One of the ‘joys’ of being a Graphic Designer
One of the ‘joys’ of being a Graphic Designer is the inevitable helping out a family member with their design work. This is not something that I make a habit of as it becomes time consuming for no money, can often create rifts in a relationship, the free clients are always the worst and it is just downright annoying. However, I do make an exception for my Dad, Stewart Hine. In the early stages of my business, he was at times the only person who not only believed in my ability to create a dream for myself but gave me the inner sight to see that my design work was just as good as anybody else out there. Something that a graphic designer can often loose sight of as their work is OUT THERE for compliments and criticism. The criticism sometimes gets the better of you.
My Dad’s brand and website was the very first job that I worked on, with free reign. He is a Home Loan Broker that is very straight up, knowledgeable in his field and all round likeable guy (perhaps not according to his two ex-wifes, eeeeek.) The business name is “i’ll show you the money!”. Being a newbie at design University I wanted to put my creativity to great use and came up with a concept that he of course loved and he still does to this day. I’d like to believe it is because I am an amazing graphic designer and not just because he is my Dad. But he is still a client so I must be doing something right!
Over the last 10 years as every business does, I’ll show you the money has evolved and in turn so has it’s branding. I’m sure over the next 10 years we will continue to evolve the look and feel of the business as it grows and progresses even more. In ten years past I thankfully have become a better graphic designer and can now properly advise my Dad that the work I have done in the past is now rubbish and has it’s place on on the shelf to reflect on.
Looking at the original brand today it is cringeworthy and I am often amazed at how far I have come as a creative person. As I said at the start of this article, my Dad believed in me and trusted me with his REAL business. His only source of income and working under difficult circumstances out of a caravan in the backyard, newly married, new born baby, trying to renovate a house, stresses of a previous divorce, child support and trying to start a business. A lot was on the line for the success of his business and I guess what I am trying to say is thank-you for taking me seriously as a graphic designer. I now realise the importance of branding a business because you gave me a chance and a life long experience.
I have perhaps neglected his brand over the last couple of years due to having so many clients of my own, but I am only a couple of days away from completing the new look and feel for ‘ll show you the money’. I have showed Dad the new look and as I expected he still insists on liking the old one the most. Some might call it sentimentality.
Dad to this day has every business card up on his wall from the very first one right through to the most current one. He is proud to show not only how his brand has evolved but how I have evolved as a graphic designer and business owner. He will soon have another one for his collection.
I guess helping out a family member is not all that bad after all