Today we’d like to introduce you to Torey Earl.
Torey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Ace Designs inception was created from the desire of seeking out opportunity after surviving in insufferable conditions. After I graduated in 2015 from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor’s in Graphic Communication, I, admittedly was cocky. That arrogance lead me to the most valuable lessons that I have learned as an adult and an entrepreneur.
I worked at the Park District of Forest Park as an assistant aquatics manager before I was hired at my first sales/commission job as a personal trainer for Xsport Fitness. However, it was short lived after 4-5 months.
While working at Xsport Fitness, I worked at Osullivan’s Public House and Bar in Forest Park on weekends as I attended additional classes for preparation for a Masters in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. Shortly before I resigned from my position, I was hired at the United Parcel Service (UPS) as a package handler. Working an overnight job and a part-time became hard to manage after about a month. I remember one of Xsport managers telling me, “In business, you’ve got to hustle and not everybody can do it because the hustle is in the blood.” That quote stuck to me.
I filled out many applications throughout the Chicagoland area for Graphic Design entry-levels and internships but it wasn’t until February of 2016, where I received my first interview for an entry-level graphic design position at Freeman Inc. in McCook, IL. I was ecstatic and overly confident in my abilities. I thought the struggle of working at ungodly hours of the night would end within two hours. Unfortunately, I had succumbed to the reality that although I was one of the most talented designers at my university, my skillset would be inconceivably dwarfed by skill and innovation of those who have been honing the craft for years. The thing that broke down a mental barrier for me was that I never received feedback or a reason why I was not chosen.
In the month of February in 2016, I declared war upon the world that I would become the best designer that this world has to offer and I would never have to confront another rejection for design opportunities.
I loved graphic design before I understood it since my high school years when I played with Paint, GIMP and Photoshop.
April 2016, I created the logo that would belong to Ace Designs. I fell in love with the design because the idea was so spontaneous; I felt that it was for me alone.
June 2016, I resigned from UPS and the Park District of Forest Park gave me the opportunity to assist with creating promotional media for their social media and programs. At the same time, I continued to work there as one of the assistant aquatic managers for the summer season. I asked for entrepreneurial insight with how to build a business from the ground. Thanks to Matthew J. Klich – President of Clik Entertainment, I learned slowly but surely with on-going support.
I met with Creative Director Julio Desir Jr. and Victor Powell of Powell Photography, Inc., who directed me to a proper foundation with what kind of “designer” I truly wanted to become.
Powell told me that, “Where there is success, there is failure… when you truly figure out what you truly want out of life/design it will be simple as breathing.”
After digesting their advice and constructive criticism, I re-evaluated my desire for MBA and adamantly decided to put forth all my effort and energy into building Ace Designs to create opportunities for not only myself but for other designers that may have or struggled as I have. Prove to the world that I no longer need their permission to have or to do what I want to achieve success.
September – December of 2016, I worked diligently at the Park District of Forest Park, working with their Recreational and Marketing Director Rachell Entler with digital and print media for local events while working at St. Joseph High School as a substitution teacher and attending night classes for web design.
December 29th, 2016 – I began drafting and coding the original web design for Ace Designs. I coded from day to day with an average start of 5:30am. I listened and learned from many motivational speakers and celebrities like Eric Thomas, Will Smith, Les Brown, Denzel Washington, Dwayne Rock Johnson, Bruce Lee, Peter Dinklage, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), Inky Johnson, Micheal Jackson and many more. I had all their voices repeating in my car, my phone, my computer daily until their words and lessons were scripted onto my soul.
2017 – Ace Designs went out of state for business hitting Florida, and California. Through diligence and consistency, I managed to improve the areas where I was weak such as HTML, CSS, jQuery coding, logo development, hand sketching, digital illustrations and photography.
What most people will not tell you when building a business from the ground up is that, if you were raised in a family/household with no business connections in the field you wish to penetrate; challenging does not do the process justice by any means. I have encountered and shook hands with rejection and failure far to many times to simply say “we’re acquaintances.” They are my “study buddies” when it comes to building myself (and Ace Designs) better.
