We recently connected with Catie St. Jacques and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Catie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Quitting my job during the pandemic to become a freelance graphic designer.

Covid was an uncertain time for all of us, and during that time my mental health plummeted. The company I worked for decided to ramp up the workload – perhaps in an effort to keep our minds off of what was happening in the world. It was very difficult for me to stay on task and focus, I felt like what I was doing was pointless. I was having panic attacks and the worst anxiety of my life.

Outside of work, I had been using my creativity as a way to relax and connect with myself, I was slowly growing my Instagram account and taking design clients on the side. It was work that I felt connected to and enjoyed.

When it comes to work, I’ve always been a person who avoids risk and takes the safe route. And, for me, leaving a stable job with a guaranteed income was really out there. But, Covid helped to put things into perspective for me. I was not happy at work, and I hadn’t been for a long time. My mental health was not in a good place, and I was experiencing burnout. I had a performance review coming up, and on that day I decided to quit. I had some money saved and figured that the worst-case scenario would be that if it didn’t work out, I’d have to find another job.

It’s been 3 years since I quit and I’m thrilled that I took the leap. Not only because I now enjoy what I do, but also because I believed in myself and took a risk. Working for myself from home has always been a dream of mine, and I’m happy to say that I get to do this work. I’m so grateful to all my clients and customers for allowing me to continue doing the work I love.

Catie , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Catie, I’m a freelance graphic designer based in Kelowna, BC Canada. I kind of have a backward way of getting into this industry. I’ve been a creative person for all of my life, but never really knew what to do with it. I initially went to school for Fine Art but left after my first semester, I went back to school and got a BA in Film Studies. And once I got into the working world, I found myself really drawn to the creative aspects of my work. Slowly over the course of 10 years, I worked my way through multiple jobs, and by 2020 I decided to go out on my own as a graphic designer in an industry I didn’t know much about.

I currently provide graphic design services for clients all over the world. I often design logos, posters, and apparel. My work has been featured in Target, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Free People to name a few. Recently, I was part of a campaign with Lush and designed a window that was on display at their Vancouver location on Robson street. But, I also love working with small businesses and people just starting their new businesses. I also have an online store where customers can purchase prints of my work.

Creativity has been a way for me to relax and connect with myself, and I’m just so grateful that my designs can resonate with other people. My work is sort of a folksy psychedelic style, and I’m a mental health advocate that promotes balanced living with a focus on positive well-being.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first moved to Kelowna, I had a job at a yoga studio and we had a board at the front where we would put up messages and inspirational quotes. When I’d search for quotes online, I noticed that I kept finding images of text overlayed on photos, and thought that I could play around with that concept. I started sharing my work before the pandemic hit, and when I was at work, a post that I created using some words from Ram Dass was shared on the Ram Dass account, and from there, my account started growing. I didn’t consciously realize what I was doing at the time, because I was simply sharing messages that were helpful to me – but then realized over time that other people were appreciating the messages and sharing them with their community. I think the platform is now quite focused on video content, but I think the same concept would apply to videos.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Social media has been a huge source of new clients for me, and also word of mouth!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://highlotusgoods.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sun_keep/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catiestjacques/

Image Credits
Image 1: Christy Dawn Image 2: Photo taken by me Images 3 & 4: Grlswirl Image 5: Manifest Essentials Images 6 & 7: Amplifier & Lush Image 8: Photo taken by me