Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Mendez.
Hi Andrea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! I was born and raised in LA, a daughter of an inspiring set of parents, wife to an amazing man and mother to my favorite work of art – my daughter.After graduating college I had a few different jobs within the graphic design industry. I learned a lot along the way, but I wasn’t able to say that any of them fulfilled me emotionally – and for an artist, your heart has to be in your work in order for you to be happy. In 2013 I decided to work for myself, and so The 84th Hour emerged. I transitioned from various types of design projects to custom event stationery and signage and definitely found my niche AND my happiness. I love what I do and I like to think that it shows in my work.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges when I decided to create The 84th Hour was knowing that this could be a feast or famine, haha. You no longer have the security that comes with an hourly wage and paycheck working for an established workplace. You’re starting from the ground up and it takes time to get others to believe in you and give you a chance. You have to really want it, otherwise you can easily feel discouraged. I’ve been blessed to meet people along the way that have believed in my talent and have extended opportunities, introduced me to others and have made me feel part of a larger community.
As you know, we’re big fans of The 84th Hour. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
The 84th Hour specializes in custom event and wedding stationery, signage and details. I love to design for an event from beginning to end. So that means everything from save the dates and invitations to seating charts, bar menus, drink stirrers and a plethora of other items. Your event is telling YOUR story and you want your guests engaged in all parts of it. So it is important that its design is personal and cohesive.
I think what sets us apart from others is the amount of detail we incorporate into our pieces. I limit how many projects are in queue for the same date range. That way I know we can dedicate the proper amount of time to each client and focus on those details. We definitely believe in quality over quantity and we’re very proud of that. I want clients to know that being a part of their big day is an honor for us. We are well aware that out of the saturated wedding industry, they could have chosen anyone to work with, but they chose us – and that means a lot.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Appreciation and Humbleness. I appreciate each and every client and project no matter how big or small and am humbled when someone finds us worthy of their big day. I feel that once you lose these two qualities, you’ve lost sight of the bigger picture.
Contact Info:
- Website: the84thhour.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/
the84thhour - Facebook: www.facebook.com/
the84thhour
Image Credits
Seeking Films Viva Photography Weddings Valerie Mitchell Photography
