OJ

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OJ's tale begins with a simple mistype, a serendipitous error that opened the doors to the world of Notion. Initially skeptical, OJ's intrigue was piqued by the limitless potential of this platform, a canvas that married the structural intricacies of logic with the boundless realm of creativity.

This revelation was not just about discovering a tool; it was the start of a transformative journey that intertwined with OJ’s pursuit of graphic design, leading to the birth of unique Notion templates and icons that are as functional as they are visually captivating.

As we unfold the pages of OJ’s story, we find a blend of inspiration, creativity, and relentless pursuit of excellence. From early experiments in 3D design to navigating the vibrant world of Twitter, OJ’s journey is a testament to the power of embracing one’s true self and the magic that unfolds when passion meets purpose.

Get ready to dive into an inspiring narrative that transcends the conventional, tale of how one individual is redefining the landscape of digital productivity and design. Welcome to the world of OJ, where every template tells a story, and every icon is a window into a universe of imagination.

Q: How did you first discover Notion, and what drew you to it?

A: About a year ago I heard of people using it. I don’t remember what my first reference to it was, but I found it interesting that people could take notes with it. At the time I wasn’t interested in note-taking at all, I had my trusty notebook & pencil handy when taking college notes so I was pretty content.

Then about 6 months ago I heard more about it, did some research, and thought that it was a scammy software ‘cause I thought that anything that used an all-in-1 approach was suspicious (think Instagram), so that was my mentality at the time, and I had serious privacy concerns to it.

Over the next month though, I did an experiment between Notion & ClickUp (because I needed to use something to track my info at the time), and after having rage quitted on ClickUp ‘cause it wouldn’t let me access my files if you internet was just a little bit flaky- I started using Notion, liked its format, got used to the learning curve, and the rest is history! 

What drew me to Notion was its ability to incorporate both creative & logical systems into each other. And what I mean– is its customizability (creative), and the use of databases & formulas (logical). This really fascinated me and led me to explore Notion further.

Q: Could you share with us your journey into graphic design and how it led you to specialize in creating Notion templates and icons?

A: Ooh I love this question! And the reason is, I try to apply everything and anything I can with each other.

Since I’m a college student studying Graphic Design, the concepts I’m learning are super helpful in creating templates & icons. But as for how I started my journey to learning this, was about 5 years ago. I was writing a book for middle school and was designing my book cover. The main character was a robot, so I needed an easy way to design it.

As a very creative kid back then, I used the basic Paint 3D software to construct the basic shapes. I still remember how I did the process, and this got me interested in 3D design– and in turn, Graphic Design.

Later when I was in the last stages of high school & going over what college to go to (this was during COVID), my dad suggested that I learn Graphic Design. He showed me this program called Blender 3D and said that I might have an interest in it. Funny enough, that very hour I was figuring out how to use Blender 3D. Quite the coincidence!

I was never a fan of ads, which I assumed was the only thing that designers were good at. My dream job was being a librarian, so I didn’t care much about the salary. But after some talking it through, I was finally convinced that I could get far more opportunities as a Graphic Designer than a Librarian– turns out, there are infinite options! Not only did I apply what I learned throughout my 1st, and now my 2nd semester, of college, but I’ve made my 1st $ with it!

Now, having gotten used to techy software like Adobe Illustrator, I love the process of designing the minimalist icons I created recently, along with Gradient Covers, and getting creative in Notion 😊

Q: What or who have been your major influences in both graphic design and the development of productivity tools?

A: There are so many good examples on Twitter/X! The one who really pulled me through though was Sam Stoof. In the beginning, when I was getting curious about Notion, it seemed like there wasn’t a good inside scope. I felt like an outcast, especially since I had just migrated from Instagram and didn’t quite know what to do. Fortunately, seeing Sam be himself & radiate as a graphic designer– all the while being decked out in mint green (my favorite color), I thought that if he could do it, I could too! So I got used to the community, learning Notion, and took examples from several creators who were ahead of me on how they developed their products.

Q: Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a new Notion template?

