Today we’d like to introduce you to Harold Foster Jr.
Hi Harold, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I felt I was not good at many things but art at an early age. I came from a midsize city in Shreveport, Louisiana; doing work in the field of art and loving my job seemed pretty far-fetched, Let alone working for a major company. Growing up, I participated in athletics but not much of a promising future, nor was I academically gifted. While I did art as a hobby, I did not see it as much as a career. Long story short, I did not feel like I had many options; I would say art chose me, but I did not choose art.
After high school, I was unclear about my next step, so I enrolled at Louisiana Tech University. College is where I got my start and pushed my skills in creativity. I majored in graphic design but outside the classroom is where I thrived. Through my organization Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., I was heavily involved in brandings such as event flyers, apparel design, social media, and logo design. Along with these practices, I would simultaneously create the event and design the flyers, which helped with my skills in branding. Outside of course work and fraternity work, I would create projects with my college newspaper, yearbook, as well as client work. These experiences helped my skills in business and time management.
Post-graduation, I bounced around quite a bit. I started working for a creative agency in Shreveport, Louisiana. After being terminated, I began working strictly for myself, and later I worked for a local printing and design company. During my stint in Shreveport, my then-fiance got a job in Fresno, California, and we moved there. Being in a new environment, I continued client work, and I simultaneously worked for a Photography company and headstone engraving company. Afterward, I worked at a newspaper/publication company, Mattress production/Design Agency. During this period, I would consistently come after work to further perfect my craft by doing client or passion projects.
After living in Fresno, CA, for 2.5 years, my wife and I got the news we were expecting a new child, so we moved back to the south. Thinking of the best location between my hometown (Shreveport, LA) and her (Jacksonville, FL) hometown, we settled in Atlanta, Where I landed a position as a Graphic Artist for CNN.
I love my position, and I use my career position to further push my curiosity into new avenues such as motion design and 3d graphics. As far as business goes, I still consistently take on illustration projects, branding, and logo design projects. These are the things I feel I have a good grasp of, which I can use to help cultivate clients’ brands and my work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I feel life is about ups and downs, and I dealt with moments of unemployment and times when I wanted to give up. Many people can identify with the ups and downs of job security and unemployment. What haunted me was, “Why don’t you just do something else?” This is a question for myself. I didn’t have an honest answer, but I honestly love what I do for a living. During the time of unemployment, I wanted to give up and switch careers, but every time I got that feeling, God would send a reminder or validation that I was on the right path.
After college, I landed a favorable position working for an advertising agency in my hometown. After having worked there for several months and being terminated, I took a hard look in the mirror and determined what I could change in myself to become more significant in my craft.
After submitting over 100 applications and three months of not getting any interviews, I knew there were things I needed to change. During this time, I became committed and laser-focused on getting better at designing. I cut out playing NBA 2k and devoted a lot of time to getting better. My approach was twofold, one was working on my skills in Graphic Design, the goal was to become UNDENIABLE, and second was to make myself better at freelance so that I wouldn’t have to rely on a job. I continue this process still today, though things are a little more challenging with having a newborn and another on the way.
Why Not work for yourself?
During my brief time of unemployment, I worked solely for myself and didn’t quite find it enjoyable to balance the calls, books, projects, etc. The door of a complete entrepreneur is not closed, but at the moment, that’s not where my vision is. I respect people who have a business. It’s a lot of work and responsibilities. I feel like ownership is however you want to call it. You can own several side hustles, own a local mom-and-pop, or a Million dollar company like Jeff Bezos. I feel like it’s your preference, and however you see success. My freelance projects allow me to choose projects that interest me outside of my 9-5.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am most proud of My logo designs and illustration work. I love to hear the clients’ ideas of how they envision their brand in their head, and then I physically bring it out to life. My illustration work is my muse or therapy; I love coming up with ideas and exposing them to the world.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Starting, I felt that it was tough to find a mentor because I didn’t see many people in the field of art, especially being a black person, where I only saw people of color represented in either sports, entertainment, or academics. High school is where I found my first mentor, who was my Art teacher. She showed me there is something in this field that got me started pursuing a career in arts. In college, the head designer of the college newspaper became my second mentor. It was my first time seeing a man of color with a career in arts. It was important because I feel representation matters, which helped me see and talk to a person in a position I wanted to be in.
Post-college, when my wife and I moved to California, I had to push to find people in the field of art. While attending a “Meet-up,” I found a man who has a mentorship program teaching S.T.E.A.M, careers geared in science, technology, engineering, art, and math, to young adults. The program is called “Learn S.T.E.A.M.” Due to knowing the struggle of finding a mentor at that age, I was happy to volunteer my time. The mentorship was the best of both worlds. I could help mentor young people and work on teaching, which is my second dream. The program is run by three owners who have their own company: a graphic designer, a web developer, and a videographer. All are people of color, again showing me the importance of representation. Overall, joining groups that align with your career is always the best way to help guide you. Being around like-minded people will help you cultivate your vision.
Contact Info:
Image Credits:
Harold Foster Jr Dalya Taman Johnson
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