Megan Autrey
Web Designer / Brand Designer / Graphic Designer
Long Beach, CA
Q What do you do?
“I specialize in creating distinctive and visually captivating brand identities, websites, and a wide range of digital marketing assets. ”
I'm dedicated to helping brands reveal their utmost potential & shine through exceptional and captivating design work!
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
Driven by a deep desire to unleash my creative potential, I embarked on a transformative journey that led me to where I am today. After studying fashion at FIT & living in New York for 6 years, I gained invaluable experience in fashion merchandising, account management, and media buying. After doing some soul searching about 3 years ago when I moved back to Southern CA, I realized my true calling resided in a more expressive and imaginative realm. I made the decision to go back to school earning my UI/UX design certification from SDSU while tandemly completing the graphic design course through ilovecreatives. Now, armed with a fresh perspective, I'm embarking on a new chapter, building a client base, forging connections & eager to continue to grow within the dynamic and ever-evolving design world.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
As an out-of-the-box thinker and visionary designer, I always strive to defy the norms and challenge modern conventions. I draw inspiration from a diverse palette of psychedelic influences, gritty western aesthetics, and the elegance of minimalism. With a diverse background in fashion, advertising, marketing, UI/UX and graphic design, I bring an eclectic set of skills to my craft, ensuring a unique and original approach to every project. Creating designs that leave an indelible mark on people's minds and pushing the boundaries of creativity is what fuels me.
Q What are you working on right now?
I'm working on a couple branding projects with ilovecreatives studio for a petwear company & swimwear client! I'm also working on another project for a startup real-estate company & designing the UI for their native IOS app.
Q What’s your style?
My passion lies in transforming life experiences & perspectives into illustrations & bold typography that exude fluid, unique, & adaptable styles. Drawing inspiration from the classics like Wim Crouwel and David Carson, I thrive on pushing the boundaries with bold typography and interesting compositional layouts. Additionally, I'm deeply drawn to gritty + vintage aesthetics seen in 1960's spaghetti western movie posters, as well as psychedelia, nostalgic cartoons, and retro elements, all of which find their way into my work. Recently, I had the opportunity to work on a concept project for a cannabis company, where I blended a masculine streetwear aesthetic with nostalgic cartoon illustrations, resulting in a vibrant and dynamic brand concept. Linked here : meganabrizendinedesigns.com/the-flower-shop
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I'm eager to take a Blender course! I want to sharpen my skills & get stronger with 3D animations & video editing. I'm always on the lookout for Skillshare, PHLEARN or Adobe classes & am waiting for the right time to jump in when I can fully commit.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I would say finding time to market myself & being my own boss! I'm new to the freelance world & it can be challenging managing admin tasks / keeping my portfolio up to date while juggling multiple design projects.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
It would be an absolute dream to have someone help manage email correspondence, pitch new clients & organize admin work that inevitably comes with adulting.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
If I could go back, I would tell myself to not be afraid of the unknown & to wholeheartedly go after what ignites you & brings you the most joy. Since childhood, my innate creativity, profound thinking & unique perspective on the world has always set me apart. 'Societal norms' & the pressure to conform resulted in getting stuck in certain jobs that were mind numbingly dull & unfulfilling. Silence that noise - be bold, brave & go after what you truly want!
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
If I could talk to an expert to gain more insight, I would love to learn more about smart investment opportunities, particularly in the field of stocks and bonds!
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I'm actively seeking job opportunities + projects in both web & graphic design. I'm particularly interested in working with brands to develop comprehensive logo designs & brand identities that communicate their unique stories & values. I thrive in collaborative environments & am drawn to clients who demonstrate both passion for their projects & a budget that aligns with the scope of work involved.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
It would be awesome to work with a skate company that embraces modern streetwear aesthetics! I would love the opportunity to work on web design projects & create cool poster assets aligning with their brand identity. I also have a passion for cannabis-related projects, particularly in packaging design. All in all, I aspire to work in-house for a cool brand & work my way up to a senior lead, where I have the freedom to grow / be daring & creative!
Q What is your rate?
It really depends on the project, scope of work & timeline!
- Hourly : $60
- Brand Identities : $1,500 - $2K
- Custom Logo Design : $300 - $1,500
- eCommerce Websites : typically start at $3K, however it really depends on how many pages the client is looking for as well as the complexity of the design.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
An email, DM or filling out the project inquiry form on my portfolio site would all be great!
An intro could include your specific project needs, budget, timeline & a fun overview of what describes your brand!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Right now, I'm loving the ever so talented Andrey Azizov! I really connect with his style, design process & overall aesthetic.
I've also been fan girling over the accounts below :
@nevindoart
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Traveling, music + live shows, staying up to date with the latest trends, exploring nature, learning new skills & surrounding myself with driven / like minded people
This member profile was originally published in June 2023