Who me?

What is 'Boxless'?

Like many designers I knew I should build a portfolio site, but the task proved too daunting and my (brilliantly clever) URL sat neglected for a couple of years. It's not that I was being lazy or that I was impossibly busy, as all of us designers always are. It was the pressure to build something that represents your very best that intimidated me into an unproductive lump of terrified. The lack of limitations and the mounting expectations soon rendered the task impossible. I can't even tell you how many times I have designed this site and trashed it because it wasn't good enough.

So a couple years later and it's finally up. What changed? Did I come up with the magical perfect design? Did my portfolio suddenly become so stupendous that the world needed to see it and could wait no longer? No, but dear lord I hope that day comes soon.

Actually, I just decided that this wasn't going to be a portfolio site and all that pressure melted away. Suddenly it wasn't going to be about what a great designer I am, but about the designer I want to become. I want this to be a place where I can try new things that aren't going to be used for anything other than my own amusement. There is no pressure. If a design is no good then at least I learned something, I tried something new. I want this to be a public scrapbook where my process is out there for everyone to see and get ideas from.

So that's the theory. Focusing on the journey and not the destination will help me be a better designer. Let's hope I'm right.


Who am I?

My name is Adrianne Schoen. I have a BA with a focus in Art and Design from Columbia College Chicago. I have been working as a graphic designer for the last 6 years. I left my home town of Chicago and now reside in Denver.

If you just can't get enough of me and you want me to work in your fabulous company or projects please contact me and I will be happy to send you a resume and a sample of my work.

A PDF version of my portfolio is available here.