What type of graphics do you make, and which type is your favorite?

I make covers, occasionally banners and blends for my own books, book jackets, and moodboards -- which, for anyone that doesn't know, are sort of character posters expressed in multiple photos -- and covers are my favorite. I love being presented with the challenge of summarizing an entire book through a small thumbnail -- it's fun, and forces me to be creative!

How long have you been designing graphics?

I have been designing covers after I was on Wattpad for around six months, so basically a year and a half-ish. I really started getting into them around a year ago. 

How did you start?

Honestly, I was bored on a summer afternoon and logged into Wattpad. I was browsing through the fantasy category and marveling at all of the gorgeous covers made by graphic designers here on Wattpad, and then I looked at my own covers -- a picture, with some text (in Papyrus, sigh) slapped on. 

I was mortified. 

Then, I began to search through graphics. I went through hundreds of "cover shop books" here on Wattpad and watched in envy as the designers created beautiful covers. And then, still under the tag of "cover," I stumbled upon a sort of "graphic tutorial" book and was introduced to Pickmonkey. Then, after a bit, I progressed onto Pixlr, and then finally moved onto Photoshop CS6.

What is your favorite part about graphic design?

As I mentioned before, I adore the challenge of attempting to incorporate so many ideas into one picture, enough to draw in a reader's attention and to make it meaningful at the same time. And I love the bubbly feeling when you see a popular book wear your cover, and the feedback that can stem from your readers if you're lucky enough, but mostly, I love the challenge. Designing a cover can be so incredibly difficult it gives me a rush when I put my fingers to my keyboard and mouse. 

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from a ton of other Wattpad designers, my favorites being @seventhstar, @Ferret-bird, @weeknder and @Forcade, but I also get a lot of inspiration from just posters and typography I see down the streets, and sometimes just music I listen to or maybe art I see. In addition to posters, I also get it from cool pictures I see on the internet, and from the beautiful book covers in Barnes & Noble -- Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy being my favorites, probably.

How long does a graphic typically take you?

 As short as 25 minutes to as long as around three hours, it depends on the flow of ideas and the complexity of the design.

What advice would you give aspiring designers?

Never give up, and embrace criticism. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the comments I received from other graphic designers, even if they were mostly negative. Don't go whining off with your tail in-between your legs -- that never helps. Turn back, relook at your cover, look back at the criticism, and you may find that you agree with some of the points the critiquer mentioned. It's all a learning process, my friend, and believe me, I started out with an F. 

A fun fact about yourself: 

I love creating quotes c: You can see quotes starting off my bio and I'll just jot down some in a notebook. Oh right, I also love collecting stationary. Stationary is the best thing that's ever happened to mankind.

EVER.