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

Hi Olivia, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I personally do not agree with giving up. I love what I do – the ways it makes me feel, the reactions I get from clients/friends/family. There have been times when I truly doubted myself. Maybe I saw another graphic designer’s work and then compared it to mine, maybe I felt down about having to retake a course, maybe I felt exhausted from reworking a piece just to get it right. All of those factors however, are what kept me going in the end. My advice on giving up? If you can no longer feel the passion for what you do, if you can’t feel the bliss from your work and the reactions it gets, then maybe try something different.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love what I do. Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 crisis, my graphic design work has slowed up a bit. Before the pandemic, I was super excited for what the future was about to show me. I had an amazing interview set up with a particular company, all of my top tier goals were aligning and coming to completion, and things were feeling better than they ever had. At the start of COVID, I felt saddened by the immediate halt on things. I almost fell into depression but I refused. I brought my old work back up and decided to focus on my skills, while working on newer skills. From a professional standpoint, I have always sort of carried that business like mentality with me. It is constantly growing and I am always learning. The path has not been an easy one. from working on the type of person I want to be seen as, to gaining my footing in the field, it has and continues to be a great adventure. I’ve learned that patience is your best friend. No matter your profession, practice, field, patience is the golden key to true success. In the end, I want the world to know that I mastered patience. That I understood time and perseverance is what brings true solid accomplishments.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Atlanta? There’s A LOT to do – whether on a dime or with a bag. I feel the best adventures come spontaneously and lasts all day and all night. I actually have shown a few friends of mine how I like to have fun in the city. Some of my favorite places to eat are at KBBQ Taco in Decatur, Fellini’s Pizza, Chopt Salad Co. in Buckhead, The Scotch Bonnet on Campbellton, Soto Soto in the North Highlands when I’m feeling a little elegant, The North Highland bakery, I can go on. I am too, a foodie. My kind of fun is pretty relaxed. I enjoy sitting in lofi hookah cafés. I have yet to experience Controllerise on Mondays! We would probably go walking around Little Five Points or The Virginia Highlands; visiting the small boutiques for somethings nice. It’s always fun to visit The High Museum of Art, find live music showings and attend them. Bowling is a great go to with friends. If you’re looking for a more nostalgic type of fun, Joystick in Edgewood is chill. Atlanta is awesome for scenic/artistic photography. The Beltline, ever growing, has become one of my most favorite places to walk, bike ride and eat. I enjoy taking it to The Ponce City Market. There, if you’re new and want food, fun, shopping and a hipster vibe all in one, is the perfect place to be. There’s this great rooftop area that’s absolutely gorgeous and aesthetically pleasing during the sunset.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My uncle Ted! Thoedore L. Ward. The BEST uncle on the planet. I have always admired how Teddy leads his life. He’s a painter that loves food, adventure, animals, great movies/tv shows and good music. He’s also very supportive, loving and suuuuuuuper caring. Teddy sees what he wants to try and chases it, he invisions what he wants to paint and creates it, he understands how he wants to experience this life and he goes for it. My uncle Ted has been a mentor of mine without even knowing and I couldn’t be happier to shout him out.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olliegraphics/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-hart-6445b8143/

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