We had the good fortune of connecting with Hanna Dice and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanna, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I chose an artistic career after I struggled to find the right major in college. Nothing really seemed to fit, and I even transferred schools to try and find the right path. After a couple of semesters in business school, I realized I needed to go in the opposite direction, one where I could steer away from a usual 9-5 and take pride in my newfound creativity. From then on, I put all of my energy to get accepted into the graphic design program at my college, and it all paid off!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My design is very free form. I try to take steps to make my work fit for the brand/client while making it unique. My process varies from being very linear to starting from the middle. One of my favorite professors always told me, “You start at the middle, then go to the beginning and then the end.” But, sometimes, that’s what works for me. If I need to start back at square one, I will, and I’ll begin to think from a whole new perspective. I’m very excited about the journey ahead and am eager to share more of my work with the world.

I am currently working for a company called Bandera Creative Co. They specialize in bringing a brand’s story to life, and I am so happy I get to be a part of their amazing team. There are always challenges with anything, but I’ve been so lucky to have an amazing boss who gives proper feedback and is always willing to listen to my many, many questions and concerns. Asking questions and gathering information is so crucial in my design process. It makes room for conversation and broadens the horizons for potential iterations.

Having a creative outlet is also very important. To clear my mind, I like to paint, listen to music, and create objects out of concrete @stonesinabath. It’s very helpful to have something to do to clear my head from anxiety and worry that potentially stems from work.

Asking questions, taking risks, and having creative outlets helped get me where I am today. I want people to look at my designs and start conversations and ask questions. Design is centered around human connection, and I hope to continue that with my work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d start by having a picnic in the park. I frequent Elmington Park in Nashville; I love the active, peaceful atmosphere. I’d also take them to the Frist Art Museum! The most recent show was Picasso Figures and it was a very surreal experience. To eat, if we’re feeling a bit fancy, I’d take them to my favorite spot downtown, Moto. We would also visit Otaku Ramen, of course. For drinks, my friends and I love beer. I would take them to an outdoor brewery like East Nashville Brew Works or Bearded Iris Brewing; both have a great beer selection. And finally, I would bring them to a concert at either Ascend Amphitheater, Mercy Lounge, or The Basement East. If you’re ever in Nashville, these are all very fun places to be. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family has always taught me that at the end of the day, life is about searching for what will truly make you happy and finding what you love, not about following in anyone’s footsteps (unless that’s something you want to do, of course). Photography is what really led me to graphic design. My brother @vagrantscientist taught me how to use a camera, and my roommate @mellzbellz always had a camera in her hand, so naturally, my interests grew from there. I loved taking images, but more so manipulating those images. I wanted to try and find a path that could highlight both aspects and graphic design seemed like a perfect fit.

Once realizing I wanted to pursue a creative career, I changed my major and found an amazing group of friends (all 16 of them in my class @utkschoolofdesign) who never failed to make me feel confident and always helped me when I needed a push. Having a group of like-minded people supporting me never failed to put a smile on my face – even when I felt discouraged about a project.

Website: https://hannadice.com

Instagram: @hbanana__

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanna-dice-489b38162/

Other: email: dice.hanna@gmail.com

Image Credits
Melissa Croft

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