creativity, but Drew takes it in stride. This constant balancing act between artistic vision and client satisfaction is a challenge Drew handles daily. From what I’ve heard from Drew it’s a lot of changing what you’ve made on a strict schedule, but also following what is needed in time.
Drew’s toolkit consists mostly of Adobe programs, with Photoshop and Illustrator as his preference. When it comes to typography, though, he is not a fan. He said, I like making things look good but messing with big blocks of text just isn’t for me, which is his way of saying he likes what he likes. Drew prefers working on visuals and logos, avoiding the more tedious side of large editorial text-heavy designs. I could relate to his struggle, as I’ve faced the same in my classes.
sources of inspiration. Whether it’s new tools from Adobe or cool art shared on Instagram, Drew stays updated and ready to implement the latest techniques in his designs. I believe AI should only be used for certain tasks, not the whole design process ending. Drew says Adobe does a great job updating us when new features drop, especially with AI tools lately.
Drew and I both agree: when designing for a client, it is important to remember, that it’s not your design. He pointed out that feedback is essential, but you always need to balance it with your professional insight. Learning to let go of your ideas to follow at the end of the day, they are paying for it, so their vision matters most. This approach is something I’ll keep in mind as I continue working on my projects.
I asked Drew how he stays on top of design trends. It turns out social media and newsletters are his main
Drew’s experience designing across multiple mediums from small ads to huge wall wraps stood out to me. He stressed the importance of vector-based artwork to maintain quality, especially for large-scale prints. If you don’t get the resolution right, it can end up pixelated on a big wall wrap.
That’s a nightmare. This technical advice is something I’ll apply as I handle different-sized projects in the future.
Managing multiple projects is always a challenge. Drew swears by his iPad, which he uses to organize tasks and track timelines. His system is streamlined, allowing him to keep projects moving efficiently. He said, I used to use paper, but now an iPad, it’s way easier to stay on top of things and re-prioritize, and couldn’t help but think of how much
my handwriting would get me into trouble if I tried to manage everything on paper.
Drew’s philosophy on design success is simple Client satisfaction is the ultimate goal. Of course, minimizing mistakes and reprints is part of that, but he knows perfection is rare in a custom design world. If the client is happy and the project is profitable, that is a win in my book. I think that if someone likes the design.
As a design leader, Drew values communication and trust. His team doesn’t micromanage each other; instead, they collaborate, share projects, and help when workloads get heavy. I believe trusting in your team is important as he said, We are all close, so it is easy to communicate if someone needs help or has too much on their plate.
This teamwork dynamic I admire and hope to experience in my future career.
I had to ask how Drew handles clients who aren’t sure what they want or try to control every detail. His approach? Patience and professionalism. He said, Sometimes they don’t know what they want until they see it. It’s our job to guide them and educate them through the process. Drew’s
calm demeanor and willingness to work through challenges are qualities I’ll try to adopt when working with clients in the future.
Talking to Drew gave me a new perspective on graphic design, especially the challenges of balancing creativity with client expectations. His journey from graffiti to design leadership was especially inspiring, reminding me that creative passions can become professional success when we follow them with dedication.
When asked why she became a hairdresser, Her answer was clear, as it had been her passion since childhood.
“I gave myself my first haircut at three, gave my friend’s mom a perm in sixth grade, and cut every doll’s hair I owned,” she laughed. Her creativity extended beyond hair: melting lipstick samples to create new colors and making fake fingernails out of scotch tape were just some of her inventive childhood experiments. It’s no surprise she turned that passion into a long-lasting career.
Kathryn admits that her biggest weakness is sometimes talking too much, which can set her behind schedule.
“I second-guess myself sometimes, and that brings my confidence down a little,” she confessed.
However, she believes building confidence is key to success and continues to focus on improving herself.
In the next five years, Kathryn aims to attract more clients for hair extensions, as they’re more
profitable and efficient.
––“I can do a color in two hours, or a reinstall of extensions that’s double the price at the same time,” she explained.
She also uses a website she pays for that mainly is for promoting her business.
Kathryn has been a professional hairdresser for 27 years, counting her time in cosmetology school, where students work on real clients.
“I started school in November 1997, so as of this November, it’s been 27 years,” she proudly shared.
Her dedication to education and hands-on training has been throughout her career.
Though licensed to perform nail services, Kathryn stopped offering them due to a torn rotator cuff.
“It hurts too much to do nails, but doing hair is easier on my arm and more profitable,” she explained. Her ability to adapt and focus on more lucrative services has been a smart business decision.
Kathryn attends countless classes, hair shows, and in-salon training to stay ahead of trends and techniques.
“Last month, I took a color class and a haircutting class. Even if it’s about selling products, you still learn something new,” she said.
For her, professional growth never stops.
Kathryn’s favorite product lines are Alluram, made in Minnesota, and Kenra.
“Alluram is simple, affordable, and smells amazing. Kenra’s styling products are just the best—they always deliver,” she shared.
Her favorite way to quality brands reflects her commitment to offering her clients the best.
When it comes to hair styling, Kathryn loves creating textured, piece-y shortcuts for men and women.
“It’s all about making the style fun and fluffy-looking,” she said.
Her expertise also extends to intricate up-dos for weddings and proms, a skill she honed early in her career.
Though she doesn’t specialize in braiding, Kathryn excels at working with different hair textures, including African American hair.
“I’m really good at straightening mixed and textured hair,” she said.
Adding that her skills make her a go-to stylist for clients with diverse needs.
Kathryn believes that her charming personality and excellent head massages are key to retaining clients.
“A good head massage can make or break whether someone comes back,” she said.
She also emphasizes the importance of selling retail products, which not only enhance the client experience but keep them always coming back for more.
Pictured: The Blank Canvas logo Facebook @TheBlankCanvas
Make/Model
Mercedes-Benz/E-klasse Generation IV (W212, S212, C207) Face-lift (2013-2016)
