"Really awesome person" were the first words I had heard about Delo Dayondon from our mutual friend who had introduced us. And after getting to know him, I found out that "really awesome" couldn't be any further from the truth. The 28-year-old graphic-designer-slash-triathlete-slash-photographer-slash-blogger possesses a can-do attitude that seems to permeate into all of his endeavors - the most recent of which being his participation in a half-Ironman challenge a few weeks ago in Kona. Blending his loves for graphic design and athleticism, Delo even designed his training group's "Race with Passion" t-shirt, which they all wore during the 70.3 mile challenge.
Who better than an Ironman to inspire up-and-coming local graphic designers to persevere towards their dreams? Read on to find out about this talented Native Creative...
DD: I'm one of two Advertising Art Directors at PacificBasin Communications (an AIO Hawaii company) where I process and create display advertisements for our growing magazine publications. Outside of my "9 to 5", I also take on freelance design and photography projects under my own company, Delography.
NC: How'd you get to this point as a designer?
DD: Perseverance and a leap of faith. I graduated with a BBA in Marketing degree from UH and worked briefly at a large advertising agency before moving over to magazine publication. I worked both on the client services and sales side before realizing that my true passion lies in the arts. I dabbled with graphic design/photography as hobby so when a position opened up in our creative department, I jumped at the chance and got the job! Having no formal art/design training, the first few months were rough having to learn a lot of things on the job. Fortunately, I'm blessed to be surrounded by so many talented and nurturing co-workers and mentors who are responsible for helping me to become the designer that I am today.
NC: Describe a typical day in the life.
DD: Ads, ads, and more ads! PacificBasin Communications is Hawaii's largest magazine publishing company with diverse brands including a city, business, shelter, and family magazine (to name a few), so there's hardly a typical day. We basically work in cycles depending on which magazine is due to the printer next, and with just two of us processing ads for all titles, we have to work at a fast and furious pace. A typical day consists of processing ad materials that have been submitted by the clients, ads that have ran in the past, and working with our sales team to build new ads for clients that rely on our creative services.
NC: What's the best thing and worst thing about your job?
DD: The best thing about my job is being able to make a living doing what I love. Not many people can say that, and I feel very blessed to have art as a part of my daily life. It's definitely a huge part of what keeps me balanced and sane. The worst thing about my job is that it can sometimes be a thankless job. I don't think people quite understand the nature of our job and the amount of effort that we pour over our work.
NC: What's your favorite place and/or tool to create?
DD: The great thing about creativity and ideas is that it can come from the most unusual places and at the most unusual time. Any place where can clear my mind and allow me to focus on my thoughts is the most ideal. For me, it's usually when I'm out for a run or a bike ride usually somewhere along the beach or mountain like Ala Moana Beach Park or Tantalus. My favorite tool would have to be my iPhone4. It has everything I need - music to drive my mood, apps to jot down notes and ideas, and of course the Internet to do research and stay connected.
NC: What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone interested in doing graphic design here locally?
DD: Surround yourself with great mentors and learn all you can from them. These are the people that will give you honest, constructive feedback, encourage you to challenge yourself, and most importantly, believe in your skills and talent.
. . .
For more and inspiration and info on Delo, checkout his Delography website and also his One 40 Point 6 blog, which documents his journey towards the Ironman Triathlon.
No comments:
Post a Comment