Know our Ambassadors: Stela Daiu from Albania
Tell us a little bit about yourself? Where are you from and do you have any hobbies?
Hello, my name is Stela Daiu, I was born in Elbasan, a city near the capital of Albania. I have always been very close to my family and I think I have inherited my passion for art from them. My father was excellent in technical drawing and my mother is also very skilled in hand drawing so their talents mixed up together creating my love for architecture. When I was 18 I moved to Tirana, the capital of Albania, to attend architecture university. My very first job was as a 3D architectural visualizer and now for more than 2 years, I have been working in the area of urban planning and development. Beside my passion for design I also enjoy travelling, visiting new places, cycling, swimming and nature walks.
What made you originally want to become a designer/photographer?
My love for art started when I was a child when drawing was my favourite hobby. As I grew up I got interested in photography too, which made me explore photo editing softwares. Later on, during university, besides studying the art of building, I went deeper into the art of designing, following creative blogs and watching adobe illustrator tutorials, the thing I never stopped doing because I think that there is always something new to learn.
How would you describe your style? Where do you find inspiration and ideas for new designs?
Before joining Freepik I have never worked in any design agency so I have been creating my portfolio along with working on my uploads. Therefore I would say I don’t have a specific style yet because I am currently trying to explore different ones. I find inspiration a bit everywhere, in Freepik itself, browsing design websites and as a big part of my works are made of floral elements nature is my primary source for new ideas.
What pieces of work are you most proud of and why?
Whenever I look at my works I come up with a different idea of how I could have done them so this is a difficult question for me. But if I must choose one I would say the infinity symbol in the watercolour background because it is one of my first works when I tried to mix photoshop brushes and illustrator together. It also was one of my first most downloaded files, the thing that made me feel proud of my work 🙂
Has your work evolved since your first started designing/taking photos and how?
My work has definitely evolved. Freepik for me is like a monthly challenge to improve my designs. It is the perfect place to earn and learn at the same time. Besides the economic benefits, it has also given me the chance to learn from all the talented contributors and Freepik’s graphics in terms of different styles, colour combinations, font choices etc.
What tips would you give to budding designers/photographers?
Don’t give up on your passion! Good results take time so be patient, work hard, explore different styles, keep up with design trends and never stop improving yourself!
Why did you want to work with microstock agencies?
I have always been using Freepik’s resources but I never knew that there was the possibility to work as a part of the team from home, so once I saw the ‘We are hiring’ announcement I immediately started searching about the company, the contributors, testimonials, requirements etc. So it was the first time that I thought I could turn my hobby into a job working in a microstock agency and it sounded perfect to me 🙂
What made you want to become a contributor to Freepik? What are the benefits of uploading your work?
Being a contributor in Freepik gives you the feeling of being an important part of the company’s big family. The support team is always ready to help. The contributor panel is very easy to use. I am free to design what I most like and without any deadline pressure too. Also even though I already work full-time, having a second job which gives me the opportunity to work on flexible hours is just perfect.
What advice do you have for designers who want to become contributors on Freepik?
I am a self-taught designer, so if I did it you can do it too! Before submitting your first works make a good study of what other contributors are uploading and learn from them. Once your profile will be activated upload constantly and various types of designs. Pay attention to different seasons and celebrations. Also, I administrate Freepik Contributor Albania facebook group, in which we have Freepik contributors and contributors to be from all over the world, so if you have any question join us and we will be glad to help you.
Why would you recommend using Freepik and how has it benefited your work?
I would recommend using Freepik for 2 important reasons. First one is quality since Freepik offers users high-quality graphics resources. Second is quantity, Freepik creates hundreds of free vectors, professional photos and PSD daily. Therefore it has definitely benefited my work with its various useful designs that help me in the visualisation of my architectural and urban projects.
