Andrew Brynjulson’s blog, Brenni Fresh, is more than just a sounding board for his thoughts on design. It’s an online billboard for his talent and his constant plug into the creative world.
Brynjulson started his design blog in August, just a few months after he graduated from Augustana College with a degree in communication/business and art, emphasizing in graphic design. The blog features samples of his work as well as interviews from other artists and discussions on design techniques.
“An interview has value because it inspires and acquaints people. My work has value because it shows what I can do. Hints and techniques have value because it teaches people and recycles knowledge,” he said. “Anytime someone can obtain value by visiting my site, I’m glad.”
Brenni Fresh, a nickname given to Brynjulson in college because of his last name’s difficult pronunciation, was initially created to establish Brynjulson’s personal brand. It’s bloomed into his way of contributing to the online design community. He Part of his contribution is conducting interviews or his blog with artists who influence and engage him.
“In a given day of freelancing, probably the only other face I see has four legs, a wagging tail and very few opinions concerning design work,” he said. “So for me, interviewing other designers is a way for me to collect and distribute a wealth of knowledge that goes beyond what I have to offer and subsequently gives me the input I’m deprived of.”
He also hopes these interviews inspire students to reach out to artists and become part of the design community in Sioux Falls.
The Sioux Falls native is currently looking for full-time work, so the blog also serves as regular advertisement to his skills. Not all of his work is up there, just a few quality pieces that showcase his range of talent. Offering more than just a few clips on a Web site, Brynjulson’s blog shows passion and knowledge for design, which is hopefully a segregating factor in a wide pool of candidates.
“It is my hope that employers are looking to hire people, not resumes. People are expressive communicators by nature, and blogs are a form of expression,” he said. “To put it bluntly, I see my blog as a way to prove to employers that I’m more than a resume, more than the sum of my past employments. It’s a matter of showing people that they are investing in you as a potential industry dynamo versus an industry drone.”
Social media tycoons, such as Gary Vaynerchuk, preach that social media and blogs are more relevant than résumés. Brynjulson said that his blog offers a better picture of capabilities than a piece of fancy paper. Yet, he knows that not everyone has adapted that idea.
“I think social media and blogs are great tools for people to prove their worth,” he said. “Ever a realist though, I think we are still at the mercy of a business culture that demands standards and conformity.”
