Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you:
My name is Jessica Benhar. I have a background in design and a few years ago, in an effort to work more with my hands, I rediscovered printmaking and have been creating illustrations with lino ever since.
Your current job:
Freelance illustrator & graphic designer.
In which city are you located?
I’m based in Sydney, Australia and I grew up in Wellington, New Zealand.
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
Methodical.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
My mechanical pencil, Adobe Illustrator, linoleum and carving tools.
What does your office space look like?
It looks pretty ordinary actually but I get a view of some cool rocks. One of the rocks has a hole in it and I once found a box of matches inside it. Creepy.
What kind of music do you listen to when you are working?
Sometimes the Indie Folk playlist on Spotify but mostly design and illustration podcasts such as Creative Pep Talk or Australian Design Radio during work hours and the comedy podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me after work hours.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
I make a list in my diary on Monday of what I need to do during the week and I also do something similar to the Pomodoro Technique and I time myself while I work and take breaks after every hour, then log what I’ve done in my diary.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Time yourself and take notes, you’ll get an accurate breakdown on what you spend your time on and how long things actually take.
You’re better than your colleagues at:
I have no colleagues. As an introvert, this is something I’m extremely grateful for.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
Even a C+ effort that is consistent will yield results. I heard this on the Creative Pep Talk podcast, and it held true for me during a period when I didn’t have a lot of time to focus on illustration but my small bouts of effort still managed to compound over time.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Keep your life simple in all aspects, from wardrobe to schedule, so you can dedicate as much time as you can to the things that matter.
What is your routine at the start and at the end of the day?
I like to take a walk around the park after breakfast to get some vitamin D and at the end of the day I read before bed and spend some time with my cat Zorro and dog Arrow.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not go without?
My Casio calculator watch. I use it as a timer while I work, I wear it as a watch, it becomes my bedside clock at night and I also use it to calculate things.
https://www.behance.net/jessicaben8b95
