Meet Margo Garrigues | Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Margo Garrigues and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Margo, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One of my favorite quotes is from a book we read in high school called “The Evidential Power of Beauty” by Thomas Dubay. The whole book talks about the need for beauty in our lives, but the quote that I come back to again and again is “To be listless, dull, bored, and lifeless is not only a miserable condition, it’s an illness, a fact made obvious to anyone who is intellectually alive. To respond to beauty is normal: not to respond is abnormal.”

I feel like I’m at a constant struggle with boredom and beauty. According to the quote, to be bored is to be ill. It’s not our natural state. We live in a lively, beautiful world. and to not notice or appreciate its beauty is abnormal. My goal is to not forget to notice beauty. And I believe as a graphic designer, I’m constantly fighting to find beauty and beautiful solutions for my clients.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My favorite part of the graphic design process is the relational aspect. It’s funny because a lot of my contemporaries are introverts and therefore love the gig because they get to sit behind their computer all day isolated from people. But understanding my client, building a relationship with them, understanding the passion they have for their product or service is what lights my creative fire. I love talking with my clients on the phone, giggling with them about stories, and hearing what makes them tick. It’s also incredible that this job lends me the ability to form relationships with people I would otherwise never meet.

The work that I’m the most proud of is the work that I’ve done in collaboration with others. I created a brand, website, and print collateral for HOST, an event rental business in Arkansas. Working with Kenzie, a fellow creative, was one of the best experiences of my time as a graphic designer. She was so receptive to ideas, an open communicator, and had a clear vision for the brand. When I unveiled my ideas for the brand identity, she exclaimed “You were able to visualize what I had been dreaming about. This is exactly what I would have wanted for HOST.”

In general, though, working as a graphic designer on my own is not a walk in the park. I worked corporate and studio for a time before venturing out on my own. While I feel confident in my abilities to create brands and designed goods that benefit brands, its often hard to explain that to the client. They have their own ideas about value, budgets, and design direction. So a big lesson I’ve learned is to pick and choose my battles. Sometimes you take on the client that doesn’t appreciate a sophisticated design and work within their wheelhouse. Sometimes you fight back because you believe that what you have created will ultimately work in the favor.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ugh, Charleston. The love of my life. If I had a friend visiting, this would be our weekend itinerary:

Friday evening: We’d walk the Ravenel bridge. It’s 5 miles if you walk across and back. It’s one of the best sunset spots in all of Charleston because the color of the sky is reflected in the water. After feeling accomplished by our feet of athleticism, we would grab a drink at Gin Joint. I routinely get their soft pretzels and this drink called The Watson’s Stache (it’s no longer on the menu, but they will still make it for you. It’s the gin cousin of a mule. It’s the most refreshing drink I’ve ever had). If we’re feeling dance-y, we’ll move to Uptown Social to bust it down to early 2000s tunes.

Saturday: In the morning, we’ll get coffee and a bacon breakfast taco at Babas. If the weather is nice, we’ll spend hours at Folly Beach and maybe bring the surf boards. Pub Subs are a must on the beach. After properly roasting, we’ll hit up Chico Feo for pork belly tacos and a Samurai Sling. If it’s moody outside, we’ll go to Harold’s cabin to play cards and drink cheap beer. I like to end my Saturdays at Royal American to hear whatever punk band is playing.

Sunday: Brunch at The Daily to get their avocado toast (It’s the best avo toast I’ve ever had, no lie). Pickleball is a must on Sundays (there’s a court next to Colonial lake that we like to take over). Sometimes I like to take my book to Pitt Street Bridge and read while the sun sets.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that have been influential in my life. Of course, there are the professors who saw my potential and pushed me to the limits, (shout out Karen Dorff and Keith Owens). Without their guidance, critiques, and encouragement, I know I wouldn’t be as strong of a designer as I am now.

My best friend from high school is my biggest cheerleader. She’s a massive optimist and dreamer, and is always inspiring me to do more, work harder, and believe in my abilities. No one will crush imposter syndrome harder than Catherine White. Everyone needs someone like her in their corner.

Website: margogarrigues.com

Instagram: @margogarriguesdesign

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margo-garrigues-2a5032121/