A Conversation with Frances
Molly: We absolutely love the logo! Can you talk a little bit about your background in graphic design and what the process was for this specific logo?
Frances: (I’m so glad you like it : )) As a primarily video editor and animator, graphic design is definitely not my number one skill set, but it has always been a big interest! As a kid I always loved drawing and playing with different fonts, and now, working as a motion graphics designer I have gotten to play with it much more. For this project, I had an intro call with Molly just to learn about Crowded Table and its mission and aesthetic goals! From there I drew out some ideas incorporating some of the elements we talked about: the celtic flower, the “table,” and the mismatched chairs. And then I got into Adobe Illustrator and brought it to life in a few variations. Molly and I had a second call where we settled on one variation and adjusted the shade of purple to be just right!
Molly: What is one of your favorite parts of graphic design/creating?
Frances: I feel super blessed to have an innate ability to hyperfocus on things I’m passionate about, and getting into a flow state while working on something creative is the best feeling in the world! I also love getting opportunities like this, to create things that support forces for good!
Molly: What is one of the biggest challenges you have had in graphic design?
Frances: I think my biggest challenge with design is how much there is to know! There are so many fundamental skills and theories and techniques–it can be overwhelming to be aware of how little I know in the grand scheme of things! But it is also motivating to know there is more to be learned.
Molly: What are some of your other creative outlets?
Frances: I am definitely a jack of all trades, and most certainly a master of none! I dabble in video, photography, illustration, music arrangement and production, singing, and dancing! I may not be great at any one thing, but I don’t put limits on my creativity! l
Molly: We of course are a farm so I want to ask some food/farm specific questions as well! Do you have any experience farming/what is your experience with the food system in the US?
Frances: I have not been involved on a farm, myself, though being raised in Sonoma, California, I was surrounded by a number of farms, both big and small. Growing up, my family loved supporting our family friends’ smaller farms, so we often had fresh eggs and produce that were locally grown and sourced. I always thought there was a noticeable quality difference and that local foods had much more robust flavor. I think the food system in the U.S. needs a lot of work. Processed foods are far too readily available, and industrial agriculture has depleted our soil and our seas to the point that grains, produce, meat, and fish are all shells of what they once were. i
Molly: What is one of your favorite meals to cook at home?
Frances: When I’m home with my family, I love making Paella! It is a longstanding tradition that my family makes Paella for Thanksgiving instead of the classic turkey dinner, so it is very nostalgic and just so delicious!
Molly: What is one thing you hope to see change in the future of food/farming in the US?
Frances: I hope to see industrial farming practices become more sustainable and less cruel towards animals, and I hope to see more people shop local!
