Life and Work with Emma Ziobrzynski

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Ziobrzynski.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My life has been shaped by change. I’m Polish-Canadian. Weird combo, I know. I’m mostly Polish – just happened to be born in Toronto, Ontario. My parents immigrated from Poland in their 20’s and our heritage has significantly shaped who I am. I started going to school in the US without knowing a word of English, I’ve lived in over 20 different homes, 11 different schools. Needless to say – lots of unpredictability.

All these things have taught me to take things as they come and figure out a solution. But most importantly not to be discouraged or freeze up when I’m not familiar with something. The day I graduated with my degree in Integrated Physiology in hope to attend medical school, Dr. Allen Lim and Ian McGregor (the founder and CEO of Skratch Labs) showed up at my doorstep, contract in hand for a graphic design position. I signed it that day. Now looking back I actually can’t believe I did that. But derailing my path to medical school was personally the best decision I’ve made. The unknown and rapid change has been a strange source of comfort to me because I know it helps me grow into who I want to be. I love what I do. It took a lot of work and lots of “faking until you make it”. But I figured it out and after many other roles in-between, I’m now in a position where I feel most like myself.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely been difficult. But I don’t think anything worth having or achieving is ever easy right? That’s the beauty of it.

If I were to give advice to another woman who is just beginning their journey I’d say:

Keep going!! If you’re overwhelmed – take a break, don’t give up. Use your support system. There’s no shame in stepping away for a moment to reset, especially if you’re in the creative field. Those juices have got to recharge sometimes!

Besides that, I would say that us women are special in many ways. One of which that we are wired to persevere with grace and kindness. We are killing it these days. So, my advice is to not be scared to be your authentic self – don’t let anything hold you back – and have fun with it. If you’re not having fun, it’s not worth it.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am currently the Creative Lead at Skratch Labs and also a freelance creative director/graphic designer. The great thing about my job is that my projects are always changing and keeping me on my toes. By accepting freelance projects in addition to my full-time position I’ve been able to gain experience across a wide range of platforms such as: packaging, branding, social media marketing, product & lifestyle photography, print & digital campaigns, sales materials, and web design. In addition to my professional skills, I’ve embraced change (surprise surprise) in order to grow as an individual as well. Briefly in the middle of my career, I had the opportunity to try something new – learn how to be a bartender/barista. So, I went for it. This period of my life allowed me to connect with the community, challenge my creative skills on a different level, and learn how to interact with all sorts of people. I think this experience (as well as other roles) has given me an edge as a designer and pushed me to be the professional I am today.

With that being said, my favorite projects are those that have the most heart. I am deeply intuitive with my work and the people I work with – so I like to surround myself with projects that mean something. For example, I love branding new businesses. I love the collaborative aspect of it and watching my designs come alive and function in real life. Plus! It’s someone’s baby and I get to play a part in what it looks like! How cool is that?

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Rule #6. Everything works out.

Contact Info:

• Website: emmazdesigns.com

Image Credit:
Emma Z Designs

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