Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexia Cappelletti.
Hi Alexia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started in sixth grade when I joined a school club called Technology Student Association, or TSA. It was there that I could try new pathways and interests in the STEAM field. I discovered industrial design, fashion, architecture, and more, but only two of the pathways I explored stuck: graphic design and photography. As I continued this club throughout high school, I realized how much passion I had for these two pathways and decided I wanted to further them by attending the Savannah College of Art and Design.
At first, I was unsure of everything. I chose graphic design as my major, but I did not know if I loved it enough to do it for my job. I felt the same with photography, so at first I kept it as a hobby and pursued a minor in UX Design. My sophomore year rolled around, and I lost sight of what I was doing. I felt lost about my current path and what I was trying to accomplish. It was at this point that I took a step back to find the problems that were bugging me. I was unhappy with my minor and wanted photography to be a bigger part of my life. With my step-mom being a photographer herself, you would think it wouldn’t have taken me this long to realize how much I loved it. I transferred my minor to Advertising Photography, which became a decision I have loved ever since. When taking a step back, I also discovered that I was unhappy with my degree, not because of the curriculum, but the community.
I realized that we graphic designers have an odd job. It is collaborative until it isn’t. It is expressive until it’s not. It’s about finding that right balance between rule-breaking and being different while creating something universally liked and understood. I needed to understand this field on a deeper level and find that balance. So, I put myself in the field for both graphic design and advertising photography. I started collaborating through SCAD and ended up working for One Love Animal Rescue, running their social media, graphics, videography, and photography. This led to my latest role this past summer, working for Samsung Mobile Electronics, doing design/communications research and analytics. By getting into the creative field, I found my passion was restored, although I am still trying to find that right balance when it comes to creating. I do not know if I will ever find it or need to, but I learned it’s easier to take that step back if you tip too far.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, not at all. I do not think anyone has had a smooth road. It’s the one thing that bridges us all together. There have been times when we feel like giving up or that everything is all too much, but we persevere. I did when I was unsure of my degree or even attending art school. Besides the struggle of not knowing what I want to do for a career, I, like many other people here, have struggled with am I doing enough? I feel like there are so many opportunities and directions to go down that I struggle to pick which are the best and worth my time, or if my time is being used properly at all. Could I be doing more? Do I want to be? Is it worth some of the sacrifices I would be making to do more? My friends are achieving so much; should I be doing the same, and how could I?
I find these questions influencing my decision-making process in an unhealthy way. It’s hard to ignore them because they are serious questions to think about. I try my best not to let them cloud my actions and only focus on what opportunities are at present and how I can manage them all effectively.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a graphic designer who specializes in branding, packaging, and social media work. I am also a photographer who creates photographs for businesses or brands to use for anything from products to events. All of my work is dedicated to helping brands create something that effectively communicates who they are and what they do to their audience. I would say I am most proud of being able to help others’ dreams come to life. I get to be a part of the process of their brand and connect audiences to something that could become their favorite. By combining photography and graphic design skills, my services become the ultimate package for brands to go to for creating their story.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Some advice I would give is to learn the basics, then learn how to break them. Those foundational skills will help you even if you change pathways (which is totally okay if you do). Everything is connected somehow, and it will make you a better problem solver if you can understand how things work at a foundational level.
When I started, I wish I had known that I could quit things. If you really don’t like something, pick something else. Your career isn’t permanent; your interests can change, your lifestyle can change. If you try a new thing and don’t like it, you could go back to your old one. It’s all up to you. You get to pick. That’s what is fun about life!
Pricing:
- $25 an hour (base rate)
- Note: Prices and hours vary by project.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cappellettivisuals.wixsite.com/alexia-cappelletti
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cappellettigraphics and https://www.instagram.com/urban_forests_
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexia-cappelletti-431290280
- Other: https://linktr.ee/cappellettivisuals
