What is your role at Rapid and how long have you been on the team?
I am a senior designer at Rapid and rumour has it I have been sleeping in the office since Jan 2021.
What is your favourite part about being on the Rapid team?
I love working with people that inspire me and challenge me to become the best creative version of myself.
What does your day-to-day look like as a Designer at Rapid?
Life at Rapid on the daily is full of collaboration and new projects. The studio is always busy and we work on a massive variety of briefs. I switch between brand creation and development to creating graphics for socials.
Do you have any highlights from your time at Rapid? Any projects you are particularly proud of?
Some highlights for me would include being a part of Rapid Sessions and enjoying working together as a team to take part in the event. Another one would be going to OFFF in Barcelona – a creative conference, where we were inspired from speakers such as Jessica Hische, Ragged Edge and Sky Creative.
My favourite project I worked on in the studio was designing a brand refresh for Corick House hotel & Spa which included new logomarks, typefaces and a refined colour palette. It was important to uphold the heritage and history of the hotel by incorporating these elements to elevate the brand and ensure longevity.
What is your office pet peeve?
People stealing snacks from my snack drawer…
What do you get up to when you’re not in the office?
I love playing rugby and found that being part of a team is so enjoyable and its great to get outside even in the cold winter evenings! I love to paint abstracts in my spare time, play guitar and go travelling.
I really just love hanging out with my friends and grabbing a coffee. My boss would sum me up as a ‘live, laugh, love’ kinda girl.
Are there any trends you’re seeing at the moment that are influencing your creativity?
This year, while traveling, I was inspired by the modern shop signage in Calgary to the charming handwritten typography in Florence. I think we underestimate uniqueness in design. Beautiful hand crafted type and logomarks create distinction and stand out from the trends. Therefore I try and avoid generic trends as they can outdate very quickly.
Fun fact, I actually don’t have TikTok so am always being updated with the lingo from the design queen, Megan.
What does your creative process look like?
It begins with research and understanding of the client’s needs, goals, and target audience. I then move on to brainstorming and sketching, exploring different concepts and visual ideas.
Once I have a solid direction, I create initial drafts and get feedback to refine the design. Throughout this process, I focus on typography, colour palettes and photography. It usually starts and ends with a cup of tea.
How do you tackle creative block?
So when creative block happens, I tend to put the project on pause, then return to it in the morning with a clear head. Otherwise if it is more time sensitive, I will write a list of every part of it that needs completed and start to tackle it in smaller parts to make it feel less overwhelming.
This also makes me feel like I have a plan in my head. I will jump on Behance and Pinterest to refill my head with more ideas for the project. I will also grab any designer and ask for their opinion, no matter their experience as someone elses perspective on your work and a fresh set of eyes will always help you see your work clearer.
If you could go back in time to the Susie who was starting her career as a designer, what is one piece of advice you would give her?
I would tell her that no idea is a bad idea and that your voice is just as important as someone else’s. You will get better, you will make mistakes, you are not your work and you need to take the risks. Also that grafting hard and being true to yourself will pay off.
What would you say to someone who is on the fence about starting a career in design?
I would say it is a highly rewarding career, be prepared to be criticised, and coffee will be your best friend. It is important to grow where you are planted – take every opportunity to push yourself. It is not a solo career as you work with your team to create the best outcomes. If you need any advice hit me up on LinkedIn.