Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you:
My name is Maria Montes, I am a catalan designer living in Australia.
Your current job:
I am a full time freelance graphic designer, textile designer, illustrator and calligraphic aficionado. I’m also the co-founder of a project called MarchTwentyTwo.
In which city are you located?
I am happily located in Melbourne.
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
Passionate. I love what I do and I try to remember everyday how lucky I am for doing what I love for a living.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc…)
My iphone, my desktop computer and my pens and tracing paper.
What does your office space look like?
My office space is a huge industrial warehouse with plenty of space to work and mess around.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working?
If I have to do something that requires my full attention I can’t listen to anything. In all the other cases I listen podcasts such as Typeradio, Design Matters, Walker Design Lectures, or music podcasts such as Siglo 21 and 180 grados.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
I spend my first hour in the morning reading and writing emails. Then I move my attention to one single project if possible. About 2pm I have a long lunch break to clear my mind. Swimming at the pool in summer time is the best way for me to break my day. After lunch I read and write emails for the second time, and keep working on the same project or another one. About 6pm I take a deep breath and I keep going till about 8pm. This time of the day is normally to email or talk to European clients or friends. Finally I need to have a really good sleep to start again the next day.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Work on your on body of work instead of spending half of the day looking at someone else work.
You’re better than your colleagues at:
I don’t think I am better than anyone else. It is about what you want and how much you want it, so you keep working and enjoying the process as much as possible.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
I don’t remember any advise in particular but I stole I sentence from a friend of mine and it has helped me (and still does) to keep myself motivated and very positive at all times “the best is yet to come”.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Do not procrastinate.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
My day starts feeding my cat, having breakfast at home with my partner, always with an apple and home-made coffee. After that, I walk 1 minute to my office and start reading my emails.
My day finishes at home cooking dinner or being spoilt by having some food cooked by my partner, he is a great cook. We go through our day, half in English and half in Spanish, which is pretty funny.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go?
My pens and pencils.
Photo credit Mark Lobo