Today we’d like to introduce you to Irena McClamb.
Irena, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Straight out of high school, I headed out to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo thinking I was going to be an Architect. During my first year, I quickly realized I needed to be in a more creative field where drawing and painting was a requirement, rather than calculus and physics.
My Uncle at that time owned a pre-press digital graphics company, so during my school breaks I would visit him and that is where I first learned about Graphic Design. I quickly switched majors my second year and started taking the Graphic Design classes that were offered. Also, realizing how much I missed Los Angeles, I made the decision to transfer to Cal State Long Beach to pursue my Bachelors in Arts, with an emphasis in Graphic Design.
While I was in school, I interned with a freelance graphic designer to learn more about the field. I shared with her my interest and love for greeting cards and all things stationery related. She made a call to a friend of hers and a week later I started interning with an Illustrator who owned a small greeting card company. I started interning once a week during my last year of college. As the company quickly grew my internship turned into a paid part-time job as their graphic designer and by the time I graduated college, it turned into a full-time gig. While working full time I started my company, in a card.
During that time, I developed greeting card lines, stationery products and took on freelance projects as well on the side. After six years with the greeting card company, I took a huge leap of faith and ventured out on my own as a full time freelance graphic designer.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not! Being self-employed is one of the hardest, but also one of the most rewarding things I have done for myself. When the market crashed in 2008, many of my clients took a hit, which in turn meant cutting my freelance workload in half or completely out.
During that time, I reached out to anyone and everyone I knew, letting them know I was available for freelance work. I even started looking at job sites online, including Craigslist, for anything that could lead to new opportunities. I came across a listing from a Photographer that needed graphic design services in exchange for headshots. I visited her website and immediately fell in love with her work.
Although, I didn’t need headshots at the time and it wasn’t exactly the paid work I was searching for, I contacted her and told her that I’d love the chance to work with her. Since our Craigslist connection, I’ve become her main Graphic Designer, she photographed my engagement and wedding, as well as referring to me and my services to family and friends. And like a snowball effect, those referrals turned into other referrals. I feel like a referral is the greatest compliment I could be given and still my #1 source of obtaining new projects and clients.
My most recent struggle would have to be having a baby for the first time and learning to balance work life and mom life. Making sure my clients know that their projects will still get completed in the same time frame and manner they have been accustomed to, but also making sure my baby is well taken care of. Instead of the phrase, “The struggle is real,” I believe, “The juggle is real.”
Working from home and taking care of a baby full time takes multi-tasking to a whole other level. Some days are more challenging than others, but in the end, knowing that I’m able to do both makes me feel like I really can accomplish any challenge placed in front of me. It also definitely helps to have a great support system. Plus, you’d be amazed at how much work you can accomplish in 30-minute intervals.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
in a card is a full-service graphic design studio, providing creative solutions in print, web, corporate identity, direct mail, and mass market design, including but not limited to, color correcting, photo retouching and manipulation, pre-press production, and press checks.
I specialize in greeting cards, invitations, and announcements; to custom fit any occasion, event or emotion. Each of my designs is catered to the client’s style, needs, and budget. My attention to detail and design ensures that each greeting card, invitation, and an announcement is perfect, from the choice of envelope down to the stamp that is stuck on it.
I also have a fun line of individually styled baby onesies and tees under the label, Simplewear. You’ll find that my unique, yet simple, a way of design is showcased in each of the designs.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was definitely always into art. I remember always asking my parents if I could take local art classes offered at the community park. Arts & Craft days were my favorites at the local library. School projects that required a creative approach excited me the most. In elementary school, we would have Scholastic Book Fairs and I remember the very first book I ever bought was a lettering book. I don’t think my seven-year-old self knew at the time what the book was for, but when I saw the different fonts and type treatments I remember being amazed. I still have the lettering book with me now. I remember the day I found it at my parents as I was going through my childhood room and thinking, “Of course, it all makes so much sense now!”
As a child, I also remember how much I loved receiving and sending out correspondences. Whether it was a letter from a pen pal, a birthday greeting card from a relative or a simple note from a classmate, I saved each and every one of them. While most kids had to be coerced into writing Birthday thank you cards after receiving presents, I remember begging my Mom to buy me the matching thank you notes to the party invitations so that I could send out thank you notes immediately.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inacard.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inacard/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inacard/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/inacard
Image Credit:
Christine Chang Photography
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