Evan Parrott: Don't Be Afraid to Grow
Graphic Designer
by Elizabeth Lavis
|21 Aug 2024
Evan Parrott is a Graphic Designer, Illustrator, and Visual Storyteller with one simple and actionable advice for aspiring designers: get out of your comfort zone. “Do not be afraid to grow,” he says. “There may be times you find yourself in a comfortable, secure, and loving place, but you can only go so far when staying in the same place. Go into the world, gain knowledge, and experience everything out there.”
This advice has shaped his career trajectory, and he’s embraced several different art forms on his way to becoming a designer. “Ever since I was little, I knew whatever I was doing, art would be involved in one way or another,” Parrott says. “I was always drawing, sketching, and painting, but as I got older, I wanted to take advantage of the digital space as a visual storytelling medium. I ended up in graphic design purely by accident, believing it was another term used for digital illustration.” Despite his roundabout path, Parrott quickly fell in love with the design.
Parrott credits his background as one of the primary sources of his creative inspiration. “I live outside of Philadelphia, PA, but I’ve moved around in the United States most of my life, including Chicago and Fort Worth. Each location brings a new set of experiences, history, and culture. I try to use my illustrations and designs as a way to capture those experiences and create stories,” he says.
"36 Days of Typography - 2021", Evan Parrott
While creativity and spark breathe life into great design, Parrott believes that application and usefulness are the foundation. “First, know what the function is, then look at how the form should follow,” he says. From there, I can create whatever is needed.” Additionally, it’s important to identify the desired demographic and figure out how to speak to them.
“I look at what the story is and the audience we want to tell it to,” he says. “Once I have these, I work on creating a design that communicates the message most efficiently and clearly. Once I have this, I further enhance the design, creating a stronger connection for the audience.” This process can take anywhere from a handful of hours to over a month, depending on the scope, and involves regular check-ins with the customer. “I keep in contact with my client on a daily basis,” Parrott says.
Creating and maintaining client trust and rapport is a vital part of the business and hinges on honesty and clear expectations. “By building trust with my client, they know what to expect of me and can rely on me,” Parrott says. “In turn, I find that this makes them more open and honest with me, and we can help each other grow and evolve.”
Ultimately, what Parrott loves most about the job is his ability to bring creativity and insight into the design space. “I want to create a story for anyone to enjoy,” he says.
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