Today we’d like to introduce you to Jave Christie.
Hi Jave, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The journey has definitely been one for the books and it pays to learn. I got where I am today because of perseverance and the ability and willpower to stay immensely focused throughout and to also remain patient.
Back in 2015, I worked within a Marketing Agency / Night Club where I was the lead Graphic Designer, I worked 12 hours on a daily basis, A few months later whilst working these 12hr shifts, I thought to myself I needed more money for the hours I did daily. I spoke to myself and said I have all this knowledge and the skillsets required to start the journey so what am I waiting for to get going.
From there, I started to save with the end goal being able to purchase the relevant equipment I needed to branch off on my own. I worked at this same agency until I felt I had enough funding available to start on my own and see what that world felt like. I knew that it had to work, either this or nothing at all.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Was the journey smooth? Parts of it were and other sections were rough. Being a young entrepreneur with no clientele at the time, I started networking and did numerous free designs for persons who had influence. In exchange, they would give me exposure for the free art I did, Some persons took the art and gave me no exposure and they practically went ghost.
Some obstacles that most young Creatives face are clients taking advantage of the talent you possess by either underpaying you or clients paying you half the deposit for a specified job and once you’ve completed the work you had to wait extra long periods to be paid. Lack of communication from clients who owe you and being given constant excuses as to when you will be compensated. Those are some of the things I went through as a young inexperienced campaigner and I am quite sure most creatives might be either faced with this problem now or had it to deal with it when they just started.
It was smooth in some ways also because both my brothers are in media so once they found out that I had immense interest within the field they gave me advice which eliminated some of the issues I was faced with from the start.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart from others I believe is my passion for the industry itself and being in love with art from as young as age 8 or 9. Everything inspires me and I had the best at the time in Jamaica learning from.
What I am most proud of is seeing my work cross International barriers time and time again, It’s one thing to see your artwork posted around on a normal basis but to see it on the screens of GRAMMY & Billboard Hot 100, That for me is very satisfying. I have worked for Grammy Nominated / Grammy Winning Artists and Producers both Locally and Internationally.
I do a myriad of things, Graphic Designing, Web Design / Web Development / Creative Directing / Video Editor / Social Media Marketing and many others.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson learned whilst being on this journey is learning to have patience. Everything will not happen on your own timing, You have to remain consistent and be deliberate with your actions. Plant seeds and water them and allow them to grow with time.
Networking is another important lesson I learnt, From the jump, I am introverted so most times I will locked in doing work and just staying within my geographical location. In order to expand we ought to network and place ourselves in the right company and align ourselves with those who are doing it on a large scale level that we aspire to do in a few years to come. Us as human beings I believe need to get out of our comfort zones and that way I believe one can truly attain success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/javedesigns_/
