Today we’d like to introduce you to Darryl Diggs Jr.
Hi Darryl, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I made my way out to Austin from San Antonio in 2009. After giving up the hoop dream, I was pushed by an art teacher to attend the Art Institute of Austin. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do at the time but graphic design stood out. I never thought about who designed what label or logo before. Once I discovered what design actually is and means, I had to learn more. During my time at AI, I had some great professors but I did most of my learning from my peers. I latched onto them and picked up any gems I could. These peers ended up graduating before me and offering me an internship – where I continued to pick up those gems. I still do today – shoutout to them, they know who they are. After graduating, I got my first big boy job at a sign shop as a graphic designer. I got to get my hands and mind on some of the recognizable neon signs around town. P. Terry’s, Torchy’s, Little Woodrows, and many more. My employer was a small business at the time. They didn’t have any social media at the time or even understand it too much. Their website looked like the original Space Jam website. I saw an opportunity and took it upon myself to run their social media. Creating content like stop motion & timelapse videos. Once I burned out from continuiously running into a glass ceiling – I decided to step away from a full-time design job. I picked up a Client Experience desk job (shoutout to the benefits). With the full-time design job, I didn’t want to go home and complete my free-lance after work or even create for myself. However, with the CX job, I went home and put all my creative energy into freelance design, photography and completed passion projects. I continued to freelance and sharpen my skills along the way. I am blessed enough to say I now freelance and work for a company that works with me and my freelance schedule – which I am very appreciative of.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
“There is no such thing as a road without obstacles” -Unknown I said that quote above but I bet it sounds better coming from an unknown source. My main and consistent obstacle has been money. Not only gambling on yourself to provide can be frightening but knowing it takes money to complete projects in the beginning. I would let money stop me from completing projects because my budget did not match my vision. Another obstacle that I feel everyone struggles with is comparing your journey to other people’s journey. Once I overcame that mindset and started doing things for me and only me – it opened up doors. Some of those doors had people standing in them with the budget I needed to match my vision.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like to dabble in anything that allows me to flex my creative muscle a bit. I would have to say I specialize in graphic design and illustration. I love branding businesses – the first thing I like to remind clients is that the logo is just as important as the product or service of their business. I approach the project as so. Nailing a branding project for a client is like hitting a game-winning shot in my eyes. I enjoy digital and film photography as well. Catching a candid moment on the street, at a warehouse party (pre-covid) and getting that right moment for a client or brand. I’m most proud of maintaining a steady freelance career – it’s definitely not easy. I honestly don’t have an answer about what sets me apart. I guess I just like to get the job done and done well.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Covid-19 taught me that there are more selfish people in the world than I originally thought. Professionally, I observed the more you show you are working/creating on social media, the more clients you can potentially pull in. Quarantining was an weird experience but as a creative I noticed I was able to do more. I was able to explore more artistically because we were forced to be inside. I realigned my goals and was able to build the paths to the goals. Definitely a weird experience.
Contact Info:
- Email: diggs.creative@gmail.com
- Website: Diggscreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creative_diggs/
- Other: https://society6.com/creativediggs
Image Credits
Jay Ybarra: the story cover photo
Nathan James: photo of me working on set
