23% CREATIVE
Most of my day revolves around being creative. I like to bring new ideas into the world - systems of visual communication and new ways to tie one’s shoes alike. I am completely in love with the special moment when the solution to a problem pops into my head.
20% LABORIOUS
Creativity is great, but that’s only the beginning. More than 80% of completing any project is working long and hard. I have come to enjoy that quite a lot. Creativity is satisfying, but it means very little without the hard work required to bring a project to an excellent end.
16% FOCUSED
Being a graphic designer often means finding a needle in a haystack. That’s why I wear glasses - I’ve been looking for needles day and night. Doing so has given me the great patience and care for detail that is needed for managing complex projects.
15% INQUISITIVE
My mother is a biologist, and she’s been feeding me encyclopedias since before I could read. That cultivated a great love for reading and learning in me, and for the last 10 years or so, that love has been aimed at the many fields of graphic design and art.
14% SOCIAL
All of our work is activated once another human comes in contact with it. I like getting together with like-minded people to share knowledge and discuss ideas. Working together towards a common goal is one of the most fulfilling feelings I know.
12% BALANCED
I am very aware that I spend far too much time on my work. This is why I monitor my day and try to balance my work life with doing other activities like sports, hiking, and going to social events. I try to apply this way of thinking in all aspects of my life.
Or, if you prefer narrative…
Suddenly, after moving to a new town at the age of 12, I found myself having far more free and unsupervised time. I became involved with graffiti, and year after year that involvement grew. Doing legal and illegal mural art became my main priority and goal in life. I curated a graffiti festival at the age of 15 because I wanted to meet my favorite artists.
I applied for art grants through my school and won them. I used the grant money to paint murals at my school for three consecutive years. In the meantime I I took up watercolor painting. At the time I was also a member of the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross, where I designed event posters and brochures in between participating in STI and drug education classes.
When people started approaching me to design stickers and T-shirts for them, I didn’t think of it as design. But graduating from high school was around the corner, and I needed to come up with a career path. That’s when it all came together - I was going to be a graphic designer.
I wanted to study graphic design at San Diego State University, but there were many obstacles in the way. Thus, I enrolled at Palomar College, where my formal arts education began. I was beyond excited to be a part of a creative, academic community.
I received scholarships for my art, and got some pieces published. I participated in art group shows at La Bodega Gallery, The Studio Door, The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, and many more.
I spent one summer working with fine period furniture restorer Jeremy Fisher, where I studied fine art and furniture restoration techniques. I learned many ways of conducting research and dealing with clients in the art world.
The following summer I received an invitation to work at Joe Bera stained glass studios. I accepted enthusiastically. I worked shoulder to shoulder with stained glass artist Brian Canfield on restoring the historic glass panels of the First Presbyterian Church of San Diego.
While at SDSU, I took 6 classes each semester, so I could graduate and become financially independent as fast as possible. In my last year I was offered a graphic design position with School of Public Affairs at SDSU. I took the job gladly, and despite my overbooked schedule, I managed to meet every school and work-related deadline.
In the meantime I developed a new art technique and entered it in SDSU’s Student’s Award show, where I received the PSFA’s Dean’s Award. The Mexican-USA Border is now a part of the PSFA’s permanent collection.
After graduating with honors, I picked up a job as a production artist and graphic designer. Half a year later Covid-19 knocked on my door, and awoke me to the world of freelance. I quit my job, picked up my favorite clients, and launched my career as an independent designer.
AND IT FEELS GOOD