In this month’s Pepper Talk, we’re getting to know Maricel Savage, one of our talented designers who has been with us for 1.5 years.

1. Do you have any nicknames?
My close friends and family call me Mar. My husband calls me Marbee and another nickname we got from watching an old episode of “Lost.” I have a childhood Filipino nickname that I also will not disclose.

2. What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Workout and then meditate…sometimes I have to take a 10-minute nap because I get sleepy from meditating. Lol!

3. What is your favorite thing about working as a designer?
I love the challenge of taking a complex message and coming up with the best strategic, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing way to communicate it, to visually tell the client’s story.

4. How did you get started in this industry?
I was always creative and loved to draw and paint when I was little. As I got older, I found I could incorporate my creativity into a career when I studied Visual Communication Design at Villa Julie College, which is now Stevenson University. After I graduated, I learned so much from my first design job at a communications firm. One day, I could be designing billboards and coding websites, while the next I could be storyboarding commercials, writing radio copy, or helping with animations and video production. It was a great learning experience and I loved just being a sponge, soaking it all in!

5. What are your favorite tools of the trade? What is the worst?
Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign are a must! I hate PowerPoint.

6. Do you have a set process when beginning a new project?
After getting all specs and information from a client, I like to immerse myself in research. I like to see who my clients’ competitors are, what the target audience is already exposed to in the market. I gather textures, colors, imagery, quotes, and brainstorm words that evoke specific feelings into mood boards. After all of that, I’ll start sketching and begin the design concept process.

7. What do you draw inspiration from?
My family and friends, Pinterest, fashion, textures, patterns, nature, meditation.

8. Rapid-Fire Round:

Caffeine or no: No, but I probably should!

Sweet or savory: Both!

Favorite movie: Ahh! Too many!

Favorite place to travel: Mexico, San Francisco and Chicago.

Hobbies: Reading, crafting, yoga, and Netflix. ????

9. Okay, admission time… If you could pick one design that you wish you had come up with first, what would it be?
There are so many I wish I would’ve come up with! Right now, I would have to say it’s the Care Icon.

Thanks for taking the time to meet Maricel. As always, stay tuned for next month’s Pepper Talk to meet another member of our team!