Featured Creative: Ethan B.

What’s it really like to be a graphic designer? It’s a lot of hard work, but according to Hatchwise creative Ethan Barquin, it’s incredibly fulfilling as well. Ethan has been participating in Hatchwise design contests since 2011 when he was relatively new to graphic design. Now, he’s a full-time designer, but he spared a few minutes to share his success story with us.

Getting by with a little help from his friends

When Ethan first started with Hatchwise, he was working a part-time job at a graphics company. However, he wasn’t getting many hours, so it was hard to pay the bills. He reached out to a couple of friends from his church for advice. They were designers at Hatchwise’s sister company, Flocksy, and they encouraged Ethan to build up his design skills.

“They lent me a computer set for me to start full time designing in Hatchwise,” Ethan recalls. His friends became mentors, showing him the basics of graphic design. It wasn’t long before Ethan built up his skills and left his part-time job to join the Hatchwise team as a full-time designer. “And I have no regrets about my decision.” 

A newfound passion

Ethan quickly discovered that he had a natural talent and love for graphic design — although he admits that the Hatchwise prize money is a nice incentive! He’s won quite a few contests, designing logos for everything from tech companies to realtors, and he also works on client requests through the platform. He credits his mentors as a source of inspiration: “They always won on different sites for graphic designing and they get highly paid for their skill,” he says. Their success inspired him to take a risk, and it paid off very well, he says.

Ethan also draws motivation from his fellow Hatchwise designer. He believes that the friendly competition helps everyone do their best work, raising everyone’s skill levels. “Every time I do my graphic work, I do believe in my own capacity for a great output,” he says. He finds Hatchwise to be a smooth, fulfilling experience with good earning potential — a far cry from his former position!

What’s next for Ethan? 

Ethan would like to eventually be hired by a firm as a full-time graphic designer, now that Hatchwise has helped him reach an expert level. For now, he’s happy competing in the contests and working with regular clients through Hatchwise, which he says allows him to earn enough to support his family. He remains in touch with the friends who set him on his journey. 

“I was so amazed and very thankful because they shared their skills with me to help me become one of Hatchwise’s most promising designers — kidding aside,” he says with a wink. We agree, Ethan!