Life & Work with Takis Simon

Hi Takis, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I was growing up, I wanted to be a comic book artist. It wasn’t until my senior year in college that I became interested in graphic design and thought it would be something I could pursue as a career.

My first job out of college was an operations/customer service position at an internet startup. After a year and a half at the company, I transitioned over to the design team. With the help of online resources and guidance from senior members of the team, I was able to grow and develop skills that would lead to my next design opportunity.

After that first job, I worked at a series of agencies and small internet companies. During that time, I became exposed to the UX discipline by working very closely with various user experience designers.

Today, I’m able to split my time between UX design and branding work.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Something that I constantly struggle with is carving out time for personal projects. As a freelancer, I’m often prioritizing commissioned work to ensure I’m financially secure, but it has become important for me to make time to have a creative outlet. When I’ve been able to do this, it has created a healthier work/life balance.

It is also important to take time to recharge, gain inspiration, and get motivated for the next upcoming project.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an art director, UX/UI designer and illustrator with experience in product design and branding. Most of the projects I work on are digital, but I also do projects that involve print.

I’m proud of the connections I’ve made throughout my creative journey. Since I did not formally attend design school, I’ve benefited by learning from individuals that were willing to share their knowledge, which has helped shape my career.

What sets me apart from others is not only my attention to detail but my commitment to educating my clients so they can effectively express their needs and feel more involved in the design process.