Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to AMY ROBINSON. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, AMY thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Being successful is all based on your approach to life. I truly believe if you think you have learned all that you can learn, then you no longer have room to be successful. However, if you approach life, always in the mindset of becoming a student, willing the learn new things, new points of view – you leave yourself open to growth, wisdom and, success.

When I work with small business owners, approaching the design process from an educational standpoint allows them to not only trust the process, but become the student and break preconceived ideas about what graphic design / visual communication is (it’s never *just* about pretty pictures). I am hired because I have a working knowledge and understanding of how visual communication works and also how it doesn’t. My process enables the client to learn the benefits of good graphic design and visual communication so they can maintain the visual identity and uphold their brand for a lifetime.

When working with graphic design students, it’s important that they recognize the importance of being lifelong students. This mindset not only prepares them for the workplace – training and collaborating, it also prepares them as potential freelance designers for the diverse backgrounds of clients, businesses and industries they may have to quickly learn about to execute the best form of visual communication / graphic design for.

AMY, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Amy Robinson is the owner and sole Graphic Designer for Tiny Fox Creative, a local boutique specializing in helping small businesses and nonprofits succeed through design education.

Amy has designed professionally for companies such as the City of Phoenix, LaneTerralever, and The Arizona Cardinals, and now teaches Graphic Design full-time at Arizona State University, in addition to running her own small business. With such a full schedule, Amy loves to find new ways to streamline her work flow, maintain the proper work/life balance, drink wine and workout… especially the workout part.

Driven by curiosity, and the passion to help people and make people laugh at the same time, Amy has grown Tiny Fox from a mini start-up to a bustling design boutique where she can balance being a curious graphic designer, visual brand builder, mom boss, believer, educator and an obnoxious workout enthusiast.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about being a creative is making a difference. Cheesy, yes! But, when you have clients that really *love* their visual identities and feel like they are armed with the confidence to go take on the world with their small business goals, it is such an amazing feeling.

With my students, the biggest reward is not only seeing them grasp and apply the design principles, but explain how insightful and rewarding the design instruction is.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think with design specifically, many people assume it’s just pretty pictures or “they know what they want” from the creative, and the designer should deliver. This kind of thinking actually devalues graphic design as an industry and profession. There are rules to logo design, rules to user experience and of course, rules to building a visual identity – not just because it looks cool or trendy. Design creatives utilizing the knowledge of design principals can execute better designs and visual communication when they’re allowed to freely design and create. Unfortunately, I do see a lot of clients solely dictating to the designer their desires over what can communicate well, and though the client should of course get what they want and need, there has to be delicate balance of what can be done — and what should be done — to reach the desired outcome for both the client and designer.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tinyfoxcreative.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tinyfoxcreative
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyerobinson1/

Image Credits
Amy photo – Alicia Samone Photography