Design Feast Series: Designer’s Quest(ionnaire)

Courtney Owens Zielinski

Creative Director/Partner

Primary design concentration:

Print/Web

Most preferred tools for designing:

My trusty MacBook Pro, along with a fine-point Sharpie and sketchbook (okay, that’s three tools).

How and why did you choose to become a designer?

I’m not sure I ever consciously chose it... my mom is a designer and I grew up playing at her feet with her design tools and visiting her classrooms when she was in grad school in Basel, Switzerland. I feel like I grew up in design, surrounded by it. So becoming a designer was a very natural progression.

What are some of the challenges you encounter as a designer and how do you deal with them?

I’m not the best at budgeting my time. I am a procrastinator, and while I always meet my deadlines, I do end up putting myself through a lot of unnecessary stress trying to get things done sometimes. I’m trying to be better about starting work on projects earlier, so that I have time to play and discover new solutions, so that I’m not working under the gun.

What is your definition of an “elegant solution,” that is, good design?

To me, an elegant solution is well-edited. Thoughtful. Visually speaking, I’m a bohemian at heart, but I really, really love the minimalist aesthetic, and there’s nothing more elegant to me than a clean, simply (but cleverly) executed design.

From skills to values, what makes a designer successful?

Passion, dedication, perseverance. And attention to detail and follow-through.

How do you stay motivated and grow personally and professionally as a designer?

I’m very inspired by the work of my peers. It motivates me to try new things and to explore, to open new doors.

For those aspiring to become a designer, whatever the discipline, what is your advice?

Learn everything you can from the people you admire. Work for them and alongside them, and soak up every drop of the experience; pay attention to everything, from the way they run their business to the way they approach a project. Never stop learning. And trust your instincts.

What is your quest in design, from a professional practice, education or evolution standpoint?

I hope to never reach a point where I feel I have nothing more to learn. I love design because I feel like I’m always growing and reaching and discovering. My quest is to continue on that path of evolution.

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