Running a 10-day Kickstarter campaign was a nerve-wracking, yet rewarding experience. I have learned so much from business, manufacturing times, product design, marketing, and building connections through this process that I do not think I would of had the drive to start on my own if it wasn't for my Master's project. So let me give you a bit of background why I created an Emergency-based planner.
The Very Beginning
To be honest, it was August 2022. I was not in a great place mentally because I had broken off a long-term relationship because of several different reasons that I tried pushing under the rug. Ultimately, he told me when I was thinking about starting up my own shop and shared my ideas that he could never see my work as something that could make money or a successful business. So being the last straw that I could handle, I left, and out of spite pursued my dream.
Going into the Project
I felt I was no designer. Sure, I designed my own journal spreads often but I am a scientist first and foremost. I studied Active Tectonics for two years prior to changing my Master's degree. I knew what I wanted to create, but how? So I did what I knew best. I studied and learned Adobe InDesign, XD, Illustrator, and Photoshop either from scratch or researched more useful skills. I was determined to get what I wanted and I wanted to help others.
The pandemic caused panic. Natural disasters felt like they were increasing all over the world. This is something that I have studied for years at this point but what did I want to do with it? I would reconnect or meet new friends often and they would always ask what I have been up to and I would talk about my studies and teaching Natural Hazards. That's when I started to ask them if they were prepared if something were to happen. The answer 95% of the time was no. So there was something that was missing. I know the system. I had other friends working for the government and helping teach about what to do. What could I do?
In the Middle of it All
Somewhere along the way of creating this project, I had to say it was good enough. I struggled with the design. I struggled with the message. I knew what I wanted it to be but wasn't sure how I could make it like how I envisioned it. I didn't feel satisfied with my work. Maybe it's because I am overly critical with myself. At some point I recorded myself saying, "you know what. It won't be my ideal first product because of the time crunch I am under. That's ok. I can always edit and remake different versions. I can personalize it later to how I would used it. This is a school project that I am passionate about, BUT even if I am not fully satisfied, I must get it out." (paraphrasing here because it was much longer and frustrating at the time.) I pushed through a mental rut of endless options and directions I could take it. I decided on households because it seemed 'easy'. I could pin point what I needed to get done. Its far from perfect or my ideal but I needed a base. I can always work up from it. This was something I had to constantly remind myself over the year of drafting, designing, finalizing, and promoting this campaign and project.
The Ambition
I dramatically under-estimated time! I had one semester to figure out a timeline. The only difference from my project from everyone else, was mine continued after the project, the presentation day, and graduation. Manufacturing time, design time, and shipping time. This is where I have learned quite a bit. I thank those who were patient with me and my project, To the supporters that were willing to back this project even when I felt this project was severely rushed. I was an anxious mess during those 10-days. When I passed the goal of my project being funded, I won't lie. I did cry from relief. It wasn't just about the project at this point. It proved to me that I could create something that others would want to support. I wanted to provide them with something that they could look at and be satisfied with supporting me and my work. All my past spite felt lifted.
Final Thoughts
I am so thankful for all the support I received before when this project was still an inkling of an idea, to the hurdle of marketing the Kickstarter, to the success and presentation that followed, to producing the product, and all the way up until shipping. Even now when I talk about my project there are more people who are interested in it and want to support the Kickstarter. So I know that what I am currently pushing for, for that awareness and preparedness is something most people don't think about normally but I want to add it into the conversation to get others thinking. That was the main reason for starting this project. I wanted more awareness in a fun way. It doesn't feel like it is quite there yet but its a step, and I can only keep progressing forward from here.
Even though this is not new, the information is out there already. It was still a 'new product'. The concept designing was something I was not familiar with. This created a totally different sense of tired to my recent days, as if I was learning Japanese all over again. That type of fatigue, its hard to push through sometimes, because I felt like an overstimulated little kid again needing to constantly nap. I had to learn that as much as I wanted to push through and keep working, this is something new to me and rest is just as important to the process as the actual work itself.