Gary Percival
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Gary Percival

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Why Winning a Deal but Losing Respect is a Bad Trade

The cumulative effects of trading respect for short-term wins stagnate careers and creative potential over the years.

By Gary Percival Mar 3, 2024
Black and white image of a potter's clay-covered hands shaping a vessel on a spinning pottery wheel.

From Caution to Courage: Why Getting Older Can Cultivate Creative Bravery for Some

The gifts of time can bring greater trust in our unique gifts and a broader perspective.

By Gary Percival Feb 25, 2024

Compete Against Yourself, Not Others

Hey, Imagine yourself a year from now, standing in a gallery filled with beautiful graphic design posters. How would seeing your own massive creative growth shift your perspective? This scenario reveals an important truth for designers: the most fulfilling competition is with your past work, not others. In graphic design&

By Gary Percival Feb 25, 2024
A woman in a floral dress knocking on a large wooden door of a brick building.

From Request to Reality: Why Asking is Key to Unlocking Opportunities

The opportunities we envision frequently become available when requested.

By Gary Percival Feb 18, 2024
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Breaking Free: Why You Shouldn't Let Others Set Your Limits

You do not have to limit yourself to please others.

By Gary Percival Feb 11, 2024

Beyond the Spotlight: The Unseen Effort Behind Every Success Story

Hey, It's easy to look at the portfolio sites and Instagram feeds of successful designers and feel discouraged. Their highlight reels make it seem like brilliance flows effortlessly from their fingertips. But behind the spotlight lies a tremendous amount of unseen work pushing them towards that success. We

By Gary Percival Feb 9, 2024
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The Luxury of Time: Why Sometimes Convenience is Worth the Cost

Think carefully about when convenience has value beyond just saving time by fuelling productivity and creativity.

By Gary Percival Feb 4, 2024
Open hand covered in vibrant, multi-colored paint - red, blue, yellow, green swirls and marbling on blurred blue background.

Talent Isn't Everything: The Underrated Joy of Creating for Fun

Creating outside the realm of expectations is incredibly liberating.

By Gary Percival Jan 28, 2024

Beyond the Classroom: How Actual Work Transforms Creatives

Hey, Whether you're self-taught or attended design school, one thing remains true: real-world experience takes you from student to pro. While education provides essential fundamentals, only actual design work solidifies those skills and shapes real-world instincts. Once you start working on professional projects, you'll quickly realise

By Gary Percival Jan 26, 2024
Man works on graphic design using iMac in busy office, colleagues in background, tools on desk.

Beyond the Classroom: How Actual Design Work Shapes Better Creatives

The most gifted designers didn't develop their talents just by reading books. They got there by doing the work.

By Gary Percival Jan 21, 2024

Navigating the Noise: Finding Your True Self Amidst Worldly Expectations

🥳 Happy New Year 2024! Hey, It’s increasingly easy to lose touch with your authentic self as a creative professional these days. The nonstop external pressures and societal expectations we face can often drown out our inner wisdom. We get so caught up in chasing arbitrary measures of "success&

By Gary Percival Jan 14, 2024
Silhouettes of three joggers at dawn under clear blue sky, symbolizing healthy, active lifestyle.

New Year, New Lifestyle: How to Transform Your Habits for Better Outcomes

Progress requires self-compassion, not self-blame when you stumble.

By Gary Percival Jan 14, 2024
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Feeding Your Brain: How Daily Information Influences Future Ideas

The information we ingest today holds the seeds that blossom into the professional breakthroughs of tomorrow.

By Gary Percival Jan 7, 2024
Footprints on a sandy beach.

The Myth of the Perfect Start: Why Modesty Wins in the Long Run

Embrace the power of a humble beginning: Modest starts pave the way for grand achievements through persistence and adaptability

By Gary Percival Dec 24, 2023
A designer sketching in the early morning with a cup of coffee in front.

Designing Commitment: Why True Creative Passion Can't Be Bought

True creative passion—the kind that fuels visionary design and innovative ideas—must arise from within.

By Gary Percival Dec 17, 2023

2024 Vision: Setting Your Graphic Design Goals Before the Year Ends

Hey, The year is quickly winding down, but it's not too late to set some graphic design goals for 2024. Having a vision and planning ahead can help propel your freelance business or design career forward. Why Set 2024 Goals Now? Getting a head start on planning allows

By Gary Percival Dec 17, 2023

Gary Percival

Welcome to 'Another Blog'—every Sunday, explore posts on freelance life, productivity, and design inspiration from my journey as a designer.

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Gary Percival
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Where I share what I have learnt as a freelance designer. Every other Sunday, you'll get inspiration from my experiences!