Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Perrin.
Nancy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I went to college at Georgia State and got a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. I have always been super interested in different cultures and beliefs and delighted in the fact that I could spend my college career delving deeper into them. By the time I graduated and got out into the real world, however, my degree didn’t exactly develop into a career or one that I was interested in pursuing anyways. Within a few months of graduating, I took a position as a Gift Maker for a local company in Marietta that supplies Welcome gifts for Apartment Communities all over the States. It was a great gig – I got to put together beautiful gifts all day long, and that made me happy. Some time passed and a position opened up within the company for a Graphic Artist. With very little hesitation, I jumped right in, learned as much as possible, and eventually developed into a formidable Graphic Artist with a strikingly apparent love for kerning, fonts, and good graphic design. I feel like I have learned so much just by being able to explore the programs, make mistakes, and figure out how to make it right! I feel like I just kind of fell into the position, but it couldn’t be more perfect for me. It’s been an incredible journey!
Has it been a smooth road?
Don’t get me wrong… if I had actually gone to school for Graphic Design and spent years learning the programs and practicing with projects, my life would be different. I would probably be at a different company even. There have obviously been struggles, but seriously, I have learned so much from them (It’s amazing what you can learn from google!). Having built myself up to the level of Graphic Artist from practically nothing has done wonders for my self-confidence, my ability to produce, and my work ethic. Now, I am a resource for some of my other co-workers and friends. I am volunteer freelancing for my church when they need graphics done. And I can confidently take on ::pretty much:: anything that is thrown my way.
What’s the hardest part of your job?
The hardest part of my job is designing for a wide audience. Our ultimate target audience is apartment residents, and that covers a huge spectrum of people. You have to be mindful of everyone and create a design that appeals to a large majority. Sometimes we’ll go out on a limb with a design and find that it pays off. Sometimes we find that we are slightly ahead of the game, and that’s okay too. We have to guess what the people buying for the residents would like. We pay special attention to current trends, but swing them in a way that makes them transcend the short-lived moment and grow into a statement that is relevant for years to come!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success through joy. It took me a long time to find a joy that I could actually recognize as true. Growing up, I was very much the avid-observed… I spent my time taking in my surroundings and quietly forming opinions. And even when I went to college, I was more interested in learning more about other cultures than applying myself to a field that I would personally excel in. It wasn’t until rather recently (like within the last 3 years) that I really found joy. I settled into my Graphic Artist position swimmingly. My husband and I had a daughter, and just recently, a son. We are active in our church and our leaders of our LifeGroup. We are settling into our God-given purposes, and in that, is joy! These are the most successful moments I have ever felt, and that allows me to look at the world around me in a positive light and one filled with destiny. Success is walking the path you are on with joy and confidence!
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future include further fine-tuning my graphics career, developing my personal hobbies, and traveling the world by way of missions work or personal interest. I would love to explore the Pacific Northwest region of the States, and I have a strong desire to spend the better part of a week in a vintage VW Bus, camping out along the English countryside. I’m fairly certain that I’ve found my calling as a Graphic Artist or Designer, so I’m always looking for ways to hone those skills. Also, I am very interested in hand-lettering as an art form and would love to become proficient at it… all I need is some free time at a coffee shop to practice and the right tools.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @perfancynancy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perfancynancy
- Other: whispermeamoonlight.blogspot.com
