The Hustle
Years in Tampa Bay
30
Hustle (job)
Principle at Mighty Fine Design Co.
What do you do?
We are an advertising and creative agency with full video production capabilities.
Why do you do it?
Having an arts background and commercial experience provided a solid foundation for me to move towards the role of being an art director. I appreciate how the lines can blur between the two. My goal has always been to have my brand evolve into a creative agency that provides a holistic approach. I get excited by good design and how it can transform a business and give owners a confidence they never had before.
What was your Catalyst? (How did you get started?)
I received a degree in Fine Art from the University of South Florida that helped inform me about everything visual. From there, I got started as a producer creating industrial videos and motion graphics for a variety of corporate clients.
What’s a common misconception or unknown aspect of what you do?
The time it takes to create something interesting. Sometimes, we’ll have immediate breakthroughs. But in most situations, we are creating multiple iterations before landing on the right design. Sometimes people will ask, “have you tried this?” — The answer is yes, and more. Our experience comes from degreed art and design programs, in combination with years of hands-on experience.
What’s the most challenging part of your Hustle?
Convincing people that they should have professionally produced assets throughout their on-line and offline portfolio, including copywriting, graphic design, website, video, photography… consistency is key. It’s going to cost more upfront, but a client can get a lot of mileage out of well-produced content.
What’s the most valuable piece of business advice/insight that’s helped you?
Play the long game; don’t count on something happening overnight.