A: To design a functional & visually appealing template, I always go for a dark-mode style that has a bit of cyberpunk & gothic elements mixed together (a little less on the gothic). This way, the layout is very contrasting, colorful, and perfect for focusing since it is light on the eyes, and stays engaging for whoever is using the template. Then to create the template, I go through the following steps:

  • Pick an idea – I have several ideas I’ve brainstormed, so I pick a few to start with that are helpful for my solopreneur niche.
  • Choose a layout – Brainstorming layouts is really fun, ‘cause there are a lot of ways to go about it!
  • Add databases, link databases in areas to show different views, and add the relation properties & filters that make this functional.
  • Lastly, I fix up anything needed, and make sure that I use it so I can find good use out of it, in turn sharing it with others!

 

Q: How do you think good design impacts the user experience in productivity tools like Notion?

A: This is a good question, considering that productivity depends on a learning style, having the right layout is vital to being useful. But alongside the layout is color. Color is super important, it draws the eye to the right elements and highlights an order of priority. Notion uses a monochromatic color scheme, making for an open workspace that uses a generic hierarchy (black & white, basically).

When you take the basic Notion layout, and add different colors though, that’s what really brings productivity to the next level, and further makes it useful as a template to users. So good design is essential for the user experience in order to highlight priorities in productivity tools.

Q: What trends in graphic design and productivity tools are you currently excited about or think are worth watching?

A: I’ve always been an avid enthusiast in 3D, so seeing a growing number of 3D designs in website development is super cool! As for productivity tools, I haven’t done much research on those. I’m more for finding a need in-the-moment; there are always going to be more tools for productivity out there, but it’s really what works for you that is most important. In fact, most of the things I’ve applied to make my life more productive were based on my own experience! So if anything, I’d love to see more 3D elements in Notion, which I hope to incorporate in my own time soon 😄

Q: What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re particularly excited about?

A: Hmm, it’s either I don’t know or it’s a secret 😉. For now, this revolves around what I’m learning in college, which I’ll be posting on my website. I hope to do some collabs when I get a larger portfolio of Notion templates in shops. If anything, I’d love to do a collab with Sam Stooff since we have similar styles!

Q: What does a typical day in your life look like?

A: My daily focus is to get things done based on my energy levels. This includes writing in the early morning- right before the sun starts to rise, then taking a walk to get my blood pulsing, and finally getting started with deep work. My afternoon goes the same way except for reading up on emails & doing utility work between 4-5 pm when I have low energy.

Q: What’s your favorite way to relax or destress?

A: I’ve never been a fan of relaxing so much, my way of “relaxing” would actually be doing something high-energy like running or walking in the woods. The times I do rest though are during my meal times, where I’ll watch a Dhar Mann YT video while munching.

Q: Can you share a goal or dream that you’re currently pursuing?

A: Well, a goal I have right now is something that most of us have – which is to be independent. This consists of living alone, having a salary every month, and being able to splurge a little if you have some money left over. That kind of thing. 

Dreams are funny because for most they’re unrealistic. I learned though, that the more content I am, the more I’ve reached my dreams. So my main dream was when I was 12 years old, I had a vision of who I wanted to be once I reached adulthood– I could never see myself going to college back then (too much mental work), and I was unhappy with my life. However, now I’ve become that person & done more than I thought possible – I’m in college! And I actually love doing extra brain work haha. So I suppose I’ve reached my goal of growing up.

As our conversation with OJ draws to a close, we are left inspired by the remarkable journey of a creator who transformed serendipity into success. OJ’s story is more than just about mastering Notion or excelling in graphic design; it’s a vivid illustration of how passion, when pursued with dedication and creativity, can lead to groundbreaking achievements.

As we bid farewell, we eagerly anticipate the new chapters that OJ will write in the ever-evolving story of digital productivity and design. The journey ahead is bright with possibilities, and we are confident that OJ will continue to illuminate the path for others, inspiring many more to follow in the footsteps of curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

Here’s to OJ, a true visionary in the digital age, whose journey reminds us all that the road less traveled often leads to the most extraordinary destinations.

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