Life and Work with Erin German

Thanks for sharing your story with us Erin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my graphic design career in downtown Chicago after graduating from the University of Kansas in May of 1998. With the arrival of my first son approaching in February of 2008, I decided to find a way to keep working AND be a stay-at-home mom. Therefore, at the same time that my son was born, so was Erin German Design. I celebrated 10 years last February! Although it can be tricky to balance work/home/family when working out of the house, overall, it has been an amazing journey and I am lucky to be able to design from home.

The nature of my work was initially corporate, as I still had connections in Chicago. Once I became more settled in Glen Ellyn, I made new connections which led to more special occasion jobs, such as invitations, stationery, announcements, etc. I quickly realized that this area of design is where my passion lay. Over time I studied and improved my illustration skills, and took up hand-lettering which added more dimension to my designs. Currently, I have a perfect balance of corporate and special occasion work.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall, it has been a relatively smooth road, but you have to be very disciplined and organized with your time. When my boys were babies, I would have to work early in the morning before they woke up, during nap time, and in the evenings if need be. Looking back, I don’t know how I did it! But the dedication paid off – now, my business is well-established and I have the full school day to work.

My other piece of advice, especially if you are creative, is to get some kind of education in business, whether it be from a class, online, an advisor or books. I feel strongly that everyone in college should have to take a basic business class – even artists! I wish I would have had that awareness while in school.

Lastly, never stop learning. My business has evolved because I continued to educate myself. I have taken several classes online or in person in order to enhance my skills.

Please tell us about Erin German Design.
I provide graphic design and hand-lettering services for primarily print-oriented work, such as marketing materials, special occasion materials, and branding. I also provide hand-lettering for wedding and event day-of needs (chalkboard signage, place cards, gift tags, etc.).

Currently, my greatest joy as a designer is providing logo and branding design for women who are starting their own businesses, many of whom have been home with their children for several years. It brings me deep gratification to be involved in helping these women get their businesses up and running, and I am continually inspired by their drive, passion, and time management skills!

The special occasion side of my business thrives during the holiday season, as I have been designing custom cards for my clients since 2012. And this year, I am thrilled to have one of my designs featured in the Minted.com and Pippa.com 2018 holiday card collections.

Image Credit:
Kristi Hughes Photography (personal photo)

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