In a community chock full of talented creatives, we still find some hidden gems among us — creatives who wear many hats and whose talents run deeper than you might think!
Creatives like Anthony A, a self-taught copywriter and designer, whose path to a creative career is as inspiring as it is …unique!
From his time as a criminal justice student to his years as an elementary and middle school teacher, Anthony has been able to find creativity in every chapter of his journey and managed to turn every challenge thrown his way into an opportunity to expand his skill set and find new possibilities!
So, if you’re ready to hear how Anthony went from seriously considering a career in law enforcement to a much-sought-after creative strategist and multitalented Designity star, then this is your lucky day! Today’s blog is your backstage pass to an exclusive interview with Designity writer and graphic designer, Anthony A., so you can hear his story and see some of his amazing work!
Get ready because it’s time to meet Anthony!
How did you get into copywriting? What’s your origin story?
I've always been a writer; I’ve always enjoyed writing.
I think I got into copywriting and design work when I was a little kid. I used to sketch a whole lot; that was all I wanted to do. I would sketch at home, I would sketch at church, I would just sketch and draw little animals and little people.
I've always had a creative mind; I've always done creative work without really knowing that it was that.
But I think I fell in love with the writing portion when I was at Ferris State University and had a creative writing class as part of my degree program. And it really allowed me to express myself through writing and really get into how words and phrases are put together and coming up with comedy and jokes and things of that nature. And so I really fell in love with writing.
We had to do research projects too and I really enjoyed the researching. And so that's why I'm a big copywriting fan now and content creator and a blogger because I just like expressing myself through writing, whether it be funny or informative or persuasive, I just enjoy writing.
Did you get a degree in a field related to writing?
No, actually my degree is actually in criminal justice administration.
But then I decided that law enforcement wasn’t my thing; I didn't want to spend my whole life in courts or in the field, stopping crime. I wanted to do something that I really enjoyed, something that brought me satisfaction; where I can get up every morning and really enjoy what I'm doing versus having that sense of, “My God, I don't want to do this. I don't want to get shot today,” and those thoughts that you deal with when you're a police officer or in law enforcement.
I just didn't want to do that all my life. I wanted to do something I really enjoyed.
So, then you went into copywriting?
No, then I went into education.
I did some creative work during that time, because I've always done some creative work on the side.
I had a few clients, so I would do a website, or I would do something for them here or there. But I shifted my main focus to college and right after I got out of college, I became a teacher.
And that’s where my love for writing became even greater. I was a self-contained (someone who teaches all subjects for the same group of students without them switching teachers) teacher and I taught anywhere from second to fifth grade to middle school. I would write out curriculum and do a little instructional design work and just encourage writing in all subjects.
I really put an emphasis on writing being needed in every subject, not just ELA (English Language Arts). Then I became a tech teacher for middle school and elementary, diving into writing and design work, and that's when I became more involved with content creation and writing copy for social media and digital advertising and things of that nature.
So, while teaching the writing portion of my class, I really fell in love with how words work and how you structure sentences and how you structure stories and creative writing. I really got my students to really enjoy and have a love for writing and so it made me love it even more, to the point that I wanted to do writing work full-time.
What was your first creative-related job?
I was a graphic designer for my church, and then later became the creative director.
I did a lot of the social media advertising for the church, or for weekly services or programs that we're having at church, I would design a flier or put something out on social media.
That's when I really fell in love with graphic design outside of copywriting and content.
You were a graphic designer first?
Yes!
And I was looking to have a full-time job with it because I had been doing creative work here and there, not anything drastic. I would pick up a job or someone would ask me, "Hey, you're a graphic designer. Can you make me a logo?" but I really wanted to go into it full-time because at that time I was really getting tired of teaching. I was getting drained, and I wanted to do something that was more enjoyable.
So, I started looking for design jobs and I came across a Senior Creative position at Designity and I applied for it.
So, you started off at Designity as a graphic designer before becoming a copywriter?
Yes, they reached out to me to do the design challenge, and I was so nervous!
All I had was a school computer; I didn't even have a personal computer at the time. And so, when I got to the design challenge, I went out the same day and purchased a MacBook, and was like, “You know what? I have to learn how to design.” So, I purchased Adobe Creative Suite; I had used it before, but not a lot so I had a lot to learn about the software. So, I just went at it, like “I'mma learn today!”
So, I learned that and Canva. I thought if I did my mockups in Canva and transferred them to Adobe Photoshop and put them in a mockup stage, I could do it.
I had to do the “Lecca Snacks” challenge. I had to design a healthy snack line.
And I was so nervous. I had been telling my wife, “I'm so nervous. I don't know if I’m gonna get it,” and she just told me, “You did your challenge. Just relax.” But when I got the email that I passed the challenge and I got offered the position, I was screaming.
Then I got an interview with Natalie (Designity’s COO) and Joy, the VP of people at the time. And they liked my challenge, they said that my work qualified me to be a Senior Graphic Designer, and so that's when they asked me if I had other skills besides graphic design.
I told them my main skill was copywriting and content. So, they said, “Well, with how you did on your challenge, it looks like you’re a graphic designer!" And I thought that was huge because I'm not really a graphic designer, I'm more of a content creator or copywriter. So, when I got hired, I was so excited.
