Meet RotRed – a talented designer and architect who is preparing for a masters degree in Advanced Architectural Design. We are proud to have Najla a part of the 99designs community.
Najla Mansour – Syria
99designs handle: RotRed
Projects won: 60
How did you get started in design?
Designing is my life!
Ever since I was 11 years old, drawing has been my favorite hobby. I started getting into graphic design at the age of 15 and from then on decided to be a graphic designer. However… I managed to join the school of architecture to become an architect instead :)
I thought by studying architecture I would be a designer who can design everything – graphic design is in my blood and under my skin! My graphic design skills helped me graduate on the top of my class in 2009 and get a scholarship to study for my MSc in Advanced Architectural Design in the UK starting in September 2011.
How do you get your design inspiration?
It’s very difficult to determine what or who inspired you, but we are always affected and influenced by our surrounding environment. When I say environment I mean everything – the people and all the other things around you. It all affects me… sometimes negatively and sometimes positively and both are important in developing my thoughts and designs.
When I started drawing and designing I was in total control – I was the one who set the rules and conditions that dictated the direction of my work. But after I entered school I have had to give up some of that control to the clients. They are the ones judging my work – people whom I may never meet look to me to create a design that suits their needs. I do my my best to interpret what they want from their creative brief and deliver – it’s been a tremendous learning experience. I always try to learn from everything and everyone I meet and I’ll keep learning as long as I can hold my pen (and mouse ! :P )!!!!
What led you to start using 99designs.com?
Well I am an architect, and in my country architectural universities focus on building establishment and design more than a broader type of design. Because I had to focus so extensively on architectural design, I felt that I had lost some skills and flexibility in more general design work.
Therefore, after graduating I tried to get back and rebuild these skills. I started surfing on the Internet, which is my second favorite activity, I researched design and companies involved with design… and I found the blog about 99designs. I LOVED it! I loved everything about the group – the designs, the staff, the idea of meeting designers over all the world… but the thing I liked most is the contests.
I started participating and I actually won my 9th contest! I was so happy and decided to continue at 99designs as my extra job. After designing for a year in the 99designs community I feel like I am working for a big company. I have met so many great friends around the world who are great and excellent designers. Many of them have helped me improve my skills and the staff is pretty awesome at taking care of the community.
What are three things designers can do to have success at 99designs?
Lots of designers keep asking me this! I want to tell everyone that I also used to ask if there was a secret to all this and… unfortunately, NO there is no secret at all! Once a good friend of mine, khingkhing – one of the best designers on 99designs, told me… Najla, Don’t stop, when it is time to start winning, you will win and then never look back! And that is exactly what happened :)
So I will tell you what I found out:
1.) Don’t enter any contest that is not your style: don’t just enter for the sake of entering – enter to win! Don’t enter a contest that will end in few hours unless you KNOW you can do much better than what’s already submitted.
2.) Build a powerful PORTFOLIO: your portfolio is so important! Always add the best of your work – only the best. When you have something like 30 of your best work in there, you will start winning. The client will see your work and give you feedback and direction about what they like and don’t like in your style.
3.) Never stop trying to win: losing and losing and losing should only make you stronger and push you to work harder! When you work harder – you will be better designer and will start winning.
4.) Read the brief, don’t beg for feedback, fight as your life depends on it!!! Don’t make bad comments on wall that will make you lose your respect :)
What do you love most about being a designer?
Being a designer means two things for me, two things I love a lot…
The first is that being a designer means that I can offer something to myself, something that relieves me and helps me relax… everytime you finish a design you feel that you brought something to life, you give something a soul, something came from your mind and thoughts – this is what I call creation.
The second is that i can make people SMILE! It is a great joy to get to make people smile. As a designer you may not be able to change the world but you CAN add something to it! Something that would last – something that came from you that you give to the world and represents all.
Najla also wanted to share one of her architectural designs with you – the above is her graduation project.
Cool Designs ! best luck to you Najla!
thanks Maka =) very appreciated
Great designs Najla, I’ll love to work with you soon.
thank you ! glad you like my work =)
Hi Sweetheart Najla, as always perfect and amazing work. Don’t know something different from you. Great interview. Keep going like this and all the best
thanks my friend !!!! you are THE AMAZING ! ^_^ really glad you like it ! i with all the best for you as well !
Congratulations Najla!
thanks Ulahts =)
Congratulations Najla! You are amazing!
thanks Shewa !!! YOU are the amazing !!!! ^_^
Amazing designs! Very impressive! you’ll become the second Zaha Hadid ^^
THANKS A LOT ! being the second Zaha Hadid is the most beautiful complement ! ^_^ so sweet of you to say that! really thanks !!! ^_^
congrats Najla! you’re beautiful lol :P
thanks suseno ^^ nice of u!
Hi RotRed,
Mabuhay! You truly deserve to be in the Designers Profile.. especially when we battled it up on the Edwin Kwan Logo design. Such a clever Girl. Hope that i’ll be part of the next Designers Profile… Cheers to you!
thanks a lot dear ! , i wish you all the best in the future ;)
Lol like you said once! even we are not friends! you have amazing designs! good luck in future!
thanks Cit , it means a lot to me that you like my designs =) , you are a great designer yourself and i love your work and told you that before , i wish you all the best too =)
the most beautiful designer i ever saw:)
so sweet of you ^^
you deserve it:)
congra najla your designs are awesome and creative i wish to you a gooooood luck :)
thank you my friend , you are awesome and creative too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i wish you all the best as well !!!! ;)
Very nice designs and inspiring too.
Wish u all the best.
thanks , it makes me happy if people are inspired by my designs =) , wish you all the best !
i just wanna say … yahoooooooooo … rotred will get what i mean
hahhahaha :D , thanks my friend !
