Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Connolly
Hi Paul, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a visual person who enjoys creative challenges, especially those that are visual in nature. Like many young creatives, I loved art classes in school, spent my free time drawing, and took photos. For a brief period, I explored architecture but quickly realized it wasn’t the right path for me. What I truly wanted to be was a graphic designer. I could envision creative ideas in my mind, and my preferred medium was not a brush or ink, but the computer. With digital tools, I was able to start bringing my visions to life. I’m happy to report that after almost 20 years of practice, I’m getting closer.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I consider myself lucky for deciding early on to pursue a career in design and for sticking with it. I’ve found roles as a designer, led design teams, and taught other designers along the way. Most designers know the struggle of imposter syndrome; it’s easier than ever to compare ourselves to the incredible work others are doing, which often seems far better than anything I’ve accomplished. Breaking free from that endless cycle of self-doubt takes practice. For me, mentoring early-career designers has become a key part of this journey. I often forget how far I’ve come until I have the privilege of extending a hand to help someone else on their path to becoming a designer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Those of us who are lucky enough to work in design for as long as I have often pick up several skills along the way. As a music fan, record collector, and musician myself, one of my favorite projects as a designer is collaborating with other artists on their work. Whether it’s album packaging, gig posters, or products, I find that time seems to stop when I’m engaged in these projects. Despite some of them being among my lowest-paying jobs, I derive great satisfaction from seeing my work displayed in record stores, on coffee shop bulletin boards, or in cases at music shops. While many designers choose to have a distinctive style, I have found my niche as a designer who is comfortable with space but also adaptable to direction. This flexibility has allowed me to collaborate with a wide variety of artists, venues, and makers over the years.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I have always considered myself a designer; that’s how I identify. However, in my “day job,” I don’t always have that title. Working on creative teams usually means collaborating rather than working in isolation. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside talented copywriters, marketers, web developers, and project managers. I am a fan of creative problem-solving, which requires being open to solutions that aren’t always design-centric. This mindset has allowed me to learn from others and observe their expertise. With this knowledge, I’ve branched out into marketing and web operations leadership roles as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paulmconnolly3.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmc3/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmconnolly3/
