The Professionals: Marketeer turned Publisher, Erin Loechner

Erin Loechner has taken the ultimate DIY career approach, studying the mass of her interests, and following through with what she knows best--communication--in whatever she does. Presently, she's managing a blog, Design for Mankind, which racks in 56,000 viewers a week, and a spin-off magazine, Mankind Mag, which has just sent out its forth issue. Here, she gives us the in.  

When you were growing up, what did you want to be? Oh goodness. This changed week to week. I believe I went from a veterinarian to a marine biologist in five seconds flat. As I got older I grew to love writing as a craft and devoted my university career to researching the various forms of communication.

What make you decide on your first career? I utilized my time at university to gain internships in every avenue of communications possible. I interned everywhere from national magazines to international nonprofits and everything between. I believe I held a number of 9 internships throughout my college career and am so glad to have gained that perspective prior to entering the "real world." Upon graduating, I moved to Los Angeles and worked at a hip advertising agency that I LOVED. The position allowed me to expand my knowledge and really hone in on what I loved: writing. I left the agency a few years later and started a blog, Design for Mankind.

You used to work in marketing. Why the shift now to publishing? Actually, the shift to publishing was a very organic process. The more Design for Mankind grew, the more passionate I became about the mediums in which we communicate. My blog became a breeding ground for inspiration and I wanted to create an extension of that in some tangible form. So, the birth of Mankind Mag came about and all of the sudden I'm a publisher! Eek!

Do you feel better equipped to do this having seen the marketing side? What can you tell us about both? Equipped? No. Compelled? Yes. Part of the reason I began publishing Mankind Mag was that after spending a few years in the marketing/advertising world, I began to feel the consumerist nature of our country more than ever. It saddened me that my role in marketing was essentially selling inspiration with a hefty price tag. Upon leaving the agency, I founded Design for Mankind in an effort to showcase less products and more design. It is my hope that the magazine will maintain a similar mission.

How is your day-to-day, and how much of that is dictated by your career? Honestly, I am a bit of a workaholic. I'm on my e-mail the majority of the day, and when I'm not, I'm in a "blogging" frame of mind. Like Joanna, my eyes and ears are constantly searching for my next story, feature or publishing venture. I love what I do so much that it seems natural for the passion to spill over into every day life. Just yesterday at lunch I stashed a paper menu in my purse because I loved the typography! That's the kind of thing an enthusiast does, I suppose.

Do you surround yourself with people with similar goals/career paths? I've just recently made the move from Los Angeles to my husband's hometown in sleepy Indiana, so surrounding myself with like-minded people isn't yet high on my radar. I am, however, extremely blessed to have such a supportive online community. I have some of the most talented readers who inspire me daily and truly feel I would be lost without them!

What keeps you up-to-date and how important is it that you keep up-to-date in your profession? I think it's very important. In Los Angeles, I attended artist shows and gallery openings as much as possible and enjoyed opening my home to host out-of-town artists. Here in Indiana, however, that sort of networking is a bit more difficult to maintain, so I keep up to date by checking in with my favorite blogs and a few of my online mentors. My Google Reader has 321 RSS feeds if that gives you any insight as to how up-to-date I like to keep myself [and yes! I read them all!]. I think it stems from being naturally nosey!