Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandria Batchelor.
Hi Alexandria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always loved drawing as a kid and spent summers at intensive art camps so a creative career was a given. I went to SUNY University at Buffalo where I studied communication (graphic) design and was introduced to the comic industry by two professors, John Jennings and Stacey Robinson, now my lifelong mentors and friends.
After school, I freelanced while waiting tables at the Cheesecake Factory until I got a digital advertising internship at a major WNY newspaper which ended up as my first full-time job. I then moved to NYC for a graphic design job at Frederator Networks, a digital media and animation company. Keep in mind, I’m still freelancing primarily as a colorist for my mentors, working on NYT best-sellers like Kindred and Parable of the Sower.
So when I got laid off during the pandemic, I pivoted to full-time freelance and founded a now-defunct company, Beyond the Bot, with my fellow jobless colleagues. I landed a year-long part-time gig at TIME for Kids at TIME Magazine but ultimately decided to continue on the freelance track.
And here I am today. I just recently moved me and my business to LA because the NY grind was just not mentally sustainable. I was recruited by Dark Horse Comics to color Whoopi Goldberg’s graphic novel. And now I’m trying to spend more time on my art practice since I’ve always felt like an artist pretending to be a designer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has definitely not. My entire twenties have been a bumpy road but the lessons I’ve learned are priceless:
Always make contracts with clients (even if they are family, friends, or friends of friends) to protect yourself. Communicate clearly and ask questions to prevent or resolve misunderstandings. Create project management systems to keep contributors on track and accountable. Delegate to and trust your junior employees to make sure the world isn’t on your shoulders. Set healthy boundaries with your employers and colleagues to avoid drama at all costs (or at least try to). NEVER overwork yourself to avoid burnout. And take vacations to recalibrate and just breathe.
As you know, we’re big fans of Foxee Design LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a solopreneur operating under the name Foxee Design LLC. I occasionally contract workers to create my own customized team for certain projects but oftentimes, I’m the one who gets contracted and collaborates with already established teams. I work in the entertainment and media sector of the industry with indie and corporate clients from all around the world. I offer art direction, graphic design (specifically branding and layout), comic production, and illustration services.
What makes me unique is my process. I heavily involve the client in the project. I give them homework (i.e. questionnaires) to complete so I can teach people how to attain a deeper understanding of their business and efficiently convey their working vision to designers. I also have a knack for out-of-the-box thinking, causing me to deliver unexpected designs that are exactly what the client was looking for.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to let go of perfectionism. According to my favorite therapist, I tend to see my work as an extension of myself. And I’ve always been very hard on myself because I know that I can do better. But over time, I’ve been recognizing the beauty in my flaws. Clean lines and pixel-perfect graphics don’t define me as a successful artist and designer. Embracing and falling in love with my individuality in my style, my perspective, and my voice are what I’ve redefined as success.
Pricing:
- General Hourly Rate is $150/hour
- Logo Design costs $2,000
- Layout Design costs $80/page
- Comic Color Production costs $80/page
- Illustration costs $150/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foxeedesign.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/foxeedesign
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/foxeedesign
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/alexandriadbatchelor
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/foxeedesign
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@foxeedesign
