Amee D'Souza

Interview with Digital Designer Amee D’Souza

Amee D'SouzaAmee is a freelance digital designer and consultant based in London. With qualifications and experience in illustration and animation, interaction design and web design and build, she’s one of those rare beings who is equally comfortable with the creative and technical aspects of developing a successful web presence.

Essentially, Amee can make your website look pretty AND make it enjoyable and easy to use. She’ll also be able to explain – in language you’ll understand — why a design isn’t working as well as it could and how you could make it better.

Amee’s business clients seem to reflect her own bespoke, boutiquey approach to business. The range includes bloggers to small business and charities. She recently designed the logo and websites for Mothers & Shakers and Vicki’s sites Honest Mum and Mummy’s Got Style. If you’re interested in sprucing up your blog – or even just getting an independent but expert opinion — get in touch!

Describe a typical day for you?

There is no such thing as a typical day. I’m usually working on multiple projects at a time so I need to be very organised. I work from home, and after the school run I catch up on emails and set out my plan for the day. Depending on my schedule I could be sketching on paper, designing on screen, writing reports, or knee deep in code. I really enjoy the variety of the work I undertake and I find creative problem solving very rewarding.

Once my son is home from school, I try to focus on spending quality time with him. Of course a great deal of this time usually involves shuttling him to and from clubs, lessons, and playdates or battling with him over homework, but we do get some chatting, playing and cuddling in as well. Once he’s in bed it’s back to work. As a self confessed night owl, I’m often up till the early hours. I find the solitude and lack of distraction means that it’s often my most productive time of day.

What do you feel are your biggest achievements?

In professional terms, my biggest achievements have been successful projects that have challenged and enhanced my analytical and creative capabilities. I’m lucky to have a number of these under my belt. Saying that, I rate my biggest accomplishment so far as gaining a distinction for the full time masters degree whilst working and looking after a 3 year old. It was a steep learning curve and a huge workload, but the experience has been invaluable. In personal terms, my biggest achievement has been raising a well-balanced, happy child.

What’s in your handbag/ satchel?

I used to carry to the world around with me but now I much prefer to travel light. I always have my phone, keys, cash, a good quality fineliner pen, and scraps of paper to jot notes as inspiration can strike at anytime. Unusually for a techie, I prefer to write notes by hand as the act of mark-making with pen on paper sparks more ideas. If my day’s going to involve any travelling or waiting, I will also take whichever book that I’ve got on the go. I love reading fiction and I spend a lot of time looking at screens, so I prefer the traditional paper book. The physical weight and feel of the pages is very satisfying.

What are your ambitions in life?

I want to make sure that I’m still finding my work enjoyable, which means continually setting myself new challenges. I have a few personal projects in the early stages that I’d like to find the time to develop. They involve animation, interactive story-telling, and mobile app development.

What advice would you give your pre baby self that you now know having had a child?

My son was born extremely early and his first couple of years were very demanding. The experience put a lot into perspective. I would advise my pre-baby self to live in the moment more – don’t sweat the small stuff, enjoy where you are, it will all work out in the end.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I’m not sure where I see myself in five years time. Will I be freelancing or working in a small team at a creative agency? Will we still be living in London or will we have moved abroad? I know that I’ll be the mother of a 12 year old by then, which is a very scary thought!

What advice would you give a budding creative?

My advice for a budding creative is that if you want to make things, just make them. Don’t think that you need to have particular materials or skills or qualifications to get started – experiment, there are so many resources out there, you’ll learn as you go along. It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes – you’ll learn more from them than the things that work out. The artists that you admire made a lot of bad art before they made good art, the only difference between them and you is perseverance.

Finally, happiness is…

Happiness is reading a book that you don’t want to end. Finding the answer to a problem you’ve spent some time mulling over. Relaxing and spending time with people you enjoy – for me this means chatting and laughing with good friends, cuddling up with my child, spending quality time with my partner. Happiness is being content with where you are at that moment.

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Photo copyright – Amee D’Souza

Website – www.amee-dsouza.com

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If you’d like to get in touch to discuss your requirements, view my portfolio and examples of recent projects, or collaborate on a new venture, contact me at contact@amee-dsouza.com

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