Andréia Garcia Treptow
Andreia Garcia Treptow
Brand Strategy / Brand Identity / Website Designer
Vancouver, BC
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I help business to create a solid foundation for their brand and create a cohesive identity.”
I work with creative agencies full-time as well as freelance on side. I also continue to study subjects related to design, strategy and business which has helped me to expand my knowledge. I am fascinated about how design can help businesses improve their services/products as well create an opportunity to connect with people that share their vision and values.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I was introduced to the Adobe software in University in 2005, more specifically with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe premier. In my program we would use Photoshop for manipulating images. I was so curious and fascinated that In my free time I would experiment with Photoshop and Premier. The more I learned, the more I became interested in the creative field.
On my last third year, I started an internship at a creative agency. Their main focus was publicity and design graphic. There I started to develop my skills, not only learning the software but understanding the thinking behind them.
After that internship I was really curious about becoming a web designer and got another internship at a digital agency whose speciality was creating websites. I accepted the internship without any experience with creating website at all. I started to learn html, CSS, and use software like Dreamweaver and Fireworks and learned more architecture information and usability.
I got a job at the agency creating illustration and identity graphic concepts for them while also working a bit of freelance on the side.
In 2016 I decided to move to Canada. I took a certificate program for 2 years (Media Technique for Business at BCIT) to renew my skills. After I finished my program I got a job in Vancouver as UI UX Design. On the side I still study brand strategy like crazy so that someday I can strike out on my own.
How do you stand out in your field?
This is a really good question! I look to be precise in my approach about how to solve visual problems while taking into consideration how to connect people in a way that brings value to the people in general. I like to see the meaning behind the colors, the world around us as well as bringing a psychology approach. I really believe there is a science behind Design. I like to bring the human aspect when solving problems in the creative field.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Right now I am really diving into Brand Strategy. I am fascinated by it. I am currently developing a framework to give me a base to offer to clients.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I love minimalist styles. For me less it is more. And I've read somewhere that to be able to create a minimalist solution is hard and takes time. You need have a lot practice to achieve a good result. I aim for that. The identity visual I did while I was studying at BCIT, called Galaxy One was a good example. Also the Vopay redesign website. But looking back now, I definitely would still make some changes that I've learned about since.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Branding Identity & Website Design.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
I want to change the way I position myself when offering my services. I am trying to shift my mindset from "I am here to design what you need" to "I am here to solve your problem". Trying to shift the mindset of following orders to providing meaningful solutions.
What is making that hard is that I'm feeling I need to do a lot by myself. And it's exhausting. I miss working with creating people and sharing projects without undervaluing myself.
So I would say the task that keeps landing at the bottom on the to do list is "Value myself, my work. You deserve better." Something like that...
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Content creation and Selling (aka bringing in clients). I feel I have so much to express out there...but content creation is not my strongest quality.
And I need to work on being more assertive. I am looking for a way to work on that and improve this skill. But if I could build a good network to find someone out there to bring in a project, it would be dream come true.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I wish I told myself in the past when I was at my second job, second year of doing this is: "Girl, you are worth it! You can do it! Trust more in yourself".
I would tel myself this because at that time I wasn't aware of my value and didn't have much hope about the future.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
It would be about investment. I know, there is not a lot of correlation to what I do but I would really would like to see my money start to grow.
Besides that I'd love to talk about how to build a business online and create a meaningful network.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
The ideal collaboration would be one where I feel my skills as a problem solver are welcome and included.
It would also be awesome to connect with people that value growth and empathy who are passionate and inspiring.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
The ideal collaboration would one where I feel my skills as a problem solver are welcome and included. I think it's as simple as that. It would also be awesome to connect with people that value growth, empathy and are passionate and inspiring.
Who is a creative that has helped you elevate your work?
I am from Brazil, and I have worked with many remarkable professionals. The first one was an art Director, today He is already retired. I was his intern. His name is Rosenildo. He worked at one of the best Creative Agencies in Brazil called Galvao. He took care of the entire Creative department. I left the agency because I wanted to work as a web designer and in that time, they didn't have a department for it.
On the second agency I worked, when I started my career as Web Designer, was Adelmo Neto. He continued his path as UI UX Design. He taught me a lot and because he believed in me the CEO hired me.
And my other mentor who taught me a lot was the CEO of Duppla, the third company I worked for in Brazil, was Edgar Marcal. He was an open person, always open to hear my ideas. I loved the way we talked about how to solve creative problems. I never felt like I was working for him, instead I just spoke with him.
So those were the most remarkable people that taught a lot, not only about how to solve creative problems, but also about life too.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email first, text first. If you wanted to share a project as a potential client just shoot me a message and we can schedule a video to talk about it.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Read, observe, listen, search, practice what I learned and start again.
This member profile was originally published in January 2021.