Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Moreno
Erica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi everyone! My name is Erica Moreno, and I was born and raised on the Texas coast. (“Southside”) In high school, I fell in love with art and photography, and after graduating, I moved to Austin to pursue them as a career. I received my Associate’s degree at Austin Community College and loved my experience there. I worked part-time at ACC’s Visual Communication department and interned as a silkscreen printer with Coronado Studios. I also designed for a local punk rock magazine called Whoopsy! Directly after college, I was hired at a media company and went on to work my way from graphic designer to creative director.
Over 20 years ago, I started my freelance company, Neat Freak Studio. I create poster art for local theaters, bands, and live events and design logos, websites, emails, and ads for businesses. Fine art photography is another passion of mine! I enjoy digitally painting each image to create a colorful, airbrushed portrait. Music, nature, movies, and mystery inspire my art and designs.
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?
It has not been a smooth road, but it has been an adventurous one. A graphic designer’s journey involves many different tasks and programs. In addition to design, I was expected to learn copywriting, video editing, website management programs, email automation, social media, product photography, and many other marketing tools. The artist in me would rather spend time conceptualizing and creating. However, these additional skills have made me a creative problem solver who can quickly learn new skills to achieve the solution. Designers are forever students because there will always be something new to learn.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a visual artist specializing in poster art, logos, print, web, paintings, and fine art portraits through my company, Neat Freak Studio. My style is rock ‘n roll and scary movies with a mix of Texas and vintage vibes. (long but accurate description 🙂) When I collaborate with others, I bring their vision to life. My professional approach is clean and creative, with a clear call to action.
My designs are obsessed with details. I enjoy adding minor elements to make the artwork more interesting. Every design I create has a strong concept behind it. I begin each project by researching and learning its history, which inspires me to tell a new story through design.
I became a designer because I wanted to create poster art. I enjoy the opportunity to combine that passion with my love for music and theater. The posters I’ve designed for Ground Floor Theatre are some of my favorite creations! I enjoy collaborating with each director because every show is unique. It’s always a fun and rewarding experience.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Starting your own business and following your dreams will always seem risky. While I’m not a natural risk taker (you will never catch me gambling), I have learned that each failure is still one step closer to your goals, so take the leap. I took a risk when I decided to stay home with my son because it made sense mathematically, and I wanted to be home with him. During this time, I focused on Neat Freak Studio because it allowed me to continue designing around my schedule and provided the flexibility I needed. Not all careers have those options, so I was grateful.
The opportunity to take another risk presented itself during the infamous COVID era. It was the perfect time to make Neat Freak Studio my main focus again because having a traditional schedule would not work anymore. It’s been an adventure, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to work on designs that inspire and challenge me. One day, I’m designing a brochure, and the next, an enamel pin. I enjoy working on a variety of creative projects.
Pricing:
- email neatfreakstudio@gmail.com to collaborate!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.neatfreakstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neatfreaktx/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neatfreakstudio/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericamoreno/
