Delaney Buell Designs Blog
week 4
​​Hello Readers!
After a long break for the holidays and getting back into the groove of working and freelancing, I am back to blogging. This week, I am talking about working independently as a freelancer and just the overall happenings of my life.
Working independently often feels like living in a constant state of transition. Some weeks are filled with momentum—new projects, bursts of creativity, and increased confidence. Other weeks are quieter, and uncertainty begins to creep in. Although that space can be uncomfortable, it’s also where I focus most intently on my work. When things slow down, I keep creating. I experiment, reconsider, and remind myself of my initial motivations.
Freelancing has pushed me beyond my comfort zone in unexpected ways. It allows me to collaborate with people from various creative backgrounds, but also requires me to confront doubt, reduce comparisons, and trust in my growth—even when progress isn't immediately visible. The design industry moves quickly, especially in graphic design and 3D work, and sometimes it feels overwhelming to keep pace. I’ve learned that I don’t need to chase everything—just nurture curiosity and honesty in my process.
Teaching my first pre-K art class at Green Beans Preschool surprisingly grounded me. Watching children create fearlessly and witnessing their excitement when they finally grasped something reminded me that art doesn’t need to be perfect to carry meaning. That experience gave me small moments of joy and even inspired new patterns based on their interests. I never expected teaching to be for me, but sharing creativity that day changed my perception of my work.
Freelancing can be messy, uncertain, and tiring, but it continually draws me back to what truly matters—creating, connecting, and trusting that even when the path isn’t clear, I am still moving forwar
Working for myself feels like living in a constant in-between. Some weeks are full of momentum—new projects, creative energy, confidence. Other weeks are quiet, and the not-knowing creeps in. That space can be uncomfortable, but it’s also where I end up paying the most attention to my work. When things slow down, I create anyway. I experiment, rethink, and remind myself why I started. Freelancing has pushed me out of my comfort zone in ways I didn’t expect. I get to work with people across different creative fields, but I also have to sit with doubt, compare myself less, and trust that I’m growing even when it doesn’t feel obvious. The design world moves fast, especially in graphic design and 3D, and sometimes it feels impossible to keep up. I’m learning that I don’t need to chase everything—just stay curious and honest in my process. Teaching my first pre-K art class at Green Beans Preschool unexpectedly grounded me. Watching kids create without fear, seeing their excitement when something finally clicked, reminded me that art doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful. That experience gave me small pockets of joy and even inspired new pattern work based on their interests. I never thought teaching was for me, but that day's creative sharing changed how I see my work. Freelancing is messy, uncertain, and exhausting at times—but it keeps pulling me back to what matters. Creating, connecting, and trusting that even when the path isn’t clear, I’m still moving forward.
week 3 ​
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Hello Readers!
Freelancing has been one of the most rewarding and unsettling chapters of my creative life. There are moments when I feel deeply proud of how quickly my skills, confidence, and network have grown—working with designers, organizations, and clients who trust me to translate their ideas into visuals that actually matter. Projects like my motion design work for I Love A Clean San Diego reminded me why I chose this path in the first place: creating accessible, engaging work that connects with real people, especially kids and families. At the same time, freelancing comes with long stretches of uncertainty—slow periods, inconsistent income, imposter syndrome, and the constant pressure to keep up with an industry that never slows down. I’ve had to balance part-time jobs, learn how to advocate for myself, and remind myself that rest is not a failure. The doubt still creeps in, especially when applying for roles that feel just out of reach, but with the support of my creative community and the resilience I’ve built along the way, I keep moving forward. Freelancing isn’t easy, but it’s taught me how to trust my voice, value my work, and stay committed to creativity even when the path feels unclear.
week 2​
Hello Readers!
Recently, I found myself slipping into a deep creative slump, the kind that makes even the work you usually love feel distant and unreachable. I was sad, unmotivated, and trying to force inspiration that simply wasn’t coming, which only made me feel more disconnected from my own creativity. In the middle of all of that, my boyfriend Daniel suggested we go bowling, something simple and unexpected that I honestly did not think would make any difference. But saying yes and stepping away from my routine turned out to be exactly what I needed. Being in a new environment, laughing, moving around, and just enjoying his company pulled me out of my heaviness in a quiet, natural way. For the first time in days I felt present instead of pressured. By the time we were heading home I felt ideas coming back to me on their own without forcing anything, and I could feel my creative spark slowly waking up again. That night reminded me that self-care can look like giving yourself permission to leave your work, reconnect with the world around you, and let life refill you in ways you do not expect. Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is step away so you can return stronger, clearer, and genuinely inspired.
week 1
Hello Readers!
My name is Delaney Buell, and I'm incredibly excited to share a little bit about who I am and why I'm starting this blog. I have a degree in 3D Animation from the University of Silicon Valley, USV. My college Journey took a bit longer than four years, partly because of COVID lockdowns and taking part-time classes, but that extra time taught me a lot about persistence, adapting, and rebuilding creative habits. Coming back to in-person classes after the lockdown was a huge hurdle. In one of my animation projects throughout the courses, Project X, our professor constantly reminded us that working together and filming reference videos as a team would make the whole process so much easier. It almost felt like we had to relearn how to collaborate. Being disconnected for so long made it more difficult to stay focused, and after graduating felt like I had to catch up, rebuilding my confidence, sharpening my skills, and relearning how to work. around other creatives again. After finishing my degree, I decided to learn motion design to expand my portfolio. I worked part-time jobs while attending networking events and making connections in the industry. Getting a personal assistant was a turning point for me; she helped review my applications, emails, and posts before I sent them out. Because of my dyslexia, I was never fully confident that my online presence was important, but having support has provided me with the confidence to finally put my work out there. It has made a huge difference. Today, I freelance in graphic design, branding, illustration, and motion design, and I'm finally ready to share more of my creative world.
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Why I Want to Blog
This blog was my first sneak peek at everything I've been building. I want to share my creative process because, yes, there is a method to my creative madness and give people a behind-the-scenes look at how I work and what inspires me. My experience working during San Diego Design Week, where I did an illustration-based motion, the design piece on bio-retention basins really helped me to realise how much I want to connect people with information through design. That project reminded me why I love visual storytelling so much: it’s a bridge: The connection of people, ideas, and communities. I'm starting this blog to reach others, whether through shared creativity, inspiration, or just comfort. Knowing someone else out there is building their path, too. I want to talk about my passions, my projects, and all that I'm learning in the process. Can't wait to share more with you all.