What Taking The Leap Looks Like
Photo by Gretchen Mars
Being fired from a job can be a completely unraveling experience or it can be the push towards greatness that you didn't know you needed. Fortunately for Aimee Guzman, it was the latter. Aimee's path to owning the design house, Little Trailer Studio, began after she was let go of her marketing job at Warner Bros. Turning lemons into lemonade wasn't an easy feat and involved a stint in Mexico City as well as a post-bac degree in graphic design. We chatted with Aimee to talk about her creative journey and how she took the leap to establish her own business.
Photo courtesy of Jesus Jacobo
Top 3 Takeaways
Who is Aimee Guzman?
1. Embrace your strengths and don’t be afraid to self-promote yourself.
2. Always trust your gut.
3. Building relationships is key.
I am an aspiring #girlboss and founder of Little Trailer Studio, a boutique creative studio that focuses on branding, web design and illustration. I started Little Trailer Studio in June of 2015, one month after quitting my full-time job. It’s since been a rollercoaster
When did you decide to pursue your current career path?
My current career path as a graphic designer really started 6 years ago when I was fired from my corporate job. My first job after college was as a project coordinator at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Whenever the theater couldn’t afford to hire a graphic designer (which was often) they would have me design postcards, playbills and other marketing collateral. I had no idea what I was doing and I was using Microsoft Publisher at the time. I left that job for a marketing position at Warner Bros and I really did not like it. Ten months later I got fired from it and that’s when I started to think about a new career path. Rather than jumping back into the job market I booked a one way ticket to Mexico City and spent the summer there. I interned at a travel magazine and pretty much followed the art director around all day. One of my more memorable days was observing him and the lead graphic designer debate about fonts. I never imaged there could be a job out there that involved arguing about fonts! I also took an illustration course and lithography course. My goal was to immerse myself in anything creative. I didn’t know what my next step in my career would be but I knew it had to be something creative. I came back from Mexico City refreshed and ready to start my new career change. I looked into different schooling options, asked for feedback on LinkedIn groups and met with university counselors to help me choose how to get into graphic design. After finding that Cal State LA had a post-baccalaureate program I decided to pursue a design education there and received my 2nd BA two years later. Fast forward two years and I got a job at Pressed Juicery before I even graduated. I learned so much at Pressed Juicery and I loved that as in house graphic designer I was able to grow the brand and be a part of a team. But I was really curious to see what it would be like to work with different brands, and clients. After reading about freelance life, a seed was planted and I began to think about starting my own design studio. Not soon after that initial idea, I quit my job and started my studio!
How did you go from idea to execution?
I knew I wanted to work with different brands and clients but I didn’t know exactly what that meant. I didn’t know if I should work at an agency or be freelance. I started reading a lot of articles on Te Everygirl about women who started their own business and I began to wonder if I had what it takes to do the same. But truth be told that isn’t exactly why I started my studio. There were very few jobs that I was interested in and the ones I did apply for didn’t call me back for an interview. So I decided would do freelance for a while and expand my portfolio until I found a job at a boutique design studio or a job that I really loved. But the more I thought about having my own business the more it sounded like a good idea and I felt that it would give me a more rewarding career. So one month after I quit my job I set up my website and started cold emailing potential clients. I also looked at other design studios for reference on pricing, services, etc. I immersed myself on everything regarding entrepreneurship. When I launched I didn’t have any clients lined up. One thing I did for money was I freelanced doing graphic design for an agency that works with ABC. Te types of graphics I was doing wasn’t ideal but it helped keep me afoot while I fgured out my business. I strongly encourage this strategy for anyone that is scared to quit their full-time job because they need the paycheck. Shortly after I launched I slowly starte.
Do you have a mentor?
I have what I call a business BFF that acts more like a peer mentor. I know the idea of a typical mentor is someone who is older and someone who has “made it” already but you’d be surprised how much you can gain from a peer who is in the trenches with you.
Photos courtesy of Gretchen Mars
Has rejection ever affected your creative process?
Rejection and failure is something that has been a challenge for me in having my own design studio, and that’s not because I’m a perfectionist because I am totally not a perfectionist! When my frst few clients would ask me to change something I couldn’t help but take it personally. But now I actually embrace client feedback because my past experience has proved that it’ll make the project stronger. I’ve always struggled with being 100% confdent in my creative abilities. Whenever I get compliments it’s hard for me not to be skeptical of it or assume that the person doesn’t really know about design which I know is really silly.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to pursue the same career as you?
I would say don’t be afraid to take the leap and be open to change. I would also say that starting your own business is not just about being your own boss or creating your schedule. Those are two minor details of starting your own business. If that’s the reason why you want to start your own business then I think you should think again. There are so many cool companies that treat their employees as if they are their own bosses and let you work when you feel most productive. Having my own business may come with its perks but it definitely comes with its own stressors as well. It’s not easy but the challenge is exciting and those small moments of victory are really rewarding. I would also recommend that you look to your strengths and not be afraid to do things your own way. It can be easy to want to copy what someone else has done or to fall in what you think is the standard way of doing things, but when you do work that really comes from your own passions and strengths that’s when you really start to find your calling and forge a creative path that is right for you.
Samples of design work by Aimee Guzman c/o Little Trailer Studio
Top resources for creatives:
Being Boss - this podcast is so girl power central. The founders, Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon, are both designers. Their podcast is honest and entertaining and is the perfect combination of inspiration meets practicality.
Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky - If you’re a creative with lots of ideas, talents, and passions I highly encourage you to read this book. If you get new ideas on the daily but don’t know what to do with them or which ones to pursue, this book is for you.
Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso - For anyone who’s ever thought that they can’t do something because they don’t have experience or don’t have the degree, this book will show you that your “limitations” don’t mean you can’t make it. Being successful is about hard work and perseverance and this book illustrates that. Plus Sophia is just a badass.
Photo by Jesus Jacobo
Finish this sentence:
I want people to remember me as: A sassy go-getter who never settled for less.
If I only had 24 more hours to live, I would: Hangout with my family and have my mom’s home made enchiladas.
If I had to choose a theme song to represent me it would be: Comptine D'un Autre Ete from the Amelie soundtrack
For more on Aimee Guzman and Little Trailer Studio, visit her here: littletrailerstudio.com