GS Partner Highlight: Sarah Rabinovich
“Not only is graphic design a way for me to express myself creatively, but it can also be used as a tool to communicate, influence, and make change.”
Sarah Rabinovich
At Giant Shoulders, we work with a network of designers, strategists, writers, and web developers to build the right team for every project. Over the next few months, we’d like to introduce you to some of the incredible talent that makes us who we are. To begin this series, meet Sarah Rabinovich, one of our design partners!
Sarah is a Boston-based designer who most recently worked with us on the Arctura and Emerge Works brands. We asked her some questions about her work and design philosophy. You can learn more about Sarah at her website, sarahrabinovich.com.
Describe yourself in 3 words:
Thoughtful: I don’t like to take things at face value, and I’m very intentional about how and why I do things in life and in my work.
Adventurous: But not in the skydiving and hiking mountains sort of way. I want to see new places, try new experiences, think about things in different ways.
Detail-oriented: I notice the little things and care a lot about them! I’m also a serious planner and very organized.
How did you get started in design?
I’ve loved making art for as long as I can remember! Drawing and painting were always how I spent my time and expressed myself, and I was lucky enough to grow up in a creative family who supported and encouraged me. My dad works as an art director, so from an early age, I was exposed to the world of design, and it showed me there is more than one way to be a visual artist. Growing up, I tried every creative outlet offered to me—fine art, music, theater, dance, film—and in college, I realized graphic design was what I wanted to do with my life. Not only is it a way for me to express myself creatively, but it can also be used as a tool to communicate, influence, and make change.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere! I try not to get lost in the over-saturated design worlds of Pinterest and Instagram. I believe graphic design is a form of fine art. I’m really interested in how color is used to express feelings and ideas, and how colors interact with each other is endlessly fascinating. I also love film, photography, dance, theater, and music, and find that they all influence me in different ways—form, light, color, movement, energy. Perhaps the strongest influence (yet the least tangible) is places. I find that each time I’ve spent significant time in a new place, it coincides with a natural evolution in my design aesthetic, specifically in the colors and layouts I’m attracted to.
Branding and Collateral Design for Emerge Works
What is one of your favorite GS projects that you've worked on?
I’ve truly enjoyed each project, but one of my favorites was Emerge Works! You don’t always get an opportunity to take risks and push boundaries, but this client was so willing to try something totally new. There was such positive, fun, collaborative energy throughout the project, and I’m really proud of what we were able to deliver.
When you aren't designing brands and building websites, what do you do for fun?
In non-COVID times, I love to try new restaurants and see my favorite bands perform in tiny, crowded venues with my fiancé and friends. I’ve tried to satisfy that during the pandemic by cooking different recipes, trying lots of different places for takeout, and making nostalgic Spotify playlists. Over the past few years, I’ve developed a love for houseplants, and it’s proved to be a very therapeutic hobby during the pandemic. I also dabble in making homemade skincare concoctions and even had my own Etsy shop a while back!
What advice would you give someone starting out in this field?
Try everything and just keep making! Don’t worry about getting caught up in trends or developing your “style” — what you love to make will evolve and develop over time, and you don’t want to force stylistic boundaries on yourself. And try everything that seems interesting to you. You’ll never know what will end up making you the happiest!