Brooke Downer
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“Just a designer trying to bridge the gap between good design and client needs”
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
A lot of long nights, weekends, understanding my self worth, and swallowing that big pill that I will never stop learning and can never be comfortable.
How do you stand out in your field?
I always sweat the small things.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Redesigning my personal website and learning Webflow with it.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I gravitate towards elevated minimalism, however, I dabble in multiple different styles depending on what the client is looking for. Every once in a while, I'll get a wild hair and practice using bright bold colors, while still keeping in mind that less is always more.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Designing a product is only the tip of the iceberg. When I get the opportunity to dive more into a clients complete.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
As a woman, being heard in a room full of men is an uphill battle recently. Not being taken seriously is never fun and something I'm struggling with.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
If I could hire anyone for $20/hour, it would be a financial advisor, hands down. Understanding the ins and outs of money handling when it comes to not only my work life, but my personal life as well would be a huge step in the right direction for me.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Don't settle and understand your worth! Stop trading your talents for 6 packs of beer, you're better than that and you know it. Right out of college, I was still learning what my work was worth and I would almost always sell myself short. Honestly, the beer probably wasn't even that good.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
If I could talk to any expert to gain more insight, It would be a seasoned project manager, someone who is excellent at seeing a project to the end and understanding the highs and lows of the process. I want to know what they find works best for organization purposes, how to keep an open line of communication between you and the client, and how the heck do you mediate difficult situations.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I would love the opportunity to work on a branding and development project for a restaurant/bar/service industry. It would be amazing to be able to physically see how a well designed brand can truly benefit a business.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal job would be working with a diverse team that all contribute to projects in their own healthy way. The feedback is transparent, the timelines are met, we uplift one another, and the final projects are a reflection of the teams hard work and dedication.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
When the client is excited, I'm excited. Tell me your inspiration for the project and bring visuals!
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Pick an old matchbook, give myself 30 minutes to redesign, when time is up, close the laptop. No exceptions.
This member profile was originally published in August 2020.