Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Your current job :
Creative Director, Art Director & Graphic Designer
In which city are you located?
Montréal
A word to define what kind of worker you are :
Structured & Free Spirit
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Notebook, pen for ideas and inspiration. InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop to make them come to life
What does your office space look like?
An organized mess. Nomadic. I can’t work for too long in one place, so pretty much every coffee shop in Montreal. Occasionally, my bar-desk at home.
What kind of music do you listen to when you are working?
EVERYTHING. Except for punk rock or heavy metal 🙂
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
I try to schedule all my meetings and presentations on Monday and Tuesdays, so I can free up the rest of the week for creative output. I’m most productive for creation early mornings until after lunch. Between 1:00 and 3:00 I’m useless, so I do yoga or see friends. I get my second wind in the evenings, so I try to focus on ideation & creation than as well. In my less productive hours, I catch up on emails and admin stuff.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Work when you’re most effective, and learn to walk away when something isn’t working. Inspiration doesn’t have a schedule. Try to find a balance between work and play. Also, take time off for inspiration. I travel a lot, and I need to feed my brain, so I’m always hyper-productive for the first month or two following some time away. Being a freelancer requires a lot of discipline, even though we have a lot of freedom. Google calendar is my best friend. I schedule everything, even my errands 😉
You’re better than your colleagues to :
We’re all different, not better or worse. I don’t believe in comparing myself to others. Can’t we all just get along?
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
Do what you love, the rest will fall into place.
What is your best tip for saving time?
I focus my energy (and time) only on projects and clients that I want to work with. I like to work on projects and with clients/collaborators who are passionate, authentic and who have values that contribute something positive to others. Life is too short to waste on ego-trips for the wrong reasons, or things that don’t matter to us. If you’re having fun doing what you love, you don’t need to save time, because it’s time spent well.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
Healthy breakfast and plenty of time to wake up in the morning. I hate rushing, so I give myself enough time to enjoy the quiet. Every evening is different, so no routine other than getting a good night’s sleep.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
My headphones. I need music in my ears while I’m working.
Portfolio site: https://www.behance.net/alexnereuta
Instagram: alex_nereuta
Montréal city guide x Alexandra Nereuta
Café | CrewCollective
a beautiful co-working space converted from an old bank, it’s sublime. Also, Tommy’s in the Old Port has a great vibe.
Restaurant | Bouillon Bilk, YUM
Shopping | St. Catherine
street because everything is there and I can get it over with quickly. I’m not a patient shopper, in and out in 30 minutes.
Grocery | Atwater Market, especially the cheese & specialty food shops.
Other | Place des Arts
there’s’ always something amazing going on