We recently had the chance to connect with Dalila Copeland and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dalila, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
As a graphic designer, my days vary from one to the next, which honestly keeps things exciting. I’m usually juggling a mix of contract and freelance design work. I love how it keeps me on my toes and constantly flexing different creative muscles.
Lately, I’ve been diving more into experimenting with AI tools—not to let them do the work for me, but to see how they can help me push ideas further or work more efficiently and seeing the possibilites. It’s incredible how many new AI tools come out every day!
I wouldn’t say there’s a rigid “routine,” but that’s kind of the beauty of it. It’s a mix of learning, creating, and figuring things out as I go—and somehow, all those moving parts have helped me grow more than I expected.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a graphic designer with 10+ years of experience—can’t believe it’s been that long, to be honest! I specialize in visual storytelling, mainly through branding in what the design world calls “end-to-end branding”. Basically, it means making sure your brand feels consistent and true everywhere—ads, website, packaging, social media, customer service, you name it. It’s crafting a clear identity—your mission, vibe, visuals, and voice—and weaving it through every interaction. Through this, I get to have my hands in just about everything brand-related. Whether it’s creating logos, color palettes, design systems, advertising, packaging, swag, print, copywriting, strategy, social media, or digital assets, it has also let me start seeing how I can begin to push the voice of brands through experimental typography.
If you haven’t heard of it, experimental type is basically taking letters and throwing out the rulebook. For example, I use real-world materials—dirt, fruit, flowers, food—whatever feels right for the message—and build letters out of them. It’s messy, expressive, and always surprising. And there’s something powerful about using textures and elements people connect with to bring more feeling to the words and solve the problem my clients have. Plus it’s super fun to do!
Being a graphic designer and now pushing the limits with experimental typography has let me make my own small mark on the world. It’s led to a recent, super awesome moment: winning an award for an experimental type poster series that really pushed how design can connect with people emotionally. It’s kinda wild to see the industry embracing this kind of work, especially since I’ve been pushing experimental typography every chance I get. Not that I’m the first to do it, of course.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
Honestly? As a graphic designer I’d have to say freelance and contract life have been the best teachers I could’ve asked for. It’s all-together scary and exhilarating!
Bouncing between gigs and saying yes to a wild mix of projects has been exhilarating in the best way. I’ve worked with everyone from Oracle and AWS to Minecraft, Xbox, Mojang, Amazon, Del Taco, the NCAA, and the Seattle Seahawks.
Over the years, I’ve had my hands in just about everything—as I mentioned earlier. That constant mix has kept me sharp and made me a better, more well-rounded designer. I never feel like I’m stuck in one lane.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes!!! Omg! Early on, my confidence as a designer definitely took a few hits—and there were moments I wanted to just throw my hands up and say “forget it all” (or, you know… something a little stronger). Being a graphic designer isn’t easy—but honestly, what career is?
When I first started out, it was rough seeing other designers’ work get the green light while mine kept getting passed over. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was just… not good enough. Then I dove into experimental typography—talk about no rulebook! It felt like a gamble to share my stuff. But I realized the best ideas come when you ditch the safe zone. Like, who’s out there making text from dirt or meat? It’s weird, sure, but it’s bold. It grabs you, it’s memorable, and it makes you feel something different.
I also used to tie so much of my identity to being a designer—like if I wasn’t crushing it creatively 24/7, then who even was I? That pressure actually made it harder to enjoy the work. These days, I’ve got a much healthier relationship with my career—and funny enough, I’ve started to love design even more because of it.
One of the biggest challenges I’m navigating right now is consistency. The industry’s shifting—AI is booming, competition’s fierce, and layoffs are real. In the past year and a half alone, I’ve jumped between a bunch of contract gigs, landed a full-time role, got laid off (twice!), freelanced in between, and picked up new contracts. Stability looks a little different these days, and honestly? That’s okay.
Being a designer now means being flexible—sometimes running your own thing on the side, freelancing on weekends, learning new tools (yes, including AI), and constantly evolving. It’s not always smooth, but it’s full of growth. And even on the weird days, I wouldn’t trade it. There’s something kind of cool about figuring it out as you go.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
Oh man—this one makes me laugh because I really believed it: I used to think college would be the hardest part of being a graphic designer. Like once I got my degree, the creative gods would part the clouds and I’d just coast on client approvals and pixel-perfect layouts forever. Spoiler alert: not a chance.
Turns out, it gets harder—but in the best kind of way. Real-world design work throws curveballs no syllabus can prepare you for. Tight deadlines, shifting feedback, seven rounds of revisions because the logo “needs to be bigger”… it’s a whole thing.
But honestly? That pressure shapes you. Like diamonds—you know the saying, and it’s true. The work gets more complex, the stakes get higher, and somehow, your skills and confidence grow right along with it. That’s the silver lining. So, while my college self would probably be horrified, my current self is weirdly grateful for the chaos.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d cut back on the hours I spend glued to my computer during the week. I make a point to travel whenever I can—it’s my fuel for inspiration and staying connected to the world. But in my day-to-day, I can get so sucked into work mode that I’m like, “Wait, have I even stepped outside today?” It’s not the best, and my body definitely notices. So, I’d love to close my laptop a bit earlier, get outside, and just soak in some fresh air and sunlight.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dalilacopeland.com
Image Credits
Aaron Copeland
