About Me

Stats

Name: Holly Marie Gibbs
Age: 23
Birthday: March 23rd
College: University of Florida
Major: Journalism
Focus: Magazines
Minor: Education
Favorite color: Green
Favorite book: Oedipus the King
Favorite movie: Fried Green Tomatoes
Favorite food: Yellow squash
Favorite quote:
“The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing. The visionary lies to himself, the liar only to others.”
-Friederich Nietzche

Favorite TV Shows

Grey’s Anatomy
Brothers and Sisters
CSI: Las Vegas
Sex and the City
The Office
Big Love
Dexter

Favorite Songs

Just Like That, Toots and the Maytals
Say Goodbye, Dave Matthews Band
Hey Jude, The Beatles
Angel, Jimi Hendrix
Fix You, Coldplay
Favorite Sites

Pandora
Typography
PrintMag
PostSecret
McSweeneys
HowDesign
Real Simple
Martha Stewart
Bluelines
T Magazine
ZeFrank
Cool Flash Games

About Me
I am originally from Key Largo, Florida, where I spent 18 years with salt in my hair and sand between my toes. Growing up in the Keys taught me two things:
1. Some things aren’t worth worrying about. Sitting back to relax isn’t always a bad thing, and worrying about the little things in life will just give you anxiety and wrinkles.
2. If you don’t have a goal and a dream, it’s very easy to get stuck somewhere and spend years going nowhere before you even realize it. You can’t do something big (or even something small) if you’re afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and try something new.
When I graduated high school, I decided I was destined for bigger and better things than being a waitress or a boat captain, so I packed up my things and moved to Gainesville.
The University of Florida was a great place for me to lean, mature and experience life as a young student. My professors were absolutely amazing-- Ted Spiker, Betty Cortina, Dr. William McKeen, Mike Foley and Renee Martin-Kratzer all served to be great role models for me and taught me what I need to know in order to survive the professional world.
I was part of some really great projects while I was at UF. I took many design courses, focusing mainly on magazine design. I was Art Director for Orange & Blue magazine, a student-run publication that was distributed throughout campus and the city of Gainesville, in the spring of 2008. I played a major part in developing the look and feel of the magazine and was a part of the marketing for the first issue that was circulated. I was also Art Director on a project in my magazine management class where we designed and developed a prototype of a magazine for 7- to 12-year-old girls and we are currently working on pitching it to a publisher.
I spent the summer after graduation in an amazing magazine layout internship for UF’s engineering alumni magazine, The Florida Engineer. where I took part in a complete redesign of the magazine. I worked alongside another designer to create a new look and identity for the magazine, as well as coordinated photo shoots and provided art direction for the book, as well as developed art concepts for the features and articles.
I have only been designing professionally for a year, but I have far more experience than most people who have been designing for much longer. I have directed three publications and am well-versed with the pre-production and printing processes. I have coordinated and directed more than 15 photo shoots, including a full-scale, 10-hour even where I let a staff of 50 and directed 15 models. I was in charge of planning, procuring props and borrowing over 400 pieces of clothing and accessories, scheduling the day and overseeing 3 simultaneous shoots.
I’m responsible, talented and dedicated to every project I work on. I know I will be an outstanding member on any design team.
I don’t know what’s next for me, but I’m open to absolutely everything. I’m young and I’m not tied down, so I want to travel and explore and experience all that life has in store for me.