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

Carson, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Yes I am as I work as both a Freelance Designer and Technology Field Sales Executive in Austin, TX. While I grew up wanting to pursue design full time, my liberal arts education at Boston University broadened the lens through which I saw my creative future. As I deepened my understanding of the business, advertising, and technology worlds, those experiences elicited new and interesting creative ideas within me that extended far beyond the visual design box I had subconsciously put myself in. This ultimately led to my decision to accept a job in the technology industry in Austin, TX where I’ve continued to also work as a freelance designer. Although this means a little less free time, I could not be more grateful for the career I’ve created for myself. It allows me to pursue all of my interests and protects my love for design from the pressures and influences of monetary reliance. The most rewarding and unexpected outcome of this decision however, has been the positive influence these roles have on each other. I am able to bring a unique creative perspective to business engagements and in return, the technology world has fundamentally transformed my design work. For example, one of the areas I work in is high performance computing which is popular for automotive and manufacturing companies as it allows them to run computational fluid dynamics and simulate crash performance of new car models in 3D simulations. After some meetings on this topic earlier in the year, I became so interested in the concept that I decided to learn how to create my own 3D simulations for virtual reality and design. Not only did 3D quickly become the biggest focus of my current design work, I would have never pursued it if it were not for my time spent working in the technology industry. There are endless examples like this and I am excited to continue to evolve with new breakthroughs in areas like artificial intelligence and spatial computing. I always feel one step ahead of technological disruption in design and love the inspiration elicited from diversifying my experiences and contexts.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Answer 1 if previous question is included:

I work as both a Freelance Designer and Technology Field Sales Executive in Austin, TX.
My design work is specialized in digital illustration, calligraphy, graphic design, and most recently 3D design for virtual reality.

It’s hard to trace back how I got started in design as my creativity has always been a central part of my identity. I began officially freelancing creative work in high school in Asheville, NC when a local business noticed my calligraphy and photography. I continued this throughout college while studying Advertising, Art History, and Business Management at Boston University. I’m very grateful for the way my liberal arts education broadened the lens through which I saw my creative future. As I deepened my understanding of the business, advertising, and technology worlds, those experiences elicited new and interesting creative ideas within me that extended far beyond the visual design box I had subconsciously put myself in. This ultimately led to my decision to accept a job in the technology industry in Austin, TX where I’ve continued to also work as a freelance designer.

My design work is primarily inspired by pop culture, architecture, fashion, modern art, and the technology industry. My favorite pieces are my digital illustrations and custom calligraphy projects but I am most proud of the fact I am fully self taught and of the progress I’ve made in learning 3D. I am committed to continuous improvement and view every client challenge and experience as an opportunity for inspiration and learning.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

There are many things that have influenced my drive to lead a creative life which in part can be credited to natural attraction and instinct. However, I will credit my mother as my biggest inspiration. She was a huge believer in my creative ability and always pushed me to work hard to reach my full potential. As a first generation college graduate, she taught me that it is my personal responsibility to create the life I want, nobody elses. It is this notion that fuels my ambition and goals today. Since losing her to breast cancer my senior year of high school, I try to honor her everyday by leading a life of authenticity, open-mindedness, and integrity. This mission is what drives my creative journey. I believe in the power of leaning into your authenticity despite the constant pressures of conformity. Open-mindedness to allow ourselves to grow from ideas that are different from our own and to empower others to live with authenticity too. Most importantly, I believe in leading with integrity in everything I do and everyone I interact with. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or uninspired I remember these values and the high standard she taught me to hold myself to and I am encouraged to continue.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

Given the monetization potential for 3D artists, I often kick myself when thinking about NFTs as I wish I mastered 3D before the rise and fall of the NFT craze. That said, I believe there will be much more creative (and stable) potential in this space in the future. I see the good and bad in NFTs but ultimately lean towards a more unpopular but positive view. I’ll preface this by saying I’m cognizant of the many problems associated with the NFT decline. The lack of market regulation creates serious risk with fraud, theft, and IP violations, among other issues in crypto volatility and cybersecurity. However, I lean more positive with NFTs because of the monetization, ownership, and visibility opportunities they created for artists. Some artists made millions of dollars off NFTs and continue to benefit from the visibility they gained through NFT success. While fleeting and a bit flawed, I’m very interested in how the NFT movement will evolve with XR/VR/AR and how that will influence the future digital art landscape. It is exciting to see how quickly technology advances and to watch the XR/VR/AR development that is being spearheaded in Asia, the US, and in the automotive and gaming industries. While these use cases are growing, there are regulatory and technical challenges that need to be overcome before mainstream adoption. That said, I believe in the inevitability of future adoption and am excited for the potential opportunities that this will unlock for artists currently restricted by today’s NFT limitations.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @carsonabdesigns
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carson-abernethy1/
• Other: DM me on Instagram or email me at [email protected] to work with me!

Image Credits
Carson Abernethy