FIG. 01 — SELF PORTRAIT, LIVING ROOM FLOOR
Still smiling. Barely.
I'm Popeche. I've been a graphic designer for ten years, and I'm still not sure the industry noticed. This website is not a portfolio. It's the story of what it actually looks like when the work you love doesn't love you back — yet.
Read my story ↓Four chapters. No filter. This is how it actually went.
Chapter 01
I fell in love with design in a library, tracing letterforms out of an old type specimen book because I couldn't afford design school. I taught myself Photoshop on a computer that crashed if you opened more than three layers. I thought passion would be enough. Passion, it turns out, does not pay rent.
Chapter 02
My first 'client' was my uncle, who paid me in dinner. My second client ghosted me after three rounds of revisions. My third client asked if I could 'make it pop' eleven separate times and then used their nephew's version instead. I sent 214 job applications in one year. I got four interviews. I got zero offers.
Chapter 03
Two years ago I almost quit. I was designing wedding invitations at 3 AM for less than minimum wage, sleeping on a friend's floor, wondering why I ever thought I could do this. The photo on this site was taken that same week. I was smiling because a client had finally paid an invoice — four months late.
Chapter 04
But here's the thing: I never stopped. Every rejection taught me something the acceptances never could. I know exactly what bad kerning feels like at 3 AM. I know how to fight for good work when nobody's asking for it. I'm still struggling. I'm still designing. And honestly? The work has never been better.
A timeline of character building
Taught myself design on a dying laptop. Ate a lot of instant noodles.
Sent 214 job applications. Received 4 interviews, 0 offers, 187 silences.
Biggest client of my career went bankrupt. Invoice never paid.
Designed wedding invitations at 3 AM for less than minimum wage.
Almost quit. Wrote the resignation letter to design itself. Never sent it.
Still here. Still broke-ish. Still the best work of my life.