Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you :
I’m a graphic designer, photographer, and total cat lady.
Your current job :
I’m currently a full time freelance graphic designer.
In which city are you located?
St. John’s, Newfoundland
A word to define what kind of worker you are :
Dedicated.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Adobe Creative Cloud- specifically Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, and InDesign. I also get a lot of design inspiration from Pinterest or Behance. And of course, my MacBook Pro, and copious amounts of black coffee.
What does your office space look like?
I split my time working from home or the neighbourhood coffee shop.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ?
Mostly classic rock, if I listen to music- but I’m a podcast kind of girl. True crime all the way.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work ?
I usually spend the night before laying out everything I need to get done the next day- prioritizing what’s urgent, and estimating how much time I need to spend on each project.
What tips would you give to improve productivity ?
A clear mind is the most important. For me, I achieve that with a good night’s sleep and regular exercise. I also find it important to take breaks throughout the day, or switch projects- oftentimes coming back to something you left a few hours ago will give you a whole new perspective.
You’re better than your colleagues to :
Play MarioKart. For Nintendo 64, of course.
What is the best advice anyone has given you ?
Success doesn’t happen overnight.
What is your best tip for saving time ?
If your mind is blank and you’re getting nowhere with a project, leave it for a day. Come back to it when you’re in the right head space.
What is your routine start and end of the day ?
I always start my day with a four shot black Americano (I’m serious about my coffee) while checking my email for anything urgent. I end it usually with a hike on one of Newfoundland’s beauty trails, or an indoor workout if the weather isn’t cooperating.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
My day planner! I’m old school, I love writing things down.
facebook.com/vsnelgrovecreative
