Life at TDR |

Best Job Ever: Art Director

TDR Art Director

The time has come… our “Best Job Ever” series is back, and this month we’re featuring none other than our #dynamicdesignduo: TDR Art Directors Mark and Belinda!

Last week Mark and B were gracious enough to take a break from their design work to chat with me about their time at TDR, their favorite design projects, and advice to aspiring designers.

So — do they have the “Best Job Ever”?

Read on to find out.

Caitlin: Hey guys, thanks for chatting with me. Let’s kick things off. How did you come to work at TDR? How long have you been here?

Mark: I heard through a mutual colleague that TDR was looking for some additional design help. So, I contacted them and was invited in for an interview to see if we’d be a good fit. Over two and a half years later, I’m still here — enjoying life at The Digital Ring!

Belinda: I worked with Matt (a partner) in the past, and when I decided to leave my old job, I asked him if TDR needed another designer. Luckily he said yes. I celebrated my one-year TDR anniversary this past April.

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Caitlin: How would you describe your typical day as part of our dynamic design duo?

Mark: I roll in nice and early, throw in the earbuds, and dive into work. I tend to zone in and stay pretty focused on my projects. Usually I’ll take a break at some point and stretch my eyes and talk dogs or something with one of my great coworkers.

Belinda: A typical day? Busy, busy, busy. I make sure to start out my day with at least 2-3 cups of coffee. Then, my fingers are usually glued to my mouse and keyboard — until I step away from my giant Mac to collaborate with the team on our next kick-butt campaign.

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Caitlin: What do you like most about your job? About TDR in general?

Mark: We have a great variety of clients and projects so the job stays fresh and challenging. We also have a great leadership team and a lot of talented, positive, and collaborative employees.

Belinda: Like Mark, I really love the variety of clients I get to work on. From church postcards to sandwich billboards to a restoration website… every project is different, which keeps the day interesting. Learning new programs and designing websites has been really fun. Also, our current crew has a lot of positive energy and it’s really motivating.

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Caitlin: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Mark: Sitting up straight 🙂 I should probably join the rest of the crew and convert to a standing desk. It’d be much better for my posture.

Belinda: If time or budget wasn’t a concern (which it typically is), I could spend hours and hours on projects (#designnerd) — but I have to remember that no one else will notice if some spacing is slightlyyy off.

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Caitlin: What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on, or what project are you most proud of?

Mark: My favorite project this past year was working on the website and brochure for Red Arrow Camp. I really like what they offer young campers. Also, they’ve been around for almost a hundred years so the photo library I had to work with was amazing!

Belinda: This year I got to help re-brand Revive Restoration which was pretty cool since I designed everything from their logo to their trade show booth. It was fun to see it all fall into place. After all these years, I still get excited when I see my designs out in the real world.

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Caitlin: What advice would you give somebody just starting their design career? For example, what skills / qualities will be critical to their success (outside of the obvious “know how to use Photoshop”)?

Mark: Be detail-oriented. Having a good design eye is of course great and necessary, but really being able to understand a client’s wants and needs is super important. And pay attention to kerning!

Belinda: Keep your creative mind working and don’t be afraid to wear multiple hats to get the job done. Be adaptable to new programs and ways of doing things — the design world is always changing. Finally, surround yourself with a positive environment and creative individuals. It makes the day so much better.

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Can’t get enough of Art Directors Mark and Belinda? We don’t blame you. Click here to check out some of their recent work.

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