The first month is over and it’s time to shed some light on the proceedings. Hitting the ground running working on various projects, I do a mix of three different jobs: illustration, print design and website design.
Office is life is medicine for this jaded designer, who has been “on the road” for the past 2 years. With a plethora of new projects in the works, including my vision for the company homepage (something I often end up making when joining a new company!) this may well be a space to watch.
What was the catalyst for this new endeavor in any case? Actually I’m not sure. My Freelance business certainly had it’s ups and downs, but it was generally a success for a few years. I even had my own office going on, away from home. But something was missing. In all honesty there was a make or break moment at the start of 07 and again during the middle of 07, these were opportunities to expand the Hawken King brand with partners. One would presume that this in it’s self would hold enough meaning to run with and see what happens. Chances like these don’t just appear that often, however something was still missing.
The missing element?
Well, look through this website. What do you find? Literally hundreds of illustrations I made during gainful employment. It appears that I am more creative when I can go home, kick off my shoes and relax. Being a freelancer doesn’t offer you that opportunity. You are at work, your entire waking week. It’s not to say that I won’t start my own company, but that might be a few more years into the future from now, and a few million yen more in the bank with someone like minded to make it all happen. My dream is to work as an illustrator, it always has been, it just so happens I can design.
The future? I would be a fool if I said some of these opportunities and decisions were not made by my immediate environment, those influencing factors from friends and acquaintances. When forecasting, one looks one step beyond. It is paramount to realise what factors in your immediate environment are helping, and what factors are hindering. So I thank those who gave me advice these past few months. A lot of changes unsuitable for “blogging” will be left unsaid. What I can say is that forging a future in Tokyo – breaking the hand to mouth existence so many of us ex-pats fall into – is a long process. Beyond the end of ones nose is the future… 🙂