Gary Percival
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Gary Percival

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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
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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
A string of lightbulbs at various degrees of illumination.

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
Smiling child in fur-lined hooded coat laughs joyfully outside surrounded by green foliage.

Designing Happiness: Why Your Greatest Competitor Should Be Your Past Self

However, the key to not just surviving but thriving in this competitive environment lies in a simple yet profound shift in mindset: measure your success against your past self, not others.

By Gary Percival Dec 10, 2023
Illuminated Christmas decorations on bare tree branches at night with out-of-focus lights in the background.

Navigating the Slow Season: Proactive Strategies for Freelancers

Traditionally, the end of the year marks a slow season for freelancers, particularly in fields like graphic design, writing, and other creative arts.

By Gary Percival Dec 3, 2023

Winning by Risking: How Fear of Looking Bad Holds Us Back

Hey, In the creative world, risk is often a double-edged sword. We, as creatives, tend to shy away from taking chances, primarily to avoid the sting of failure. Yet, it's an ironic truth that playing it safe can be the very thing that curtails our potential rewards. Overcoming

By Gary Percival Dec 3, 2023
A person looking at his Apple Watch in front of the summer sun.

Time Tells All: Revealing Your Real Priorities Through Your Daily Habits

Our daily habits essentially "vote" for our real priorities, much more accurately than any aspirational goal or value statement.

By Gary Percival Nov 26, 2023
Sailboat with crew navigates choppy waters against cloudy sky, city skyline visible in the background.

From Passive to Proactive: Shifting Your Freelance Strategy in an Unpredictable Market

The winds of change are indeed blowing—it's time to adjust your freelance sails and navigate the unpredictable waters of the market with confidence and strategy.

By Gary Percival Nov 19, 2023

Creative Detours: Navigating Sudden Shifts in Your Artistic Journey

Hey, As creatives, we often envision a straight path for our careers. We map out plans, set goals, and work hard to follow a seemingly direct route to success. But the reality is that unexpected twists and turns are inevitable in any creative journey. Major life events, economic downturns, client

By Gary Percival Nov 19, 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!