Today we’d like to introduce you to May.
May, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began crudely teaching myself graphic design when the world of web 2.0 fan sites opened up to me at 13 years of age. Everything I made was amateur, but I loved every minute of it and decided I wanted a career in graphic design- or at least something that could utilize graphic design. I had a handful or two of freelance projects throughout college thanks to friends. But it was my venture into video game design competitions that laid the groundwork for my career in design. I soon graduated with a degree completely unrelated to design and began my professional design journey.
After leaving my first job and jumping between freelance projects, I landed a job in the entertainment industry as a graphic artist, creating pieces for movies/shows including Warcraft, Animal Kingdom, Purge, Detective Pikachu, and Rogue One. Much of my free time throughout my career was spent drawing letters and daydreaming about owning a personal brand, so I began working on my own product line in 2016. Currently, I work in the video game industry and own an enamel pin shop.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been a mostly smooth journey with a lot of winding, meandering backroads. I even tried sailing around the island before getting back on track. I have tried my hand at web development, UI/UX design, product design, packaging design, illustration, key art design, print design, photography, and many other things before I landed on a handful of skills I found myself utilizing for work. I’m lucky enough to have honed my passion and drive into a malleable skillset and openness to learn, but I think my lack of formal training has been a big hindrance.
Please tell us about Frying Sausage.
My business at the moment is focused on enamel pin designs featuring my illustrative work. I’ve dreamt for many months of expanding into stationery and accessories, so that will happen sometime in the future. My work is mostly a bit cutesy and very tongue in cheek, but I’m proud that I’ve conquered my imposter syndrome enough to sell my work. My love for space and design have been key features in my work, and I’m especially proud of my packaging design.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have gone for more eco-friendly packaging overall if possible. I also would have liked to try to paint more murals where possible. But I don’t think I would have done anything differently.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://shop.may.is
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/fryingsausage
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