Shop Small | Web Design, Social Media Management & More

If you were to have an official job title what would you call yourself and why?

The words “communication designer” have a nice ring to them…I’ve worked on many different projects in the last year, including social media management, web design, photography, branding, wedding florals and piano, press coverage, copywriting…the list goes on.

These roles all boil down to taking someone’s idea and creating a compelling message, communicating their thoughts and words in a concise and beautiful manner. Art, regardless of the medium, is a way to spread ideas. Right now, my work is shifting into mainly web design! Vision is my greatest strength. In marketing class, I would hear a case study or problem and very quickly analyze the information, coming up with a creative way to communicate the solution. I’m very conceptual, I love big ideas and overarching themes. I’ve always been attracted to design, and that’s where I hope to further my career. Designing websites is the first time I’ve really felt flow in my work. I literally can’t stop working. I wouldn’t say that is a positive thing…

What is the hardest part about self-employment?

I work and sleep and dance and read all in the same room. Sometimes it’s hard to stop working when I’m sleeping or dancing or reading. I’ll often wake up in the middle of the night with thoughts about typefaces…

What is the best part about self- employment?

The freedom of creative expression, to work on what I have the energy and ideas for at that moment. And the relationships I develop with my clients. My work is very personal, and to create personal work, you have to have a personal relationship with the person you are doing the work for. I get very excited to work on projects with people whom I share values with, people who care about beauty, relationships, ideas, meaning, the natural world. I like making things for people who like being different.

What advice would you give yourself at the start of this process?

Knowing where you’re going is entirely different than planning where you want to arrive. I felt a lot of pressure (mostly from within) to have a clear picture of exactly where I wanted to land, in life, in business. I don’t know what I want to be, but I know who I want to be - someone who looks and listens for the purpose of understanding. I want to create and communicate things that come from where I am and what I am learning and thinking, responding in a way that is helpful to the world and the people and problems around me. It is in the relationships between things, ideas, and people that we create something new. The communication of this intention could take many forms, and HAS taken many forms in my life thus far.

What are three things you couldn't live without?

my notebook, a sharpened Ticonderoga pencil, bananas

What’s your favorite part about the kind of work you do?

My favorite part is gathering all the pieces, arranging them, and forming a cohesive concept. I love the energy that comes with starting a project and the process of gathering ideas. Books are my greatest inspiration, and there are hundreds in my room, all arranged in rainbow order! I’m fascinated with the way stories are presented visually - the fonts, the layout design, the photography. You can learn so much before even reading them. The worst place to find web design inspiration is on another website.

In light of current circumstances with COVID-19, what have been the greatest changes for your day to day work?

In-person conversation is as important to my health as eating and sleeping. I used to have a regular practice of going to Hopscotch (local coffee shop) every morning and working until early afternoon, engaging in at least one conversation with someone I knew (or someone I didn’t). It energized me, enriched my ideas, and made my work better. Now, the only in-person conversations I have are with my immediate family. That shift (and the feeling of loss) has made me more intentional about communicating with friends that I can’t see and provoking conversations with my family members - ones that aren’t just about washing the dishes.

What’s next for you?

We’ve all heard the fable that work doesn’t feel like work when you’re doing what you love. I think it’s actually true. In the past few months, I’ve gotten a lot of jobs designing websites, and I’m learning to restrain myself from tweaking them at all hours of the night. The thing I like most about design work is that it feels like an extension of who I am and what I do best - listen, get to know people, and bring out the beautiful parts inside of them. I love the relationships I develop with people as I create something for them. I love telling the entire story, combining photography and words to showcase the essence of a person or brand. A website gives you a voice. It’s empowerment, taking who someone is and showing the world how wonderful they are. It’s hard to do that for yourself. You know who you are on the inside. I’ll help you say it out loud.

P.S. This week, I'm also starting an IGTV channel all about my creative process. The art of creation is an act of hope, and we could all use a little hope. Search @Madelinellong on Instagram to tune in!

Maddie has also managed the Verity Vareé social media, is a part of our team, and ongoing writer here. You’ll see her in several areas of the Vv community! If you’re looking for someone to bring new life and quality direction to your project, she’s the one you want.

Interview by, Emily Dean