My Career Goals
I’m Mozzie Dean, an aspiring graphic designer currently enrolled in the Advanced Desktop Publishing program at BCTC. My path in design is driven by a genuine passion for creating work that is visually striking, conceptually intentional, and technically polished. I want to build a career that sits at the intersection of print design, digital media, and branding; work that is deeply considered and unmistakably mine.
My short-term goal is to complete my IMD coursework and graduate with a strong, versatile portfolio spanning logo design, photo compositing, typography, and web design. Long-term, I want to work as a freelance designer or in a creative studio environment where I can take on projects across branding, editorial design, and digital illustration. I’m especially drawn to work within the gothic, alternative, and subculture spaces; brands and clients whose identity calls for bold, dark, and emotionally resonant visuals.
My Design Inspiration
I’m most inspired by design that doesn’t play it safe; work that commits fully to a mood, an aesthetic, or an idea. My strongest visual influence comes from gothic and alternative culture: the visual language of band merch, album artwork, tattoo flash art, and underground zine culture. These aesthetics taught me that restraint and boldness can coexist, a single blood-red accent on a jet-black background can say more than a dozen colors ever could.
I’m also deeply inspired by surrealism, the work of artists who blend the impossible with the everyday. When I create a composite photo or a fantasy scene, I’m drawing on that tradition of making the strange feel real. I want my work to make people stop and look twice.
My Favorite Designer: Pushead
My favorite graphic artist and designer is Pushead, the professional name of Brian Schroeder. He is known for his highly detailed, aggressive visual style and for creating artwork connected to hardcore punk, skate culture, and heavy metal. His work has appeared on album covers, posters, T-shirts, and skateboard graphics, including designs associated with Metallica, the Misfits, and skate brands such as Zorlac.
What I admire most about Pushead is how unmistakable his style is. His artwork uses skulls, decay, sharp linework, and chaotic textures in a way that feels raw, dark, and instantly recognizable. That matters to me because I’m drawn to gothic, alternative, and emotionally intense design, and Pushead’s work proves that dark visuals can be powerful, expressive, and commercially memorable at the same time.
Pushead inspires me because he built a visual identity that crosses multiple creative worlds (music, merchandise, illustration, and skateboarding) without losing its personality. That kind of consistency is something I want in my own career. I want my work to feel distinctive the moment someone sees it, and Pushead is a great example of how bold style and strong draftsmanship can create a lasting impact.
Design Websites I Admire
1. Awwwards — awwwards.com
Awwwards is the premier showcase for the world’s best website design, development, and user experience. I admire it because it consistently exposes me to cutting-edge web design; sites that push what’s possible with layout, animation, and interaction. Browsing Awwwards is like a daily design education. Seeing what the best studios in the world are building keeps me motivated and raises my standards for what “good” looks like. It’s also a great reference for understanding how design trends evolve over time.
2. Behance — behance.net
Behance is Adobe’s creative portfolio platform and one of the most comprehensive galleries of graphic design, illustration, branding, typography, and photography in the world. What I love about Behance is the sheer variety. You can find extraordinary logo design next to stunning editorial illustration next to innovative packaging. It’s where I go when I need inspiration for a specific type of project. Seeing how professional designers document their process, from sketches to final artwork, also teaches me how to think about and present my own work more thoughtfully.
3. 99designs Blog — 99designs.com/blog
The 99designs blog is one of the best free educational resources for designers at any level. It covers everything from logo design principles and color theory to typography rules and career advice. What makes it stand out is how practical and accessible its content is, not overly academic, not dumbed down. Articles on color psychology and typeface selection have directly improved how I make design decisions. As someone still building my foundational knowledge, having a resource that is both inspiring and instructional is invaluable.