Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Wiggins.
Daniel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in North Carolina where I went to college for Graphic Design. After graduation, I moved to NYC to get my MFA in Design from Pratt Institute. After working several years in NYC, I moved to Atlanta in 2015. I kept hearing that Atlanta was up and coming, and knew I wanted to be a part of that. In the last four years, I’ve worked for various advertising and branding agencies, but have recently shifted my focus to my growing freelance business.
In 2018, I “formally” created DCWDesign, a creative studio specializing in branding for real estate, hospitality, luxury, and retail brands.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Working full time with a side hustle is a challenge. My biggest struggle has been balancing a full-time job, freelance projects, working out (semi) regularly while still trying to maintain a social life. Basically, I’m a prime example of the millennial struggle!
In regards to work, as a designer my constant challenge is how to stay creatively challenged. Creativity is a muscle, so you have to keep working at it. I carve out time each day for inspiration. I browse websites, social media, look at art (in person – important!), magazines and books to keep the creative juices flowing.
DCWDesign – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
DCWDesign is a graphic design and branding studio. Real estate is our passion. Real estate is where people, experiences, and design meet. It’s our home, workplace and where we spend our free time. Real estate touches everything and everyone.
We blend storytelling and design to transform places into experiences, houses into homes and buildings into brands.
While I primarily run the practice myself, I partner with other creatives and experts on a project-basis. This allows me to keep costs low for myself and my clients. Typical agencies charge huge markups to cover overhead expenses. As a small studio, I’m able to scale our studio only when need. This allows us to be nimble, work faster and truly partner with our clients.
We are also diverse. Any business should reflect that community they’re based in. The design community (and especially the Atlanta design community) needs to do a better job of including, hiring and recruiting POC into the field.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
“Those who create the future will be blessed with luck.” – Tadashi Yanai, founder of UNIQLO
I read this quote several years ago in an interview with the founder of Uniqlo (one of my favorite brands) and it really hit home with me. Growing up, we develop this expectation that work, a job, or even people, will fulfill or inspire you. And while I think that CAN be true, it’s also rare. After reading this quote, I realized that its up to each of us to create the future we want for ourselves. Don’t sit back and expect a job to make you happy or give you everything you need creatively.
Success to me is all about joy and happiness. And right now that means creating a future for myself, on my terms. For so long I’ve worked for others, creating abundance and success for them. Now, I’m doing that for myself! Down the road, success might look like growing my studio, having a cool physical office and clients that seek us out for the work we do best.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dcwdesign.com
- Email: hello@dcwdesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dcwdesigndotcom/
Image Credit:
Headshot – Shadowpoint Media
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