Jay Master shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jay, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I wake up and get the kid ready for school. Then I go to the gym and workout. As part of my routine I have a basketball routine where I have to make 50 shots from mid-range and 50 shots from three. This is my zen and lets me just play without anything else in my mind.
After I’m done working out, I come home check my emails then work the remainder of my day until my kid comes home.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jay Master. I work a full-time remote job and also run my freelance business on the side. I’ve been designing for close to 25 years and it was a winding road to get where I’m at. I went through years of school and odd jobs before I realized my calling was graphic design. Since that point, I’ve been focused on continually working to become a better designer.
Fortunately, I’m at a point in my career where I can selectively pickup freelance work as I choose. I specialize in branding and packaging,
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Traveling to a Jamaica in high school, which was my first time out of the US. It opened my eyes to an economic and cultural world that’s very different from where I was raised.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
In order to be successful you have to suffer. I go by two mantras in my life. The first is, be like water (Bruce Lee). Water always finds its way around obstacles and is always moving forward. The second is every thing you want is on the other side of difficult. I work really hard to be the best version of myself.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
As most industries right now, social media is a critical tool. However, it is filled with narcism and fake truths at every scroll. I see many designers, young and old, care too much about the algorithm and likes. This isn’t validation of being a good designer, its just a fake metric.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m being true to the people and my clients around me. If I can assist in making their lives better through my actions and my work then I feel successful. This brings me joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaymasterdesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/live_design_co/
- Other: https://dribbble.com/jmaster
Image Credits
All images belong to myself.
