Ava: Hello Season readers, I'm back with another interview, this time with Mollie Habig from Creative Design.
Mollie: Hi!
Ava: Okay, so Mollie, you are a member of the Creative Design department, which is kind of a more behind the scenes part of Season that really brings the magic of the magazine to life. Can you speak to this experience and what readers may not know about it?
Mollie: Yeah. A lot of people may not know that there's actually two smaller teams within Creative Design that make up the department. There's the layout team that creates the actual layout of the magazine, and then there's the social media team. People from Marketing will reach out to the social media team for an idea for a post, and then they'll make graphics for them. I also think it's cool that this year the Creative Design department wants to be a little bit more involved in photoshoots and with the Photography team. We're going to photoshoots that we're working on and working directly with the photographers. So it's a little bit more efficient when creating the layout. And I think it's cool that even if the photos aren’t finalized yet, you're able to start getting ideas and inspiration.
Ava: So, you previously did social media design and this year you're working on layout. In your experience with social media design, how do you capture the essence of Season in such a fast-paced medium like Instagram?
Mollie: I feel like it's kind of tough because every Season edition is so different, and I think that every photo shoot has its own personal vibe. And you also want to make sure it matches the Instagram feed and that it’s something that people are going to enjoy looking at, while incorporating your own personal style too. So you kind of have to take into account multiple different things. But I think it's just an aesthetic type of thing. And it's hard to explain. It's more of just you see it and you're like, yeah, that looks good.
Ava: Gotcha.
Mollie: Yeah. When you look at someone's Instagram feed, and know when it’s perfect.
Ava: You can tell when it's right.
Mollie: Yeah.
Ava: That makes sense. Now that you have some experience under your belt, how do you envision the future of the Creative Design department evolving?
Mollie: I think it's a really good step this year that we're working with the Photography department more and going to the photoshoots. I feel like last year I was always seeing the photoshoots and feeling like, “oh wow, it'd be so cool to be there.” You just kind of feel more like you're a part of the whole process. And I think it's neat that you get to see the beginning to end with the Creative Design team. I think that's what everybody wants when making a magazine – to see your hard work from the beginning to the end. Moving forward, it would still be great to have the Creative Design department be more involved in the beginning process, more so than just the end, because it just makes it a little bit more meaningful and like I said before, efficient. You can begin to tell what you want from the beginning and you know what you want it to look like.
Ava: Gotcha. That sounds awesome, I am glad that the team is getting to see more of the photography process. It’s a super cool thing to be a part of.
Mollie: It's much more intentional.
Ava: What are the greatest lessons that you've learned from your time at Season, and how will this impact your future creative work?
Mollie: My greatest lessons, I feel that I learned…well in the initial meetings and the creative meetings, everyone's kind of throwing out their ideas. It's easy to think, “my idea is the best” and “this is what we should do because I think it's cool.” And I feel like you have to take yourself out of it and ask: “okay, what would work for everybody and what is actually the strongest idea?” I think that's a pretty important thing to learn, and that's something you can take into your career too.
Ava: It's about the greater good.
Mollie: Yeah, the group as a whole. Also, just looking at Season, it's always so ahead of the curve. We will do a photoshoot and then months later you'll see it on Instagram, somebody else has done it and you're like, “oh my God, we did that!” That's something really cool. I'll go to these Season meetings and then feel like I have insight on what is trending right now and what's coming. Especially because I'm planning to work in the retail industry, it's super important to know what is happening around me.
Ava: Yeah. That's so true, it’s very helpful. Outside of Season, you have your own jewelry line and clothing brand. So between the magazine and these projects, you are constantly creating. How do you stay motivated across all of these different mediums?
Mollie: I think it comes and goes, ebbs and flows. With my jewelry, it's really just whenever something comes to mind. I'll be like, “oh, I can just take apart this necklace here and make something new.” It’s more on the spot when I'll see something in a store or I thrifted something and I'll take it apart. That's more personal and kind of spontaneous. But my clothing brand, it will take me weeks or months to come up with an idea or phrase for a design. I haven't done anything with it for a long time because I've just been so wrapped up in other things. Whatever is on my mind the most is what will be the most successful at the moment. So right now it's Season stuff, that's what is taking priority. My motivation comes whenever I have the time or whenever inspiration strikes. It’s something I love doing. So that's how I stay motivated because it doesn't feel like work. It's fun.
Ava: So what drew you to all of these projects in the first place and to creating in general?
Mollie: I feel like probably my parents and like my grandma, which sounds kind of like cheesy but it's true. I grew up being very encouraged to use my imagination and to think outside the box. I was encouraged to not follow what everyone does and to do my own thing. I think that really followed me to college. College is where things really took off because you can say you're cool in high school, but you look back and…
Ava: I was wearing skinny jeans (derogatory).
Mollie: Yeah, but I feel like coming to college and seeing so many different ideas and personalities and viewpoints, it makes you want to create something of your own. and my parents were both creating their own businesses their whole lives. I’ve always been around that and exposed to their work-life balance and creative freedom. That's what I wanted since I was young. I wanted to always do my own thing. And I think that’s definitely because of my childhood and upbringing.
Ava: So, what's next? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations we should be on the lookout for?
Mollie: I'm applying for jobs, so I guess I'll see where I end up after graduation. Betterworld, my clothing brand, I keep saying I'm going to rebrand it, so I do want to do that. I think I have a few ideas. I want to revamp my jewelry too, because I haven't done anything with that for a long time. I have a name in mind, I want to make it cool and release capsule collections and drops.
Ava: So there's a lot in the works!
Mollie: We'll see what actually happens. It might take some time.
Ava: And what are you most excited about in Season this semester?
Mollie: Ooh I'm excited that I'm working on the [redacted] shoot. So I get to go and see the [redacted].
Ava: You know, it's top secret. We can't say the name of the shoot, but there may be a [redacted].
Mollie: Yeah!
Ava: Is that a spoiler? Well, there is a really interesting guest in this shoot that Mollie will get to see.
Mollie: Yeah. And I am excited to work on layout because I've never done that. So I get to learn Adobe InDesign.
Ava: Love that. That'll be awesome. Well, thank you for letting me interview you today.
Mollie: Thanks for having me!
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