Amazing and inspiring designs.. and great interview.
I wish you a good luck !
thanks a lot Kavita ! very nice of you ! wish you all the best and good luck too :)
Great designer and great friend.. am sure this is just the beginning!!!
thank you ! great company and great designers ! i wish you all the best as well :)
great work Najla, it shows your passion towards designing, I wish I could be like you one day……
All the best…..
thanks =) i wish you all the best
brilliant,
ideas that are very – very inspired
hopefully you can achieve your desired
Warm greetings to you
thanks A.G =) , sweet of you , i wish you you all the best as well .
Congrats Najla! Great interview! :)
thanks Andrew ;)
Hey N
You know you’re my fav <3 Congrats for the interview and your graduation project is so amazing that words can't describe it.
Keep it up!!
:**
thanks Leukothea <3<3 <3 , you are one of my favorite designers as well !! i love love love your work , and really glad you liked my project ^_^ , wish you all the best as well :*
Congratulations! Your drawings are really interesting and stylish.
Alex
i want to be like you
najla… nice to see you to be the chosen :) CONGRATZ
I do agree with your 4th tips : read the brief !
keep up the good works , and we miss to see you compete again :)
<3 <3 <3 mama rocknroll <3 <3 <3 love you and your work !!!!! all the best to you dear , and hope to meet you again in some contest soon ;)
2e shooo haaad ya najlaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
:D:D
somaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar my best friend , shokraaaaaaaaan , lkan lkan :P :D
Very creative work.. and you’re beautiful. all in one. :)
lol ! :D thank you !
Wow nice design really great. I like it….!
good design,
Congrat and all the best!
Great work!
Love your advice to other designers!
Thanks!!
Awesome, you are very talented.
really interested on your projects!!!
Great designs. but i’m better than you :p…
:) just kidding .
You’re great des .
Amazing Designs & very beautiful Mashallah :)
thank you for being my inspiration…
Hi Najla,
Absolutely love your designs. You sound like a beautiful person too. I’m hoping you can help us out with a project we launched recently. Log for a childcare centre, Kids Cottage. Would love to here from you. We have short listed some of your designs. Hope to talk soon.
Dear Najla,
Would like to invite you to design a logo for my new business: Ode to Joy.
You can read the brief here:
https://99designs.com/logo-design/contests/logo-wanted-ode-joy-87626/brief
If you’ve got any questions, feel free to reply to this message, or just leave a comment on the contest page.
Joanlishiwei
Hi Najla,
We love your esthetic, and your talents would fit our logo very well. Would you like to help us?
Before you read the brief, please understand that they are our suggestions, and that you as a designer can follow or create your own idea. As long as it is clear, cohesive and looks like travel, then it’ll be great.
You can find our brief here:
https://99designs.com/logo-design/contests/tw-co-love-taiwan-travel-needs-logo-88317
Thanks,
Andy
Hi Najla. I just want to thank you. I read your story and you inspired me. I want to be an arhitect too since i was about 7. I will continue to work harder and harder.:) Also awesome designs!
hi Alexander , i am so happy you liked my story :) , if you want to be something just go for it!!! there is a difference between graphic designer and an architect for sure , but nothing is hard to be done , and i always want to be both , and i am so happy i did that :D
very nice work Najla , specially the detailing .
have you started doing your Masters in UK?
do you mind if i ask some questions related to the study
hi , yeah i have started my masters , you can ask me whatever you want :)
wowww.. Amazing Najla..
Can you teach me a bit about design? :)
u get one Fans rite now.. lol :))
wonderful!!!!!Always forward.
Regards,
great work Najla, congratulations and all the best. i’m from lebanon, i think we need brilliant ideas from our region to glow all over the planet, peace.
hi , thanks a lot :) , wish you all the same , peace
nice work
im also an architect but not for now..im still learning…hehe.btw im from malaysia.nice to know you..
so much atttractive and impressive designs.i am trying to practice your some words..
Cool Designs ! best luck to you Najla!
Cool…. i like your design
Salute…
Hi Najla
You are a fabulously talented designer and a beautiful person too. I love your style and would be so grateful if you could participate in my contest.
http://99designs.com/logo-design/contests/logo-wanted-glam-dandy-142004
Thanks so much!
Amanda :)
Hi Najla,
You have beautiful designs! I would love for you to design my company logo. Let me know if this is possible?
Thanks!
Hello Najla,
You were referred to me by Sagatpam Krishna. We need a few things designed but have a Logo and Website from other member of 99 Designs that you can use for inspiration. Please provide me with an e-mail if you would like a list of our needs as well as our current artwork and designs. Thank You. If you would like to e-mail me directly feel free to do so at shawnklawson@gmail.com.
I am considering purchasing this design logo for my blog:
http://99designs.com/logo-design/store/33718
I also have another website that I would like a logo created for to coordinate with the flowers from the above logo. This would give me a coordinated, branded image.
I would also need a few other images, such as a watermark and signature.
Would you be able to do this and what type of costs would I be looking at for work like this?
Other things I may need: Facebook images and youtube intro and outro slides for both sites, and a few buttons for my blog.
If you would email me with details I would very greatly appreciate it!
Great! I’ll relay the message to RotRed. Expect an email from her shortly. Cheers!
GOOD LUCK NAJLA
Hi Najla, I’d like to buy one of your logos! I sent you an email a few days ago regarding minor changes, but received no response. Please let me know if you are still designing!
I have a design contest running for a logo. I was wondering if you could design me a logo incorporating one of your beautiful trees with “family/relationship law” type decorations on the tree?
verry nice ,good luck najla