Meet Ana and her cute four-legged work companion, Bruno! Ana is a freelance illustrator based out of Mexico. She tends to change up her workspace every so often, but today she shares what her dining room set-up looks like and talks about her goals to change environments more frequently for the purpose of social interactions.
Where do you work? Tell us about your space.
My office is basically my home, in my dining room (which we just changed and have new chairs). Next to it I have a big screen where I sometimes put on some music videos, or even a movie while I am working. So it’s me in front of the laptop and tablet, and sitting next to me is always my dog, Bruno. Obviously there are days where I need to change the view and want to have some contact with society during the day, so in these cases I go to coffee shops and it is fun to have some breakfast over there. Sometimes people ask me what am I doing, what the tablet is for, etc.. (not so much fun when I am really into a project working).
When I vacation, I love to be able to have the freedom to just take my laptop, tablet, and my dog in front of the beach. This is a cool advantage of being a freelancer.
What hardware and software do you use to create your designs?
Basically Photoshop and Illustrator. I recently started using ProCreate, but still learning how to use it. All of this in my Macbook Pro and I recently upgraded to the last Intuos Wacom after 7 years of having my first one! Pff, such a looong time! (I still have it just in case hehe) My new acquisition is an iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil. I’m still learning how to use it correctly and get the most out of it while I am at a coffee shop waiting for friends, or at family reunions.
Tell us about your routine (or lack of one.) How do you structure your days to get things done?
My daily routine always starts with opening the eyes and trying to think of something positive lately. Then I check my phone, say hi to Bruno, and go directly to the shower. I get ready, boil some water to make my coffee, and open the computer. I like to have a notebook to add daily tasks (I find it easier than an electronic agenda) and I number them by priority. Sometimes I might have clients from different time zones which makes it tricky so I’ll wake up earlier or work a little bit later to be in touch about a project.
Usually, I’ll try to go to my exercise training at 6pm three days a week - This is my relief! I love it and get so much more energy. If it was a stressful day, I like to think about something else. I come back, work a bit more, maybe have another shower if I sweat, and get into bed.
How do your space, tools, and habits benefit you? What about those things do you think needs improvement?
Having a list of to do’s is a basic thing for me. It was truly important to make it a habit and be able to focus. I do think I need to find a place where I can have more social interaction. Maybe a co-working space some days or even looking forward to my own place in a few months! And who knows, maybe engage in a partnership or get involved in something else that helps me grow and be able to have a new perspective, new ideas, and new designers to work with.
Want to keep up with Ana? Find her on Dribbble and Instagram
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