Gary Percival
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Gary Percival

The Art of Distraction: Why Your Creative Brain Wanders

The Art of Distraction: Why Your Creative Brain Wanders

Letting your mind roam free from the task at hand may actually benefit creative thinking more than forcing focused concentration.

By Gary Percival Mar 31, 2024
A person sits facing away, deep in thought, looking over a misty field with wildflowers.

Unlocking Mastery: The Art of Asking the Right Questions

At its core, a question is a tool for understanding. When we ask questions, we seek to clarify, to probe deeper, and to gain new knowledge.

By Gary Percival Mar 24, 2024

Embracing the Underdog: Why Being Underestimated is Your Secret Weapon

Hey, In a world that frequently celebrates the favourites and frontrunners, it's easy to become discouraged when you're the underdog. Being underestimated can be a difficult and isolating experience, whether you're a new freelancer, a graphic designer looking to break into a competitive industry,

By Gary Percival Mar 24, 2024
Close-up of hands clutching a chain-link fence, hinting at confinement with a blurred urban background.

Pushing Past 'I Don't Feel Like It': The Secret to Unlocking Your True Potential

Motivation is fickle and fleeting, discipline is reliable and lasting.

By Gary Percival Mar 17, 2024
Silhouetted race official waves checkered flag on platform at sunset, signaling start or end of auto racing event.

Deadline Dilemma: Balancing Speed and Quality in Creative Work

When working against a tight deadline, prioritise the most important aspects of the project.

By Gary Percival Mar 10, 2024

Quiet Victories: Why the Most Important Achievements Are Often Unnoticed

Hey, Our culture is obsessed with external validation and public demonstrations of success, getting caught up in quantifying influence through vanity metrics like social media followers or profile views. But for creative freelancers and solopreneurs seeking fulfilment over a sustainable career, the most important achievements are often quiet and gradual:

By Gary Percival Mar 10, 2024
White jigsaw puzzle with several pieces missing, showing an incomplete or unfinished puzzle on white background.

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
B&W photo of shattered glass pane, cracks forming web-like pattern, gaps revealing blurred background.

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
Person sits on serene pier over calm blue water under clear sky, conveying solitude and reflection.

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

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