Arlene Delgado
Arlene Delgado
Designer / Art Director / Custom Squarespace Designer / Teacher of Creativity at Creative Magnetism
Miami, FL
www.bohemianriot.com
instagram @arlenetime
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a graphic designer \ art director \ custom squarespace designer.”
I specialize in brand identity but I take on all kinds of creative projects and brand collaborations. Anything that gets the creative juices flowing. I also write about tapping into your creativity through my brand Creative Magnetism.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I went through the University route and got my Bachelors degree in Graphic Design. After an internship at MTV in NY I went straight into working at a boutique branding studio and worked with tons of clients from every industry before deciding to go out on my own and try this whole freelancing thing. :) My experience at the studio was great cause we were a small team and I got to wear many hats, from illustration to photography to copywriting.
How do you stand out in your field?
I feel like staying true to myself and always making sure that although I’m executing the clients vision, understanding that they came to me for my aesthetic so I never design anything I wouldn’t be proud of later on. I treat each project like a piece I’d want to add to my portfolio. I think when you approach each project like that it injects your personality into your work and people eventually start coming to you for your style.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Currently I’m working on revamping all of my personal websites and updating my portfolio. Also learning and hoarding new skills while in quarantine so I can come out of this stronger and with a sharper vision than before. Also working on an ebook about the Root Chakra and the role it plays in creativity.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I like mixing the old with the new. Digital and analog. I like interesting yet simple typography. I like white space. Texture. Grainy photography. Modern nostalgia. I like funky shapes and colors. Sometimes I’m into bold tones and sometimes muted. It always depends on my mood and the specific project and the feeling I’m trying to conjure for any specific project.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Design/art direction is definitely my main bread and butter however, I also have a deep love for photography and would love to hone my photography skills to be able to offer a 360 range for branding projects. I also enjoy teaching people how to tap into their inner muse and would love to focus on hosting live workshops and building online courses.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Sometimes I get frustrated by my desire to do so many things coupled with limited time daily. My creative brain conjures so many projects I’d love to explore but learning to balance them with client work can sometimes be a challenge. Personal projects always take a back seat to client work so making sure I care out the time to give myself a creative outlet that is all of my own making is important to me.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I would hire someone to organize my projects, schedule and files. They would also do client communications and out reach so I can focus more on the creative aspect of my business.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Oooo! This is fun. I would go back to 2005 and tell myself not to date that guy who was SO good looking but so bad for me. Haha. But career wise, I think I would go back to when I was just out of school and tell myself to chill out cause everything will be ok. I’ve always been an over achiever and I put a lot of pressure on myself when I was younger. I would tell myself to work hard but to remember to have fun in the process.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I would love to get insight on how to use funnels to optimize my business. Funnels are a hot topic and I understand them but I want to dive deeper into them. I want to talk to an expert on how I can use my design skills and creativity to diversify my income and create some sources of residual income.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I dream of working on branding for more purpose-driven businesses that have decent budgets and open minds. I’d also love to be hired for more brand collaborations in the wellness and fashion space, creating illustrations for them.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal client is always someone who has a clear vision, an open mind, a good budget and realistic timelines.
My ideal gig would be to take over a funky hotel brand in a remote location and do everything for them from designing their digital presence to helping design their physical space through murals and curating their artwork.
My ideal collaboration would be working with a cool eco or wellness brand like Girlfriend Collective or Moon Juice and designing a limited edition set or packaging for them.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
Brand exploration + identity package starts at $1700
Design rates are $75-$100/hr
Art Direction starts at $500
Web design starts at $1500 and increases depending on project scopeI always prefer to create a custom proposal based on a specific project’s needs and sometimes there’s some wiggle room for projects that have limited budget but are really exciting for me.
Clients can always reach out to me via email at arlenetime@gmail.com for a custom quote.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Check out my work at Bohemianriot.com and if it feels like a good fit, fill out the contact form on the contact page and let's work some magic
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Daily rituals that keep me inspired.
This member profile was originally published in April 2020.