The slate is available for member review

AIGA Colorado is excited to announce the incoming board members for the 2022–23 session, beginning on June 1st, 2022. The nominating committee employed a volunteer panel of past presidents and advisory board members to interview each nominee before offering them their position. These volunteer leaders and chairs will be shaping the chapter during their term.

SLATE

New Board Member Volunteers

President
Daisy Corso

Vice President
Erik Cox

Treasurer
Ryan Keeney

Communications Director
Allison Heistand-Phelps

Content Chair
Jacki Peketz

Brand Chair
Heidi Landis

Web Chair
Hailey Jamieson

Elevate Chair
Roberto Muntoreanu

Advisory Board
Elysia Syriac

This slate is approved by the members with no action needed for a passing vote of acceptance. Discenters may contact the chapter with concerns, but only AIGA members may weigh in. This slate is officially passed by May 31, 2022.

Welcome board members! 

Continuing Board Member Volunteers

Community Relations VP
Kristi Bryden

Digital Experience Chair
Whitney Grimm

Mentorship & Education Director
Jim Reiman

Higher Education Chair
Shelby Huckaby

Awards Chair
Jay Hollick

Colorado Springs Director
Michelle Winchell

President Emeritus (interim)
Jess Moore

Advisory Board Leadership
Lisa Abendroth
Charles Carpenter
Marian Halliday
Kim Mallek
Dave Shelton
Amy Siegel
Helen Young

Welcome back board members! 

AIGA CO will share more on events, volunteering opportunities, and the direction of the chapter in early fall after the board has done their summer planning.

A Special Thank You 

Exiting Board Member Volunteers

Treasurer
Elanor Harris

Mentorship & Education Director
Miranda Ziegler

Branding Chair
Grace Hebert

Boulder Director
Michael Signorella

Interim Leadership
Jess Moore
Victoria Adams-Kotsch
Helen Young
Charles Carpenter

And to you, too! Thank you for being a part of the design community of Colorado with your continuing membership in AIGA Colorado.

AIGA Colorado is hosting a 3-part series on finding your path through the evolving design industry. There are consistent internal and external factors that are shaping career paths for creatives and designers. We can choose to take an active role in our own paths and shape the future of the industry. This intimate three-part event series will be full of discussions, community, and action plans.  Attend all three events for the full experience or the individual event closest tied to your journey.

Each session will have a workshop component and a guest speaker (or panel of speakers) regarding the topic. The series will run starting in May 2020 and ending in June 2020.

Tickets

Member: $15/session
Non-member: $25/session

Online Workshop Descriptions

Workshop One: Where Can You Go/Learning

May 6th, 2020 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Just like Google Maps, you’re at point A and want to get to point B.  You can choose the fastest route or avoid highways, tolls, or ferries. And if you take a left instead of a right, you’ll hear “Re-Routing, Re-Routing.”  Often times, Google Maps will give you a few options. With all the twists and turns, Google Maps will get you to where you want to go. Our career paths are the same way.  

Join AIGA and TARRA for a workshop about career paths.  We’ll discuss trends and future jobs. If you think back to 2010, the Design Industry looked different.  The skills, programs, and turnaround times were different than today. What will it look like in 2025? 

We’ll work through a self-evaluation on identifying internal and external factors in the options you have as potential career paths. We’ll work to answer How do I map out my career ambitions, identify real needs and take actionable steps towards achieving them?

Get Tickets

Workshop Two: Where Do You Want to Go/Connecting

May 28th, 2020 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

You have a few potential routes to get you started and now it’s time to find some pit stops, mid-points, and tourist attractions to see along your route.  

It’s time to leverage your community to learn what you don’t know.  There are multiple reports that estimate 60-80 of jobs are found through professional networking and how often have you heard someone having a job that you never knew existed. Networking continues to evolve and the hidden job market is growing. 

Join AIGA and TARRA as we discuss how to authentically build a community or network to help you grow and give back.  We’ll discuss strategies on the information interview, qualifying networking events, and making meaningful connections.  We’ll work to answer “How do I make authentic connections, support others, and grow socially in a mutually beneficial way?”

Get Tickets

Workshop Three: How Do You Get There/Creating 

June 24th, 2020 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Now that you know a few potential routes you can take to get to your dream job in 2025, it’s time to pick a route and start moving. The most important part is to start and be confident that if you do want to go right instead of left, your route will change and you can still get to where you want to go.  

