Alexandria Batchelor
graphic designer
BROOKLYN, NY
Contact: foxeedesign@gmail.com
“Stop comparing yourself to others, to believe in yourself and your work. Just don’t give up.”
5 favorite musical artists of all time?
Erykah Badu
Solange
Chloe x Halle
Lauryn Hill
Janelle Monae
What inspires you?
I'm inspired by my experience as a Black woman in America, Afrofuturism (A.K.A. Black science fiction), Blaxploitation films, and geek culture (specifically revolving around Japanese animation). My style, as a result, is contemporary retro yet futuristic, cute yet empowering, and relatable yet otherworldly.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to not get hung up on the details (I'm a bit of a perfectionist) so that I could finalize work faster and to just start selling my work already. I recently opened a print shop (something I've wanted to do since college) and uploaded a piece from 3 years ago that is currently my best seller. It's bittersweet to say the least.
What industry blogs/websites/podcasts do you enjoy?
Blogs: Under Consideration: BrandNew / Adweek First Things First / AIGA Eye on Design
Websites: www.wherearetheblackdesigners.com / www.vocaltype.co
What do you think the future holds for people of color in creative industries?
I am hopeful about the future of POC in creative industries as long as more companies commit to establishing equity. That would mean shifting power dynamics from predominantly white to BIPOCS. We need to have not only a seat at the table but the power to make real decisions to enact change. And this change starts with the work environment that has been white-centric for too long causing professionalism and design trends to revolve around white creatives and white culture. But we also cannot rely solely on already established organizations and need to invest in BIPOC owned agencies who can create new spaces that are safe for minorities and celebrate their differences.
What is your dream job?
My dream job would ideally be a hybrid situation. I'd love to be a part-time art director at a prestigious agency or brand. With the rest of my "free" time I would invest in building my own Black owned studio (under the name of Foxee Design) and diverse creative network that prioritized clients and projects looking to make a social impact in BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. And eventually, I'd love to just be making and selling my own work and merch, collaborating with fellow creatives on passion projects, curating art shows, and teaching workshops on the side.
What skill(s) would you develop if you had more time?
I would develop my animation and photography skills if I had more time to do so.
What is the last thing you learned?
I'm always trying to learn so it's hard to pinpoint what exactly was the last thing I learned. But recently, I've learned that the key to getting new opportunities is to constantly put yourself out there. Whether you're posting on social media or applying to job boards or submitting to grants, you need to market yourself (and network) in order to get noticed.
What are you working on right now?
Currently preparing my talk for Black Designers Ignite 2020, coloring flats for the Black Panther Party Graphic Novel (to be published January 2021), developing a Black magical girl comic series, and branding Beyond the 'Bot (the rebirth of the YouTube anime channel Get in the Robot ).
If you could talk to your favorite creative for an hour, who would it be? Why?
I would talk to Natali Koromoto (@natalikoromoto) because she was one of the first creatives I found that was living out my dreams. She's a full-time freelance illustrator and designer who primarily earns revenue by selling her own work inspired by her Venezuelan roots. I would love to talk to her about her cultural influences, her process, what programs she uses, how she got started, and where she hopes to be in 10 years.
What advice would you give to creatives of color looking to pursue their passion full-time?
That the journey to finding yourself as a creative will come with hardship. At times, I've felt lost, hated everything I created, stopped creating, and was even tempted to tear everything down and start from scratch. It wasn’t until the past year or so that I realized I’ve known who I was as a black female creative for quite some time. The pieces (whether it was research or sketches or notes) were there all along, I just had to figure out how to fit them together to tell my story. So I say this to remind people that it takes time. It takes time to defeat imposter syndrome, to get out of a creative funk, to stop comparing yourself to others, to believe in yourself and your work. Just don’t give up.
How do you keep your creative drip going?
I stay creative by paying attention to what artists and designers are doing on social media and in their respective industries. I also enjoy attending conferences and webinars to hear about recent innovations and trending topics in the creative world. I find new sources of inspiration from my hobbies (I'm a musician and outdoorswoman). Lastly, I use my personal experiences, good and bad, as a source of creative content. I believe in transparency and find visualizing my emotions are therapeutic for me and hopefully my audience as well.
Contact: foxeedesign@gmail.com