First and foremost, welcome! This is called the Middle of Nowhere Newsletter, created by Dan Hyland Designs. Basically it’s a conversations starter, but also just a spot for me to put some random thoughts each month. To be honest, I don’t really know what I’m doing yet. As a creative, I think it’s important to have different outlets besides what we primarily do for a job. Whether it’s art, or writing, or something else, I think expression in some form is essential for prolonging that right side of the brain. For a long time photography was that outlet for me. I still break out my camera from time-to-time, but I thought it was time to change things up a bit. Long-form essays have never really been my thing and I’ve never really done anything like this, so I hope you can bear with me. There might be a slight learning curve along the way. All I know is that this is something that I want to do, so I’m doing it. So, here we go.

Why “Middle of Nowhere”

Impostor Syndrome is real. It’s not something that just goes away either. It’ll creep up on you when you least expect it. At least that’s the case for me. However, I’ve come to realize that it’s probably okay that I don’t know what I’m doing. Sometimes it’s easier to just lean into the impostor, rather than fight it. Not to say that it’s something that I love, because I for sure hate it, but the more I think about it the more it’ll eat at me.

That’s where the therm “middle of nowhere” comes from. Sometimes you just have to accept you don’t know what you’re doing. And maybe that’s okay. The middle of nowhere can be difficult and challenging, but it’s also an important part of the journey. The struggle. The angst. The unknown. It’s all a part of the process.

So, here it is. The newsletter is proof that I don’t know what I’m doing. But here I am, still doing it. Just some thoughts from a designer, exploring topics that influence my creative brain. Not that you should listen or care about any of this, but who knows where it’ll lead. Maybe we can create something meaningful together.

A little about me

Another reason I chose “Middle of Nowhere” comes back to a conversation I had with a college professor. When I was attending college in Florida, I had a professor who asked where I was from. I said “Originally I’m from Massachusetts, but now I live in New Hampshire.” His reaction was typical for most people who aren’t from here. “Oh, so like middle of nowhere New England?”

In my experience, there’s a certain stereotype that comes with living in New Hampshire. If it isn’t Massachusetts, people tend to picture some backwoods, podunk town. There’s Boston and the Cape, but everything else is like one big state on its own. So when I said New Hampshire, I was used to that response. And if I told someone New Hampshire had a coastline, most people had to look at a map to see it for themselves.

However, for the people who live here, the Seacoast has something special. For some it’s hard to put your finger on. But for most, it’s unlike anything else. To be honest, I think the closest comparison I can think of is parts of Europe. Life is a bit simpler, a bit quieter, and a bit more quaint. The people are down to earth, typically not as superficial, and for the most part they’ll tell it to you like it is. And there’s a community that takes pride in being here. There’s a tough exterior for sure, but there’s still love and respect for your fellow neighbor nevertheless.

Despite all of the snow and six months of not seeing the sun, I don’t know if I would have it any other way. It gives you perspective and it makes the summer just that much more special. You slow down and appreciate this little corner of the universe in a way that some people will never have the chance to. So sure, maybe to people who aren’t from here, it is middle of nowhere. I get it. But to me, it’s home. And that is something I am truly grateful for.

As a creative…

I don’t always have the answers. I’m a decent designer most of the time. Sometimes I don’t always get it right though, and I know that. Sometimes my ideas fall short or don’t always pan out. But I’d also say that I’ve come a long way. The growth can be slow and it isn’t always obvious, but at the end of the day I’m simply trying to be the best I can be. And I know my opinion doesn’t always matter, but I think I have a decent eye and can pick out good design when I see it. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and can obsess over the details, but I do it because I love it. And I do what I can to make something memorable. Not only for myself, but for my clients as well.

Influence isn’t everything. That’s not the goal here. In fact, it’s probably the opposite. We all have our own perspectives and points of view. I have my own experiences and you have yours, but that’s what makes us human. For me, I’m just trying to be honest. I want to be able to share something meaningful in the journey that I’m on and shed a light on what it’s like to be a creative. So if that interests you, I hope you’ll join me for the ride.

Until next time…

-Dan