2018: The Year I Invested in Cardboard
As I write this post, the clocks are rolling over to the New Year and I find myself, as many do, looking back on the past 12 months. 2018 represented a ton of new things for me, I was entering the new year as a full-time entrepreneur as I have done on occasion before, but this time was different. Instead of taking any (and all) work from a variety of industries that came my way, I would focus on one industry in particular. An industry that I have become quite enamoured with on both a personal and professional level over the last 5 years: Tabletop Games.
It all started with a colleague of mine. He was into ‘board games’ and asked if I would like to come to his place one weekend for a game day. Immediately (as so many people who are not up on modern tabletop games do) my mind went to the tired old Ameri-trash titles like Monoploly, The Game of Life, etc.. I thanked him for the offer but said, “No thanks”. Fast-forward to a year later, he offered again. This time, I decided to take him up on his offer. Well, suffice it to say, my life changed that day. After 10 hours of learning how to play these all-new ‘modern’ board games, I left his place my head spinning and completely exhausted, but thoroughly content. I found a new hobby. Over the next while, I began to grow my collection and even scheduled game nights of my own and eventually started to create my own player aids. After a year or so, I decided that if I was able to create accessories for my friends and I, why not do it for real? I had the background in print design, I knew the ‘ins and outs’ of preparing files for print to avoid manufacturing hiccups, I had the professional experience to handle myself and make good impressions on clients who may be used to working with moonlighters or weekend warriors. “OK”, I thought, “Let’s do this.”
The joy I get from working on Tabletop Games is really more than should legally be permitted. They say that if you really enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I can verify the validity of this statement. Every single publisher that I have met in this industry has been a fount of generosity and kindness. The gaming industry by nature is incredibly inclusive and welcoming which makes it that much more enjoyable to find work in.
In the past year, I have attended a few of industry conventions, spent a week at a client retreat working on game prototypes and their corporate brand, and had the privilege of contributing to the creation of several new games! If 2019 is half as fun and rewarding as 2018 has been, I will be a happy camper.
I am extremely thankful to be where I am and to those who helped me get here. From friends, to colleagues and of course clients; your help, support and patronage have been incredible! I am truly grateful and look forward to fostering those relationships in 2019.
Now that I am here, expect to see big things from me ;)
Happy New Year.