3 Things All Pro Graphic Designers are Thankful Exist

It’s that time of the year where everyone’s sharing the things they are most thankful to have in their lives. Aside from the fact that it’s always great to remind ourselves of the blessings we have, this season also offers an excuse to indulge in pumpkin pie (my favorite) and time with family. However, I like to also think about how grateful I am for my career in graphic design with this company. All pro graphic designers will probably agree, these 3 things are crucial to reaching peak creativity…

#1: The Jams (Not the Food Kind)

“Oh Spotify, what would I do without you? Answer: go out of my mind!” – Jessica Draws of Creative Bloq (@CreativeBloq)

I’m most thankful that we’re not only allowed, but encouraged to listen to music. We have an office tablet hooked to a bluetooth speaker that’s constantly playing. And if you need to focus or want to listen to your own music, we have headphones. I’m a metal fan and there aren’t many others here so this perk is amazing. I’m a drummer, so the beat can be the thing that gets me in a design groove.

Music is what will push me through creative blocks, give me inspiration and even accelerate my work in a time crunch. I’m not alone either. My CEO recently covered productivity playlists and what type of music helps us work best. Interestingly enough, it’s all about the beats per minute. Creative work is best done to 50-80 beats per minute. Graphic designers don’t just do creative work, of course, so check the article out to see how you will need to adjust your background music to fit the task. All about the creativity? Read this article about music’s creative impact on the brain.

#2: New (and Familiar) Sights

So, this is something a little more specific to my job, but I’m thankful for the ability to work from home. Gallup reports that 43% of employed Americans are able to spend at least some of their shift working remotely. For me, it means waking up a bit later, avoiding morning traffic and getting to work from the comfort of my own home office. As a recent first time home buyer, this is a huge uplift in my spirits.

However, remote work doesn’t mean working at home. As a graphic designer, it means flexibility to change my surroundings. How can I think originally if I’m seeing the same sights every day? Even just the opportunity to step into my backyard can have a great effect on my work. I’m not alone. The Greatist Team said, “Being in natural settings is like playtime for adults: It taps into all five senses, energizes the body, and, most importantly, stimulates the imagination.” That’s also why we’re encouraged to take walks or play games everyday we’re in the office.

#3: Amazing Tools & Resources

Finally, I’m thankful for all the amazing technology available to today’s graphic designers. At Red Branch Media – hayWire, we have a so many amazing tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and Sketch. Our team doesn’t like cold and callous images or art, which is refreshing as a designer, but can pose a challenge when looking for the right content. That’s why I love having access to resources like Video Blocks, Shutterstock, Death to Stock and Envato Elements. And because we’re an office that values learning, we also have the option to use Lynda and Treehouse.

Aside from all the tech and tools, I’m thankful for the creative, hardworking people I work around. I’m sure any pro graphic designer will agree that the best inspiration comes from seeing how others work. I’ve heard useful tricks from newly hired interns right along with the experts who run blogs about design.

Did I miss something that you are thankful exists in your career? Tell us about it on Twitter @omahaywire or leave us a comment! We’re always happy to hear new advice from other pro graphic designers!