Justin Shiels
Justin Shiels
Designer / Marketing Strategist / Co-Founder VenturePOP Conference
New Orleans
www.justinshiels.com
www.venturepopconference.com
www.thiscreativelab.com
Instagram @justinmadethat
twitter @justinmadethat
Pinterest
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“My passion is helping small businesses and creative entrepreneurs make ideas happen.”
More specifically, I’m a a creative director, graphic designer and marketing strategist. This means I wear a lot of hats and have my fair share of side projects.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
A lot of school and a lot of hustle. I majored in Graphic Design for undergrad and received a Masters in Arts Administration. I also worked a variety of positions: web designer, graphic designer at an ad agency, communications manager at an arts high school, and instructor at a university.
I took the leap and started my own business in 2014 and have seen my professional and personal life flourish as a result.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
I think the only thing that holds anyone from their goals is a lack of tenacity—an ability to work beyond the phase where things are difficult.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Currently I’m working on quite a few things:
1. Creative Consulting for small businesses and creative entrepreneurs
2. Teaching branding at Loyola University
3. Planning VenturePOP, a Creative Entrepreneur Conference in New Orleans
4. Creating meaningful content as a blogger and illustrator
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Right now I’m really interested in learning video production. I think visual storytelling in this form is the most interesting.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
My biggest challenge is always finding the right balance between bread and butter jobs and passion focused projects.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HOUR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I’m actually considering hiring a virtual assistant for 2 things: Email management and help with research for my class and my blog posts.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
It took a long time for me to leave my full-time job. If I could go back in time I would have done it much earlier in my career. I had the skills.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
There are so many game changers. I would love to talk with Tina Roth Eisenberg about the transition from designer/blogger to icon. I admire her growth and development as a creative entrepreneur.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I love branding projects
I love illustration
I love content creation, especially in the travel industry.
And recently I’ve had the opportunity to speak at some pretty interesting conferences and events. I would love to do that more.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL CLIENT?
VenturePOP Conference has truly been one of the best professional experiences of my life. Working with a small group of creatives we developed a beautiful experience for 150 attendees filled with incredible national speakers. I think it worked because each of the co-founders has a different skill set. We genuinely complement each other.
WHAT IS YOUR RATE?
In general I only work with businesses for minimum contracts of $1500.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Feel free to email me directly. I am interested in making digital connections and grabbing coffee with interesting people.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Disconnect from the glowing screens
This member profile was originally published in March 2016.