And that's how I made it to Designity. I've been here since 2022.
What is your favorite thing about working at Designity?
I would say the community and the support that you get from the Creative Directors.
I know for one of my projects, Medi has been very, very understanding. I just told him, “I have a lot going on. I'm getting back into graphic design work, and I've been away from it,so my formatting may be off. Please have patience with me as I'm trying to figure out how this goes again.”
Because when you're gone from something so long, it’s just “Oh, my god. I need to do this over. This does not look right.”
And so, he's been very understanding working with me.
What is your favorite kind of project to take on?
Definitely copywriting and content or social media graphics.
Those are easier. And not saying that I try to take the easy way out, but I think that those are my strongest skills; copywriting, content, social media, blog writing, and things of that nature.
What has been your most challenging project and how did you overcome the challenges?
It would be designing business collateral for me.
Because there's so many details that go into that; you’ve got to make sure everything is lining up and even, look at your margins, and, coming from a copywriter, I'm so focused on how words work and now I have to check on formatting.
I just did a fact sheet for one of my newer clients. That was one of my most challenging because I hadn't done a graphic design project in a while, and I had to shift my mind back into making sure that formatting is even, everything is on the same line, the margins are equal on both sides, all the copy is at the same text size or colors; it's a lot.
But I'm getting back in the swing of graphic design, I haven't let it go. I need to get back in, so I don't lose those skills. So, this project with Medi definitely stretched me because I'm quicker with copy than I am with graphic design so if I don't pace myself, I'll slide right into a deadline for graphic design.
How do you keep yourself up to date with design trends or tools?
I always check Designity’s trends and the things that we have going on; I’m always reading the blogs, staying on top of NFTs and new things.
I also have some design memberships, like I follow Domestika; I look at a lot of their trends. I read design blogs, I blog my own stuff, so I'm always researching the latest design trends.
I'm actually in the process of designing a magazine. It’s called The Dapper Way, and so I'm always researching design and looking at market trends and looking at our competitors, like Superside; what they’re doing vs. what we’re doing, because I do a lot of copy work.
One of my strong skills is researching and so I’m always researching.
Any certain trends you’re noticing in your research?
I’ve noticed how companies are incorporating AI now into a lot of the work vs. the design work done in the past.
Because I'm going to tell you the truth; sometimes I use AI for my copywriting. So, incorporating these tools and using them to make our lives easier is a big trend. And I don't personally think that AI is meant to take over what we're doing. It's just enhancing the work that we do and making us work smarter and not harder.
I don't have to spend five days thinking about subtitles or titles for a social media campaign when I can say, "Hey, ChatGPT, give me 10 examples of a title that would go with this social media campaign.” And then it gives me 10 and I’m like “Okay, I think these two would be better if they were switched, let’s take some words out of this one to add is that this one.” And I make it better.
So, I see people incorporating a lot of AI tools into the work that we're doing, which is wonderful.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I definitely love spending time with my family.
I have a 1-year-old, a 5-year-old, an 8-year-old, and a 10-year-old and they all go to school at home.
So, I am a family man. I like going on vacations, whether they be in-state or out-of-state, spending time with my family and having my children know that I'm active, I'm at home, is the most important thing to me.
We like to go get Slurpees, and we like to spend the summertime going to the apple orchard, so family time is everything to me.
But also, finding some time to get away from everything and spend some time with me!
Anything else about you that we should know?
That I'm a creative strategist outside of here!
I’ve got a lot of clients, so I'm always working, always trying to be better at what I'm doing. I do a lot of copy and content, and I have a business outside of Designity that I'm trying to build.
So, just trying to make it all work.
<div class="c-blog_comp-cta cc-component-2"><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-left"><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-left-wrap"><img src="https://global-uploads.webflow.com/61cdf3c5e0b8155f19e0105b/63695243d096983691046ac3_Potential-Creative.png" loading="lazy" alt="" class="c-blog_comp-cta-left-img"></div></div><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-right cc-dark"><div class="c-blog_comp-content"><div class="c-text-wrapper cc-mb-32"><div class="c-title-4 cc-bold"><strong>Like to work as a freelancer with consistent income?</strong></div></div><div class="c-text-wrapper"><div class="c-text-2">Designity's collaborative model is designed to give you all of the perks of being a freelancer without the income instability.<br></div></div></div><div class="c-blog_comp-wrapper"><a href="http://designity.com/creatives" target="_blank" class="c-button w-button"><strong>Join Our Creative Community</strong></a></div></div></div>
Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring creatives?
I would say definitely do your research.
Think about skills that you want to be great at and start honing those skills. Because a lot of times, we jump from skill to skill, and we get really frustrated when things don't turn out the way they should. But if you really hone in on those skills that you are very confident in, and then once you become more confident and you're able to perform those skills at your best, then move on to another skill and start perfecting that.
That way you can be a multifaceted designer and have a set of skills, not just one skill. One thing that I really want to start doing is getting more involved in videography because I see a lot of jobs that are for video and motion and I know those are not my strongest skills, so I want to move into those areas and start learning and honing those skills, so I can be more marketable at Designity.
