Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Robertson.
Jay, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve pretty much grown up with a camera and video in one hand and art supplies in the other. I’ve always been “the kid that can draw” in and throughout school, alongside being “the artsy one” (who knew their way around a computer) at home and it pretty much stuck with me my entire school and adult life. I have a passion for artistic creation oneself. How individualistic it is and unique to each their own. I’ve had experience in video editing, photo rendering, painting, and creating designed pieces dating back to my grade school years, and already having a creative eye for the arts throughout my life I decided to obtain a degree in graphic design.
Education & Skill Set
While in school, I learned a variety of skills from Adobe Creative Suite to website design to oil pastels.
We spent 50% of our class time in our production room, crafting designs when necessary. Our focus revolved around Adobe Creative Suite programs which included Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, and Flash at the time. I’ve crafted websites, made many flyers, t-shirt designs, logos, and brochures, worked with clients on social media presence management (logo, banner design, flyers, promotional videos, video content editing), updated websites, designed packaging boxes, business cards, album covers, magazine covers and more. I’ve learned many things in addition to my educational background that has made my skills resourceful and unique. I’ve learned about client engagement skills and how to handle clients in an organized professional manner, contract writing, business analytics, video production, and Facebook analytics, along with some music theory certificates.
I obtained my associate’s degree in graphic design in Dec 2011. Me being of professional stature and having an entrepreneurial mindset, I started my graphic design business, SyEn3rgy GraphiX, in 2019 and most of my portfolio work comes from my clients. My company designs a wide variety of custom designs ranging from logos, business cards, websites, album and magazine covers, flyers, posters, professional photo rendering, and more. I always put the client first and have your best interests in mind.
“SyEn3rgy Graphix aims to create high-quality, professional designs that manifest our client’s vision into reality. We strive to grow our business not only through unique creativity but also through superior customer satisfaction and value, shining through each design and client served.”
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being that I’ve always had a strong artistic and tech background, it was smooth throughout college, and didn’t have any major struggles with obtaining my degree. After college, I did run into some difficult situations while starting SyEn3rgy GraphiX. I was just leaving a domestic abuse situation and had to move halfway across the country back to St. Louis which was very unexpected. I was also dealing with homelessness and house-jumping during the first year of starting SyEn3rgy GraphiX, I was doing my best to support me and my son with no real stable support or stable finances.
On the business side of things, I wasn’t sure whether investing my time into SyEn3rgy GraphiX was the right move I needed to make at that time while dealing with everything. I was very physically and mentally drained which took its toll on my mental side. Sometimes, it’d be clients that wouldn’t pay for work already done and it came down to a point where I asked myself, “Is this what I really need to be doing right now.” while working on my website or spending money on re-investing into my business.
I can say today that making that move was the right move! I was able to support my son and me when it was difficult being able to work a regular 9-to-5 and with the. It kept me networking and meeting new clients and being able to promote my business to others potentially interested who have reached out about an interest in SyEn3rgy GraphiX.
I would definitely say those were not the only struggles but definitely the most difficult to get through.
I’m grateful for the opportunities that came to me at that time and I hope this inspires others to keep going, no matter what you’re going through, you can still be successful and all it takes is the right person to notice your work! The hard times are what push us to be even greater than before once we overcome those hard times.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
SyEn3rgy GraphiX specializes in graphic design primarily. I obtained my associate’s degree in Graphic Design in 2011. My work ranges from packaging design, book covers, flyers, magazine covers, web design, business cards, and more! I’m most proud of my positive relationships with my clients. I’ve worked for many clients over the years and have provided a positive and fruitful customer experience between them and SyEn3rgy GraphiX. Word of mouth is definitely a powerful thing when it comes to business and networking and that, in turn, has provided a great result for me.
I’m also most proud to become the Director of Media and Relations with Thriving Transmen of Color (TTMOC). I have been able to satisfy yet another client and also provide awareness to the community.
SyEn3rgy GraphiX differs from others by bringing a unique perspective to the drawing table! I am an artist that values high-quality symbolism and that shows within each design I create. I believe that no one artist is like another and that’s a uniqueness in itself alone.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I highly recommend, for those entrepreneurial mindsets out there, to check out and research the business. From a basic business plan to profit margins and overhead costs. Researching that along my journey has helped me become what SyEn3rgy GraphiX is today. I heavily value professionalism within my businesses and, as I’ve mentioned previously, a healthy client relationship. I believe no matter where you are along your journey if you can manage a healthy relationship with your clientele and be professional that the business will come to you!
I also recommend taking notes on whatever you research! This will help you stay on track and a way to visually track your personal progress within your journey of whatever it is you like to do. I also have downloaded positive affirmation apps to give me a sense of positivity for the day and throughout. When times are hard, those small things will help!
Contact Info:
- Website: syen3rgygraphix.wixsite.com/homepage
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syen3rgygraphix_official/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SyEn3rgyGraphiX
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZqmrbS1BjHHgCWhZCcWVIg/videos
