The end of an era.

After three years at Cégep de Sherbrooke, I finished my graphic design technical degree. In this very cool program we were learning how to create messages between a visual identity, a logo, a website and others. This three years was very funny, and I made a lot of friends. In my third year, before I graduated, I had a choice between two options. I could either decided to go to university or went directly into the job market.

Choice 1 : Go to university.

Choice 2 : Go on the job market.

Go to university.

At university, I had meet a lot of new peoples! Firstly, I moved to Quebec City because I decided to choose Université Laval for my high studies. The road was a little bit longer compare to went to Sherbrooke. I lived in a small apartment close to my school. For two years at university, I made a lot of experiences in the graphic design world. The city was bigger than, I succeeded to make contacts that helps me now. In the same way, in my two years, I won a design competition prize. It was a big poster for a basketball tournament. I decided to send this project for the competition, and the dynamism of my creation gave me the first place! If I hadn't tried it, I would never win $2000, and a new contract with a sport company.

Choice 1 : The end of an era.

Go on the job market.

After my cegep graduation, I decided to put a foot in the door and found mt first job in the job market. It was at the grocery store IGA. I started to design theirs flyer where was the discounted food are displayed. To the start, it was first great job, but it changed really fast. Firstly, this part of design was not creative. In fact, it was just a repetitive and long task. Also, my bosses were more often than not late to responds to my messages ans questions. Thy forgot me sometime. At this moment, I was Not sure about what I had to do with this situation. Did I have to find a solution or go far away?

Choice 1 : Find a solution.

Choice 2 : Go far away.

Find a solution.

I called my old graphic designer teacher to explain to her the situation between the grocery store bosses and me for an idea of a solution. She said to me that the best way to solve a problem is communication. So, I decided to put aside my fear, and I took my courage in my hands. They were surprised to see me, and asked me what was the reason of my presence. I told them everything that bothered me. I was hoping for they understand me, but they completely started to insult me. I was getting sucked up in.

Choice 1 : Go far away

Go far away.

After the talk with my superior, I directly decided leaving. For me, it was a dead end. I was feeling very bad because of their insults. I didn't accept disrespectful peoples, and they were not kind. Before I decided to quite, I called a second time my teacher, and she helps me with the process of the end of the contract with IGA. After this, I had two choices to make. First, tried to found a new place to work or work as a freelancer in graphic design.

Choice 1 : Found a new place to work.

Choice 2 : Work as a graphic design freelancer.

Found a new place to work.

I founded a new place workplace. It called Blablabla, and they were a graphic design studio in Drummondville. This place was healthier than the grocery store. My coworker knew about my last experience, and make me feel included to this agency like my new family. It was very cool in this place because we were a group of four people, and we worked on the same projects. In this case, it was faster, and more creative because we were blending our ideas. In this agency, I met a boy. He was my style, but because of the work status, I never told my feeling about him to anyone. A night, at the Christmases office party, he told me that he was looking to me about the first time he saw me. I was red, and didn't know if it will be a good idea to told him in return that I also liked him. For the professionalism, I thought it was not a good idea, so I never told him my secret. The next day, we chose to act like this situation never happened.

Choice 1 : Go far away.

Work as a graphic design freelancer.

I decided to work as a freelancer. In my house, I created my own office with a lot of my graphic design posters that I hung on the wall. It felt like my place. I was the first time I can say that going to work felt like my house because it was literally in my! It was also the first time that it was possible to decide the project I wanted to do. It was also possible to choose my own schedule, and my time management. My first little project as a graphic design freelancer was for a new ice cream shop. They wanted a new logo, and they saw my portfolio, and liked my old projects. This is how they founded me. I decided to create an illustration of an ice cream, and blended it with their name. I chose the colors pink, and yellow for their identity. After my work done, they asked me if it were possible to design their website. The mandate was cool, but in the side, I had a lot of others' projects. I had to choose between do the website or not.

Choice 1 : Do the website.

Choice 2 : Prioritize my other requests.

Do the website.

I decided to create a new contract with the ice cream shop. I designed their website with the same art direction of their logo. They liked me, and I liked them too. They are expressive, and enjoy my design. They also knew what they want, and listen to me. In this case, it helped a lot my work. They also recommended me to other companies. This is good for my business.

Choice 1 : Work as a graphic design freelancer.

Prioritize my other requests.

I decided to not continue with the ice cream shop clients. I wanted to prioritize my other future clients who was waiting to me. The ice cream clients were sad when I told them that I preferred to not continue with, and I scared that they think I wasn't like their companies. It was just a question of time for me. They didn't ask why I decided this.

Choice 1 : My final chose.

My final chose.

Finally, I decided to go directly on the job market! I didn't choose to went at university because I was to exit to really start. I had tried a lot of different experiences in the graphic design world to finish as a freelancer.

Choice 1 : The end of an era.