Mailjet Monday: Yann Skargovski

What do you do at Mailjet?

As a designer working closely with the marketing team, my projects mainly involve print communication, advertising and illustration for web content.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I always start my mornings off with a cup of coffee from our espresso machine and spend the first half an hour browsing news from the night before. Sites I typically surf include Dribble and Behance, so a lot of the content is pushed by U.S. based designers. I also take a look at Twitter to keep up to date with latest designs and get some inspiration.

I like to dedicate most of my morning to more routine tasks, such as blog banners. That way I can block off a larger chunk of my afternoon for bigger ongoing projects. These projects typically take a bit more time to draw up and research. Right now I’m working on a neat marketing project that you’ll see in the coming two months. Keep your eyes out for that!

Where do you do draw creativity from on a daily basis?

I listen to a lot of music - I have a 100 hour Spotify playlist! The other practice that helps a lot is to break out a sheet of blank paper and doodle. Even if it’s not directly related to the subject I’m working on, drawing by hand helps me think and conceptualize. Drawing on the computer helps as well. I sometimes will try out new techniques on Photoshop, which leads to new perspectives on new projects.

Most memorable moment at Mailjet?

I don’t think that there’s just one memorable moment, it’s the whole Mailjet experience. Each day at work is a memorable moment in itself. I love that I work with a team of really passionate people, that’s the ultimate reward. Whether in the office or at happy hour, there are constantly new ideas being thrown around. It’s inspiring to be a part of this culture that is always looking for ways to improve.

What are some of the tools in your arsenal?

Photoshop, Squarespace, Sketch and our new template builder which is launching to public in a few weeks.

Lastly, if you had to choose just one word of design advice for email senders, what would it be?

Keep your brand in mind and be willing to experiment and test, don’t just follow the trends. What might work for someone else might not work for you. For example, instead of using stock photos, check your network and ask Don’t pick a stock photo, check out your networks maybe you have a photograph friends, Unsplash is a good resource for quality royality free photos. Themeforest.com is also a good place to look up latest trends and possibilities in email design.