Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Boresow.
Hannah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I actually started designing in my high school in Alpharetta, GA. I was always a creative person but never seemed to connect with the idea of painting or illustrating as much as I did with the idea of graphic design. It’s funny because now, I implement illustration and painting into a lot of different projects I do — but I like how graphic design gives me the freedom to do so. Like I said, I was lucky enough to have a graphic design program at my high school, and from there that really set the tone for what I wanted to do the rest of my life. I went to Indiana University where I majored in Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design, and I really began to explore the world of print and typography. That’s probably where I first fell in love. Perhaps before then it was a big crush that I had for design. But college is really when I fell in love. I pushed myself to different, new levels and even attended a typography design workshop in the Netherlands. That workshop helped my understanding of typographic elements and opened my eyes to the fact that type is everywhere I go. Whether a gift or a curse – now all I see wherever I go is type. After college, I came back home to Atlanta where I worked some part time waitress jobs while I hunted for a design job. That was a really tough time for me, but I powered through it and did a lot of freelance work. Finally, I met with SeeMeDesign’s owner Ellen Monen. We had some mutual friends in the community and I started working part-time for her. Part-time projects turned into full-time projects and now I’ve been working at SeeMeDesign full-time for about 3 and a half years.
Has it been a smooth road?
I feel like bumpy roads are just the thing that helps propel you to the next stage in your life. That’s exactly what has happened to me. As I said previously, I really fell head over heals for design in college. I always exceeded in my design projects and I think a lot of that had to do with my previous design experience in high school and already knowing a lot of the Adobe programs. It seemed that a lot of my peers were always asking me questions on how to do certain things in the programs and about different design principles. It always made me feel really great. My junior year of college, I applied for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program at school, which was always made out to be a really big deal. You would get your own senior thesis up in the art gallery and you would have your own desk in the BFA room. As design students, we were told that the BFA program is the way to go to advance your skills and get a job — and it seemed that all of the BFA students were “the best of the best.” So I confidently applied . . . and I didn’t get in. I was crushed. A lot of my peers were just as confused about how I didn’t get in as I was. I was feeling insecure about my path towards design for the first time in a long time. Feeling defeated and confused, that’s when I decided to seek out this opportunity to go to the Netherlands for a workshop. I wanted to do something different and decided to make my own path to advance my design skills. From all of that, I’ve learned that it isn’t all about the BFA program, although it’s certainly a helpful extra year to explore new projects and gain understanding. I’ve learned it’s about experience. Whatever kind of experience you submerse yourself in, you will grow as a designer and as a person. If you miss out on one experience, create an entirely different and new one for yourself.
I also struggled after graduation and moving back to Atlanta. I felt like I had a lot of great potentials, but was fresh out of college in a competitive market. I learned that mixers and cocktail networking nights are not my forte and I learned that positive connections with those around you are the best way to meet others in the design community. Networking is great, but you have to be sincere in how you approach it.
Once I landed a job at SeeMeDesign, it’s not as if all of my troubles melted away either. I think all creatives constantly struggle with self-doubt and creative blocks. Self-doubt can definitely pop up once and a while, but I really try to follow the advice of James Victore, a really wonderful and inspirational designer. He always says, “Your work is a gift.” I really try to keep that in my head as I approach new project endeavors.
What role has luck had in your life and career?
I think that the events in my life are certainly connected, each one inspiring the next event to come . . . but I think that the choices I’ve made have a greater impact on my path than the idea of “luck.” I believe it’s all about acting with intention and spreading positivity. Choices I’ve made to work hard or to make genuine connections in life seem to directly relate back to each event that occurs around me in my life and career. Each choice I make helps to bring me into the orbit of the next event to come, good or bad. Advantages and disadvantages come and go throughout life, and I’ve dealt with illnesses and losses that are out of my control, but I’ve also had opportunities and positive adventures along the way that make me think that choice has more to do with things than just luck. I do find myself in a state of kismet once and a while, though, where it seems that each choice I’ve made ends up conspiring with one another to come up with some kind of destined event. However, I do feel lucky to have such a wonderful support group made up of my friends and family.
Do you feel like there are certain traits that increase the likelihood of success?
I think that the most important quality to have in order to succeed is humor. Humor teaches you to be creative, to be humble, and how to balance being bold and kind at the same time. I’m a friendly, understanding person, and I find that pairing wit with these qualities of being a pleasant person to work with truly propels you to the next level of being able to share your uniqueness with the world around you. I have a background in improv and sketch comedy, which I think has helped to shape my personal and professional voice.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’m so proud to call Atlanta my home. Our city is made up of art and passion everywhere I look. I love waking up invigorated as I’m surrounded by trees and street art at the same time. I feel blessed to live in a city with so much important history that helps to shape our future. I love that Atlanta is a key player, but not everyone knows it. Atlanta is busy but calm. Hard and soft — loud, yet full of quiet soulful hums. It’s hard to put your finger on a constantly growing canvas like Atlanta, but our city continually inspires me. I do struggle with our income inequality and affordable housing, and I hope that with the expansion of our public transportation, comes positive development that doesn’t throw a huge imbalance into an already struggling system.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahboresow.com
- Email: hello@hannahboresow.com
- Other: Twitter: HannahBoresow
