Amie Colosa on how to overcome lack of confidence as a web designer/developer

Femke
Femke
Aug 23, 2017 · 5 min read
Designer Amie Colosa — Interview by Femke

Amy Colosa lives on Long Island, NY and specializes in responsive website design, graphic design, email templates, and Wordpress development. Her curiosity never slows down and she digs a good cup of black coffee along with a challenge.


As a designer with experience in Wordpress development, how has having this knowledge and understanding of code shaped your design process?

At work I’ve become the designer to developer (and vice-versa) translator. I can catch things in the design process that might end up being a time sucker or not possible in the development phase — that helps streamline things.

How do you stay inspired or generate new ideas under pressure?

What made you decide to start your own online store Chin Up Prints, and how do you make-time for it on top of a full time job?

It was an interesting time in my life when I was really pushed out of my comfort zone and I started creating typography based designs around the inspiration I was feeling.

I was always crafty and loved making things with my hands and wanted to have my own little t-shirt line someday — that was the main motivation for the shop. I’d start off with typography prints and grow into featuring screen printed shirts.

Nowadays, I spend a good amount of time working on designs for the shop on my lunch break & weekends — it’s a nice break from looking at a screen all day. If I were to go home and work on a freelance web project, that would be a lot less motivating. The fact that I can switch gears/media is refreshing, and as much as I love the web there’s something super exciting about creating something that will be tangible.

You’ve got such a diverse skillset — your projects range from web design to editorial and print. What’s your background?

Eventually I realized that I really enjoyed creating graphics and wanted to learn more about actual web design, so I took a beginner graphic design and web class in high school. Once I learned I could make this an actual career, I went to study ‘interactive digital design’ in college (which was an all-encompassing graphic design/web/motion major)

I kind of fell into web design professionally over print design because I had a knowledge of and interest in web development. I’m definitely a designer first, but I have to say I enjoy both design and code equally. Depends on the day really :)

As a designer do you ever experience lack of confidence or fear of failure?

I still have confidence issues from time to time but I’ve learned over the years to better trust myself — confidence speaks volumes. If you don’t believe if your work, no one else will!

You’ve done a few freelance projects alongside your job. There’s a lot of behind the scenes when it comes to freelancing — paperwork, negotiation, price setting etc — is this something you’ve learnt along the way?

What book would you recommend for someone new to design or development?

You can find Amie on her website, Dribbble or Twitter


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About the interviewer

The Creatives Series

An insight into creatives making a living with their passion

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Femke

Written by

Femke

Designer at Uber who loves to write and record a podcast. More about me at https://femke.co.nz/subscribe

The Creatives Series

An insight into creatives making a living with their passion

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