We were lucky to catch up with Courtney Horrigan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Courtney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I would love to say it was an easy ride to get to where I am today, but that wouldn’t be the truth. I was told in college that I would never make it as a graphic designer. It broke my heart to switch from a Design degree to traditional Advertising. I spent countless nights questioning my worth and my ability. It took me a year to come to my senses, find my backbone, and truly go after what I wanted. I worked harder at my craft than I ever had before. I managed to get back into the design school and became the “Ad Club” President before graduating with honors in BOTH degrees. I landed my first gig in San Fransisco at a big advertising agency, where I learned firsthand what it was like to create content for big companies including Cheetos, Doritos, Xfinity, American Girl, Brita, and Hot Wheels.

I felt like I made it! I felt on top of the world in my career, but like most things, the glow of the big city faded, and my dream evolved. I missed having a life. I wanted to spend my weekends and nights off with family and friends, not with my laptop. So I moved back home to Texas and found myself working for an ad agency that specialized in non-profits and charitable work.

My path to success was hard to figure out, but every twist and turn taught me something. I learned that it’s more than ok to change paths, it’s good even! I actually just started my own freelance agency, BlueGiant Designs, because I realized I wanted to help small businesses find their voice in this crazy over-saturated market. Don’t be afraid to trust your gut, fight for what you want, and switch it up every now and then.

Courtney, 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?

I am an art director and graphic designer based in Austin, TX. I have over 10 years of design experience, which has led me all over the country. I currently work on advertising campaigns, branding, and social media for the charitable side of Charles Schwab. My day-to-day changes quite frequently, but essentially, my work involves creating graphics that make learning about financial literacy easy and engaging. This complex topic is often overlooked in school and is incredibly important to know. I hope by creating simple and engaging content, we can help communicate this hard-to-understand information and bridge the gap in our education system.

Since my 9-to-5 job focuses on one brand, I recently launched BlueGiant Designs for the opportunity to help small business owners. A lot of small-town businesses do their own branding due to the high cost of working with an agency and often end up closing their doors.

After seeing this happen countless times, I started a freelance business specializing in professional branding systems backed by strategy. Meaning we don’t offer just a one-off logo. We develop the building blocks that carry every creative decision by researching the target market, customer journey, competitors, etc. We then create one cohesive look so customers can instantly recognize the brand. We also design template-free websites, so everything is 100% unique and tailored toward our client’s business. Long story short, we strive to build brands that will shape legacies and leave a positive impression in the world.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I know I’ve briefly touched on this topic before, but I truly believe our society needs to change how we view the pre-k-12 school system. So much creativity is stifled when you’re young. Kids need the freedom to explore how they express themselves before being forced into the strict schedule of modern life. By giving kids the opportunity to explore their creativity, we can help them find their passion and essentially create a more well-rounded and innovative generation. Creativity is not just a “nice-to-have” but a necessity in today’s world. We have to keep thinking outside of the box to create a more sustainable future.

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

My life has been a little out of the ordinary. My father, Robert Horrigan, was widely considered the quintessential Delta Force operator. He was on his eighth combat deployment in 2005 with nearly two decades of Special Forces experience under his belt when he was killed in action. My father isn’t known for his awards in battle (even though there are many) but for his character. He was an incredible leader who always looked on the bright side. Through him and his loss, I grew up knowing what it meant to give back and support the community.

My mission with my work is to help families in similar situations. At BlueGiant Designs, we give a portion of our proceeds to The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. This organization not only provided me with financial aid for college after losing my father but also created an atmosphere for children like me to connect with one another and share their loss. Without this organization and many others like it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. They gave me a future after my dad passed and a community that I could connect with across the globe.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bluegiantdesigns.com
• Instagram: @bluegiantdesigns
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyhorrigan/