Working in a company that designs the interiors of nursing homes is my official job, but on the side I’m running my own one-man-business. I’ve created commercial buildings like shuls, offices, restaurants and club houses. Because I’m my own boss, it means I’m putting into play everything I learned in DA. The designing, rendering, Autocading, specifying the fabrics, pricing the projects, organizing everything with the vendors etc. It’s all on my head…yet I love it.

I saw the ad for the course, signed up and never looked back. In fact I made my money back from the course after my first private job. I’ll forever be grateful to Zippy, CEO of Design Alive for getting me my big break. She’s the one that suggested to my boss that I’d be the perfect candidate for the position.
How many school owners do you know that would stick out their necks so far for their students?

The great thing about taking the DA course is that because it gives you a full design education, it makes you realize all the avenues you can channel yourself into. Take lighting for example: you could work as a lighting specialist collaborating with architects and electricians creating lighting solutions for different projects. And that’s just one little example from the entire spectrum of interior design fields to specialize in.

The best part is that while completing the course, DA is the only school that gives you hands-on interior design experience. In fact, the company I work for prefers to employ DA grads because it’s a well-known fact that DA grads aren’t just trained in design theory but they’re job-ready too.

Because of Covid and being stuck indoors, together with my love of beautifying homes, I started renovating my own surroundings. My parents gave me carte blanche to redesign their bedroom then the hallway and then the best of all: our dining room!

I wasn’t on social media but got my ideas from Houzz.com by subscribing to their emails and looking at their website.

My aunt had been hearing about my renovation projects and called me. “Yitty, I just saw in this Jewish magazine an advertisement for a course on drafting and interior design by this place called Design Alive. Have you ever heard of it? Is this of interest to you?”

Well, this was all news to me. It was only the men in my life who seemed to be able to deal with construction, or so I thought. (My father was into fix and flips, my uncles were into construction and architecture.) And even if I felt I could study for a degree it never entered my mind that there would be an option for a Jewish, female with the option of a self paced flexible hours course.

Don’t worry, I did thorough research before I signed up for Design Alive, but once I saw what else was available within the Jewish world, I realized the DA interior design course was the only way to go. Besides their flexibility and all female classes, they also offered a professional, well-rounded education on all subjects.

Once I started I threw myself totally into it all, to such a degree that I LOVED doing my homework. It was a thrill to implement the class knowledge into assignments. I learnt about architecture, blue prints, design, furniture, kitchen, and bathroom layouts, and color. I felt ready to dive into any project by the time I graduated.

Once I graduated, I started working for Blueline. I still enjoy working there till today. I consider it my “day job”. I work with blueprints, zoning, and drafting structural features working under their architect’s license. I appreciate the creativity and constantly fresh ideas that my boss comes up with. There’s a certain calmness I appreciate, knowing that my job is there and yet it’s not my responsibility. That’s why I can’t imagine ever leaving it. If anything, I’d cut down on my hours there.

After a while, I wanted to start a freelancing business.

It’s always a great perk getting to do some freelancing work on the side, which obviously pays more and made the return on my initial outlay after just a few full-design jobs. However, I can only draft renovations on pre-existing structures that need to be redesigned and take interior design jobs since they don’t require an actual architectural license.

People will curiously ask me why I still work at Blueline, if I have my own flexible freelancing business?
To me the answer is simple: I don’t have the pressure of deadlines, finances etc. I enjoy a steady income, I clock out and don’t need to worry if the client’s project is complete.

Having said that, the beauty of freelancing is that I get to choose which project I want to take or not. Though I do find freelancing jobs to be more seasonal.

In the spring people wake up after a quiet winter and realize they need to renovate for Pesach or want a fresh look. That’s when I get extra busy with my drafting jobs. This summer I want to take a little break and flex those creative muscles again and cut my hours at Blueline. I’d like to utilize the other areas I learnt in DA by working as a designer for a home decor store. It’s amazing how many types of jobs there are from this one course!

DA has earned its stars as being the best online design school out there. Recently, someone asked my opinion on which design school she should join. I told her about DA and all it has to offer.

“You won’t need anything else,” I honestly told her.

“I know,” she replied, “my career coach told me the same thing!”

We both winked at each other knowingly, as past and future DA graduates.

My backstory: I’d always loved designing but couldn’t quite figure out what was my niche. When I took the DA Web course, I finally discovered my passion. I was so into it, that I was getting freelancing jobs almost immediately. But, I still wanted to work at a job to gain experience. The best part was that within six months, I’d made back the outlay for the courses.

I find that the Web Design course is a great base because with proper research and determination, you can branch out into all areas in the field.

I was known as the video editor in high school that everyone could depend on for professional videos for school and Yom Iyun programmes. Even though it was meaningful and great fun, could I actually make a career out of it? Was it an option for me as a full time job?

I was thrilled to hear that The Motion Graphics course was the answer to my prayers!

I currently use my video editing and motion graphic skills full-time and freelance from my basement apartment!

I choose my work days and hours so my family is on the front burner

Financially, it’s been amazing! Not only have I made back my initial cost for the course many times over, but I’m able to support my family by paying the bills and even putting savings away for my kids’ futures too.

When signing up for a course, you’re getting excellent teachers (Adina Cahn helped me tremendously) but additionally you’re joining a whole community of great designers and mentors on the JDF. The ideas, resources, and feedback are endless. What more could I ask for?!!.

Here’s a link to some of my recent work:
https://vimeo.com/motionmedianj

DA gives such a comprehensive course that as soon as I graduated, my boss grabbed me. She knew that I’d done the DA motion Graphics course, appreciating the total preparation I’d been taught, step by step, very clearly. My boss has a company that produces videos for numerous organizations, commercial and personal projects. Besides editing the videos, I’m in charge of a lot of cool things that my coworkers don’t know how to do. I add to the videos the After Effects and animated pictures that move around and draw up templates with artwork. This is all thanks to the Motion Graphics course. They explore all the tricks of the trade that are constantly emerging in this innovative world that seems to be expanding by the minute! The word bored or feeling stagnant is never heard in this industry. There’s constant movement, new video projects coming up, plus it’s so fulfilling seeing the finished product. One of our main clients are Jewish non-profit organizations. Marketers are increasingly aware of the power that an emotive video message can deliver to their donors. That’s why Motion Graphics is in such high demand with a niche in the market that is only growing. Personally, I feel I could get very wrapped up in my projects and that’s why I enjoy working for a company as opposed to opening up on my own. My goal is to keep my family and work life separate from each other. People are always asking me for prices and I warn them that the price depends on many things but especially the size of the project. Even those “small” basic 3-minute videos take between twelve to twenty hours because there’s so much work that goes into them. There’s the interviews and artwork etc. Obviously the major projects that require extensive researching, interviewing, writing storylines and all the designing for a full-blown charity project, will cost according to the input of the many weeks of work. Between the fact that I’m earning a good living now and that it took me only two months to make back my initial class outlay, I’m so grateful I took the DA’s Motion Graphics course. There’s a real need for a school like DA in the Jewish world and I’m so happy I jumped aboard!

I’d heard so many great things about DA that I decided to take the Motion Graphics course. As soon as I completed the course, I was work ready so I applied and was offered a position at Knockout Media. It was a great experience editing the videos, but after two years, I felt ready to go out on my own. There’s the obvious flexibility of my own hours so I’m busy with work according to my schedule. I’m so busy that financially I feel grateful that I took the chance bH. I learnt the skills and all-round background in graphics plus and need the talent. And the hustle. The all-around background in graphics has helped me with my business today. Thank you Bashi for your confidence in DA, and thank you DA! Checkout my linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/penina-kaufman-13b756231/

I completed the computer graphics in the first year and graphic design portfolio courses by the end of my second year. With that all under my belt, I got my first and only job as a graphic designer. At Dynagraphics, I work with others as a graphic designer, creating logos, ad campaigns, posters, and invitations. I’ve worked there for three years and counting…I call that my day job.

Then I started my dream job—freelancing. So at night I work with clients myself. It’s a great little side business that brings in extra income and I enjoy as my own.

If all that hasn’t convinced you how great the course investment was, DA gave me a great opportunity. On the JDF they advertised that they needed book covers designed for Menucha Publishers. From all the former and present students, I won the job so whenever Menucha publishers need graphics, I’m their designer.

Even though I’m working doing the same thing day and night, I love and have confidence in what I do.

Checkout Breindys work on