Claire Poirier: Working Design Professional
Claire is working professional graphic designer. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University and she works as a designer for Carabello Coffee located in Newport, KY & she is also a designer for a church located in Erlanger, KY. She has a degree in Visual Communication Design and in Theatre as well. She also has a freelance company called Worthy Design. She started Worthy back in 2017/2018 as a photo page and now she uses it primarily for design.
Claire Poirier NKU ‘19
What is the biggest effect COVID-19 has had on you, as a designer?
Being able to work from home…even more! I wouldn’t say that there’s a bad thing that has happened because of COVID. Places laying off employee or closing down and wanting to renew their brand, or looking for contracted work has been a blessing to me.
What is the biggest effect COVID-19 has had on you, that doesn’t relate to you as a designer?
Total work overload. I got a new job, running my own business, and doing design work for my church as well. I do design work for all three of these, whether it be consistent designs every week, or large clients that have a multi-month project, almost all of my jobs go with me to work and home, and beyond. To say that I’ve had barely any down time to myself is an understatement.
As a working professional, has COVID-19 changed anything in your specific area of design?
Nothing has really changed at all at except for some of the restrictions as far as COVID goes. Instant gratification is something that has changed a bit, people want things done faster because everyone is waiting on everything.
WORTHY DESIGN
These are designs Claire worked on during the COVID period and you can find them on her instagram
Has your work flow or the way your create changed with COVID-19?
Everything is on-the-go. I could get an email at 9am from a client and need to send them a design later that night. So, I just have all of my things with me wherever I go.
If and when, we go back to normal, do you think things will change within the design world?
Maybe. So much is happening design0wise because we have “alot more time”, but I hope to be able to work in-offices at some point with my consistent clients that I’ve still never met over the past year.
Does COVID-19 differ your perspective at all, as a practicing designer?
I don’t think so. Just as a I said before, people want things done faster, which can be stressful.
WORTHY DESIGN
These are designs Claire worked on during the COVID period and you can find them on her instagram
https://www.instagram.com/worthy_design_/
Her website is currently under construction but the website is https://www.worthydesign.space
Has COVID-19 opened you up to other artistic practices or hobbies, other than design?
I’ve definitely spent more time with close friends, more time outside (which I really need ASAP).
Has COVID-19 helped you or hurt you as a designer? Explain.
Definitely helped! I graduated college when the pandemic started, so looking for work wasn’t much of an option. Luckily, I already had my freelance business and a full-time design job at my church. Over the summer I started working at Carabello Coffee and now have a handful of physical and digital jobs there. My clientele has grown greatly from my various social media followings. It’s awesome.
What is something positive that you can say about this journey of COVID-19? Related to design, or not.
I’ve definitely become more aware of my work-flow and process. Whether that’s time needed, time I need to NOT work, or supplies I require to accomplish a job.
If you have one piece of advice for any struggling designers or artists during this time, what would it be?
Just keep going. Right now, social media is the main way that you will find work. My Pinterest gets over 6 million views a month, and while my least favorite design is the most popular (and most stolen with other brands), having 3 or 4 people a month that ask for it with their word instead is nice. People don’t know you exist unless you tell them. Also, CONNECTIONS! I have been contracting design with Crossroads Church since December because one of my friends knew I could do what they were looking for. Most of my in-person clients have been friends of friends. It’s awesome.