In 2017, I saved and spent money, investing in the photography and office equipment, print and interactive forms for Ace and skills needed to become a professional and profitable investment to future clients.
I worked partly at the Park District of Forest Park for graphic design and continue to sub-teach at St. Joseph High School.
I received five job interest offers and attended 4 interviews. After the late and sleepless nights sharpening the craft, “hustling” through the streets of Chicago for months searching for a financially stable, three printed business card revisions and completion of the official Ace Designs website, I was brought aboard the Clue Dental Marketing in Burr Ridge in 2018.
Today, I continue to exercise my time-management skills with my many part-time responsibilities and freelance work for Ace Designs masterfully. What I find most incredible about this journey that I am on, is that how much can change in a year. Investing in myself and continuing to persevere with diligence has humbled me, molded me into someone that I never thought could ever become.
Although, I am employed in an actual marketing firm now, I cannot afford to take it easy because I firmly believe that comfortability stunts growth! I want to continue growing and learning as a designer and a person to be nothing less than the best I can be for my existing family and the one I hope to one day build.
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?
I suppose the greatest challenge was conquering fear of the unknown; the risks needed to propel Ace Designs forward.
I juggled part time jobs since my senior year at Western Illinois University as a full-time student, RA, Graphic Designer, and President of two extra curricular activities.
I have had sleepless nights while on the grind to increase Ace Designs subject matter (designs) and target audience.
I have and still continue to work weekend nights at a local bar in Forest Park for the past 2-3 years, work at St. Joseph High School as assistant Track Coach, Freelance for Ace Designs and work at Clue Dental Marketing as a Jr. Graphic Designer.
I must say that UPS was the breaking point for me. I worked in the warehouse from 1am-7am or 8am most days; carrying and loading feather weight packages to over 120 pound packages day in and day out. At that point, for me; that was hell. In my mind, I would either become a designer or die. Eric Thomas was at an event and said, “You don’t beg average people to be phenomenal. You don’t beg good people to be phenomenal. You just are phenomenal and you will attract phenomenal.”
“You have one chance at life so be phenomenal or be forgotten.”
Ace Designs – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Ace Designs is a digital design and marketing business. Ace Designs creates logos, illustrations, magazines, album covers, flyers, business cards, brochures, billboards, front-end web design and photography. As of lately, it’s arguable that logo design and photography seem to be Ace’s selling point but I like to believe that our specialties are all of compound elements of design.
I am most proud of the progress made within the years of 2016 – 2017. Shaking hands and speaking to different professionals and attending events in the greater Chicago area has been nothing short of great. I think the most exciting is developing logo branding for start-up businesses as such myself.
What I believe that divides Ace Designs from other marketing firms is obviously experience however, that gives us an edge because as a designer, I am learning skills that took these “marketing giants” years to master and I will have a better chance of refining and creating something that has never been done. As Natalie Portman once said to graduates from Harvard, “Inexperience is an asset.” I cannot help but believe that to be true.
Lastly, I must say that I have a unquenchable thirst for knowledge and design. The pride and greed I feel towards building and creating designs and opportunities for Ace and the next generation is indescribable. Inky Johnson is a motivational speaker that once said, “you should leave places you’ve been better than how you found it.” It is my responsibility; personal legend to one day become a Creative Director in Chicago and help the next generation after me prosper. That, in essence is the foundation of Ace Designs.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moments are compromised of three, which are universally equal. The first was building Ace Designs website from complete scratch followed by being hired aboard the Clue Dental Marketing team (as Torey) and having a client in Florida open his bakery store-front, “Sweeter with Fiedler” this past January of 2018 with the logo I designed.
Pricing:
- Logo Design – $199.99
- Photography – $59.99 per/hour
- Fabric Design (Non-Commerical) – $39.99
- Business Card Design – $47.99
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.youracedesigner.me
- Phone: 708-203-1530
- Email: torey.earl@youracedesigner.me
- Instagram: instagram.com/youracedesigner
- Facebook: facebook.com/youracedesigner
- Twitter: twitter.com/youracedesigner
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
