The startup land is filled with blossoming entrepreneurs. Some are new to the game; others are seasoned.
Michael Jones is about to celebrate 16 years as the founder of Jones Design, a graphic design studio that specializes in creative direction for the socially and environmentally conscious. A California native, Michael went to UC Davis as a pre-med student before discovering his passion for art and design through scientific illustration. He quickly changed his major, and the rest is history.
For this edition of Member Spotlight, a series where we showcase the work of entrepreneurs, we chatted with Michael about his love for design and his secrets to success and longevity.
My professional career began as a staff designer at a San Francisco design firm. I’ve always had a strong tendency toward hand drawing and painting. As my personal style became more defined, I started seeking freelance work to give me the opportunity to express myself more freely. My entrepreneurial spark was thus ignited, and I eventually threw myself full-force into a solo career.
The design process starts with research. I focus the lion’s share of my efforts just to learning because I’m a bit of a history nut. And this is how I generate enthusiasm for a product or service. Afterwards I’ll get to a point when thousands of images and ideas will fly around in my head. The key to staying creative is sketching – I’m always sketching.
I’m fascinated by faces. I remember looking back on a folio of drawings I had done as a kid, and mine were almost always of faces. I didn’t even bother to draw the whole body because I was only interested in capturing an expression or likeness. Perhaps it’s because the eyes hold a great deal of mystery. I’m endlessly fascinated by them.
I’m somewhat of a chameleon, always adapting and changing. Because of the nature of my field, I constantly need to be aware of current trends. The mission of my business has always included the element of aligning with the values of my clients, and the current trend toward global activism has made that alignment much more satisfying. It’s great to use the power of design to help with the success of those causes.
There have been many things that have helped me through the past 16 years. Building and maintaining a strong network in which I can both gain and provide valuable feedback has been crucial, as well as holding a strong commitment to my clients and being diligent and disciplined. I also love what I do, and I think that passion shows in my work.
Choose a team of advisors who you trust without question. Although entrepreneurship can be pursued by anyone who seeks a degree of control over his or her own career, a successful venture depends on a trusted network.
Photographs by Lauren Kallen