Chaya

Miri, tell us about your graphic design journey

Miri

I took the flagship course a few years ago. It was a natural step for me- in high school, I was always the one designing the invitations and all that kind of stuff, and I had already started dabbling in graphic design.

The courses filled in many gaps for me. I also took the graphic design extension course, and I think that the flagship course taught me a lot of practical skills, while the advanced course taught me a lot of strategy.

Fresh out of the course, I stepped straight into an in-house senior graphic design position at a well-known publishing house. Covid brought that job to a halt, and as I was the last person to be hired, I was the first to be laid off.

I had wanted to develop freelancing on the side and had already been in touch with a business consultant before losing the job. I saw amazing haschaga pratis (divine providence) in the fact that the business consultant called me for the first time the day after I was laid off!

Today, I am a strategic brand designer and CEO of Catch Branding, a branding studio for home-enhancing businesses.

I also run an amazing support group for frum female graphic designers after feeling that such a group was really lacking. We share design tips, business tips, resources, and information on client management, as well as critiquing each other’s work.

Recently, I have also started coaching other (mostly graphic design) freelancers on business-related subjects, such as how to grow their businesses.

Chaya

What does your day as a freelance graphic designer look like?

Miri

I work in the morning when my child is out doing branding/rebrandings for businesses and coaching other freelancers.

I also work on lead generation and tending to our support group community.

I work evening hours, too, in order to fit in some American work hours.

Chaya

What do you enjoy about your work?

Miri

There is nothing quite like the feeling of pouring your all into a project and then presenting it to the client (always some nerves!) who absolutely loves it, appreciates your work, and validates your feelings that you were indeed aligned with what they wanted

Also, I really enjoy coaching freelancers.

I think that a lot of people want to freelance because of the flexibility of freelancing without realizing that you have to constantly be working on the business side of things, too. I took courses and invested money in learning how to run a business, and thank G-d, now enjoy passing on what I have learned to others.

Chaya

Complete this sentence: It may surprise people interested in learning graphic design to know that:

Miri

Good design is based on research and data! Graphic design isn’t just about designing pretty things! In fact, for people looking to go the freelance route, I can’t stress how important the Graphic Design Extension Course is.

I really feel that it was there that I learned a lot about the strategy behind design.

For those looking to work in-house or for an agency, I would say that the Flagship Course is solid enough, and you will pick up the strategy in your work environment.

Chaya

What’s your advice for aspiring graphic designers?

Miri

Never stop learning

Never think that it is beneath you to learn from anyone