How’s life after graduating from IDEA?

Right after I graduated, I started a part-time job designing vehicle wraps for a print shop while also taking on freelance design work. By the end of the year, though, I’d landed a full-time freelance gig as an Art Director/Illustrator at Wasserman + Partners Advertising, and that gig turned into a regular full-time job.

I also had a brief stint a Lululemon doing design work. I wanted to switch things up, and things were going well, but it wasn’t what I had at Wasserman + Partners. I’ve always had a great working relationship with my Creative Director, and even at Lululemon, we were still in contact. I knew I wanted to work with him again. I liked the creative energy. So I left Lulu, returned to Wasserman + Partners, and have been at the agency ever since.

But that really is only half of the story. My day job isn’t my only job.

I’ve done oil painting and illustration commissions for individual clients and galleries. I’ve also worked as an instructor; a few years back, one of my mentors, Jeff Burgess, approached me and asked if I wanted to be an Illustration instructor at Langara College Continuing Studies. For a while, I instructed 10-week courses and really enjoyed my time teaching and growing professionally. It was a lot of work, though. Juggling a full-time job as an AD, freelancing, and teaching illustration courses meant I had less time for my own passion projects. I didn’t really want to, but I decided to cut out teaching. It’s since allowed me grow my role at my agency, and given me more time to work on bigger freelance projects I really love. Maybe I’ll return to teaching one day, but for now, I’m finding my focus. Plus, I’ve got a puppy now, and that takes up a lot of time!

What type of projects are you currently working on?

Multiple campaigns including: TV, Radio, Digital, Social, Print, Packaging Design, Freelance Illustration, Oil Painting commissions.

What are some of the more memorable highlights from your time at IDEA School of Design?

Your classmates become family and all families are crazy, but it was a lot of fun!

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Staying the course creating for multiple channels—although I always want to paint more and I’m definitely not painting Plein-Air enough!

What advice would you give to our current students or anyone considering applying for IDEA School of Design?

Try all the things! Don’t set boundaries just yet while in school. Stay open to any creative option. Experiment with styles. Once school is over life just rockets!

For more on Adam Briggs, see: adambriggs.ca.