The skills acquired within the field of graphic design can often translate into other careers. Darren Breault, a 2002 NESAD graduate, uses his graphic design background in home renovation. He’s currently working as a Project Manager at Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Darren began working in home renovation as a way to pay for college tuition. After graduation, he had difficulty finding an advertising job in a struggling market and went back to what he knew. He eventually started his own home renovation business, Form Function Design.
He has been working as a Project Manager at Extreme Makeover for half a year now. The job is demanding but rewarding. Darren spends about twenty-five days on the road a month. During a build, the team works 24/7, divided into night and day crews. Towards the end, it is possible to go thirty to forty hours without sleep. But through this process, the cast and crew of Extreme Makeover change the homeowner’s lives and build a stronger community.
As Project Manager, Darren acts as a coordinator, making sure everything runs smoothly. This includes everything from outsourcing help to recruiting volunteers to making sure the vision for the house is successfully executed.
Darren says his background in graphic design provides him with a keener sense of detail, planning skills, and team management when it comes to home renovation.
He opts to move away from the “cookie cutter” colors typically used like whites, tans, and beiges. He also focuses on creating a focal point for each room and plays with texture, repetition, and contrast. Each room is no longer an area surrounded by four walls. He views a room as his canvas and landscape.
