‘Great things don’t happen in your comfort zone’

Going from university right to college, I made it a point early on to push past my comfort zone and truly take advantage of my time at Algonquin in the Graphic Design program. 

I became more extroverted as time went on and felt more confident as an individual. That included asking for help from friends, teachers, and colleagues which is something I wasn’t used to, being the hyper-independent person that I am. 

Once I got over my fear of asking too many questions, I really thrived in the program and felt like I finally fit in—people understood me and shared my meticulous and creative habits. I wasn’t sure where my ‘path’ would lead me after my time in the program was over. Nervous and unsure of what was next for this 25-year-old freshly graduated junior designer, I got a dream opportunity.

Diving right in!

After three amazing years at Algonquin and eager to start my design career, I joined the Initiate team right out of the design program. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my journey to Initiate started with a recommendation from my teachers. It was a humbling experience to know that my hard work and growth had made an impression. I’m grateful for the support and the unexpected opportunity it led to, allowing me to continue developing my skills in a professional environment. Though I felt some initial nerves at the beginning, I was determined to dive in headfirst, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of the journey so far.

I have already worked on some exciting projects like creating trade show booths for tech conferences, helping build various brand guides, designing print banners, creating a social media campaign design for a non-profit, tackling large data reports, editing code for newsletters, and even having my first logo chosen by a client. 

My confidence as a junior designer has grown immensely in a short period of time and I couldn’t be more grateful for where my journey has led me. It wasn’t a linear path by any means, but I am very thankful to those who supported me, helped me, vouched for me, and saw potential in me on my journey. 

It was a surreal feeling when I sat at my desk for the first time at Initiate. Waves of different emotions hit and I remember feeling so much gratitude and personal growth, ready to start this new chapter of my life and certainly counting my lucky stars!

It really is the people who make a house a home 

If it wasn’t for the Initiate family, I don’t know how I would have navigated the big transition from school to the office. They have made this milestone so exciting yet extremely seamless as a new designer to the industry. 

Every day I learn something new from my amazing colleagues—from design tips and tricks to fun everyday life chats, I truly feel supported and a part of something really special. They are always ready to lend a hand no matter how big or small. Not only do I feel the support of our amazing team but I also feel like I can contribute and be an active member of our Ottawa design community. 
Initiate is so much more than a marketing agency, it is a creative collective of talented, kind, generous, inclusive designers who look after their clients and each other. If you had asked me three years ago that I would be making typography jokes on the regular, I wouldn’t have believed you, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. For example, “Why did the typographer bring a ladder to work? Because they were working with high ascenders.” Nonetheless, trust your gut, and trust the process because things will work out no matter what stage of life you are at.

As a recent grad, here are 3 tips for Graphic Design students that may help you

1. Your teachers want you to SUCCEED. Remember that your teachers truly care about you and your education, even if that means hearing constructive criticism. They do it because they care. Your teachers are also human, and the kinder you are and the more effort you put into your studies, the more likely they are to help you when it comes time to make connections and look for a placement or job.
   
2. The Ottawa design community is SUPER interconnected. Chances are you know someone, who knows someone that has connections to that studio or agency you are hoping to intern/work at. Make sure you are active on LinkedIn and follow local designers and event pages to grow your network.
   
3. Keep a folder of design inspiration on your computer or phone. Take photos or screenshots of things you think have design potential, such as a certain font, colour palette, a restaurant menu, etc., so that you can refer back to them later.