Join AIGA and TARRA for a workshop about building a plan that is unique to you.  We’ll talk about different systems and processes which you can modify to motivate and inspire action.  We’ll go through the network, skills, and experience that will benefit your career growth, with action items aligned to each strategy.  

We’ll work to answer How do I sharpen my own understanding and think more deeply about where I want to go and the skills I need to develop?

Get Tickets

We care a great deal about the health and well-being of our community and it’s important that you know we are here for you. We want to do our part in this difficult time to support, advocate and help folks find the resources they need.

Share your resources on our live Resource List Form.

General Resources

• Guide to Self-Isolation for Designers and Creatives
• Freelance COVID-19 Resources
• 30 Toptal Designer Tips on Working Remotely and Design
• Podcasts to Help You Stay Engaged During Social Distancing
• Resources for Writers in the Time of Coronavirus
• Coronavirus Inspires World Graffiti
• COVID-19 Resources (Colorado – Lafayette Area)

Funding & Relief

• Freelancers Relief Fund
• Emergency Relief Funds for Individuals and Freelancers
• What the CARES Act means for freelancers

Education

• The Science of Well-Being
• The Happiness Lab
• Reach 2020 Online Summit

Job Opportunities

• Submit to The One Club for Creativity – Open Positions in Creative Fields 2020 & keep an eye out for their postings

Mindfulness and Mental Health

• That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief

Music

• 🎧 Cirque Du Soleil on Spotify

If you have come across any information online that you think would be valuable to other people in the community, please share it on our live Resource List by filling out our resources form.

As designers, it is our duty to attempt to understand and solve problems impacting individuals and systems. If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Black lives matter.

We have to acknowledge and embrace the fact that design lives within a system. And the system isn’t broken. It was built this way. Systemic change can only happen if the system is dismantled and redesigned.

The design community is small, but we are part of a much larger community. And right now our communities are rightfully angry, tired, and saddened by the brutality that continues in our country. We are urging our design community to come together to support the individuals, organizations, and movements already working tirelessly for reform and societal change.

We don’t have the reach or the impact of the ACLU or NAACP but we are here to support and listen to the voices of you, our community.

If you are able, donate to @aclu_socal, @naacp, and @mnfreedomfund. Visit the Antiracism Project, Black Lives Matter, and the Black Vision Collective

Design is a discipline of compassion and of listening and of acknowledging personal bias to solve problems. Our response should reflect that. Tomorrow, we will start with small, defined actions and audit ourselves as we move forward.

If you’re looking for ways to educate yourself on being anti-racist, there are resources available.

AIGA Colorado is here to support and to listen, we have a lot of work to do. We stand in solidarity with our Black community.

Stay healthy, stay safe,
AIGA Colorado Board

Thank you for your interest in participating in the AIGA Colorado Board! It is a great opportunity to connect with professionals, build relationships, advance your career, and provide an important service for the creative community. We have four Towers of Awesome: Programming, Communications, Engagement, and Mentorship and Education. Below you will find VP’s and Directors for each tower first and then corresponding chairs for each tower further below.

Feel free to nominate yourself or others for board positions. You may nominate yourself or someone else for more than one role, but please note which is your top choice. Interviews will be held May 11th, the location will be sent out to all nominees the week prior.

Open Board Positions

Programming Tower

Vice President of Programming

You evaluate what events will appeal to our membership and how different groups like to interact. You work to enhance membership and community engagement by fully participating in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and activities supporting our mission. You work closely with your directors to create budgets and schedules to ensure events are executed well. You work with other VPs to keep them in the loop and manage the calendar dates with your team.
APPLY HERE

Programming Tower

Director of Programming

You help oversee the programming team that is dedicated to inspiring designers and making connections, assisting them with executing events. You evaluate event topics with the chairs and your VP, with big-picture chapter goals in mind that appeal to members in all stages of their careers. You check in with chairs on budgets and schedules, making sure they work with the communications team effectively and have volunteers for events
APPLY HERE

Programming Tower

Director of Sponsorship

You support the operational tasks and execution requirements of the programming tower. You work with internal and external teams to ensure proper sponsorship planning, submission, and retention. You help maintain current sponsors, as well as work to bring in new sponsorship. This position is part of our programmings team and assists with organizing and planning multiple events each year.

APPLY HERE

Communications Tower

Vice President of Communications

You are strategy-minded with the ability to guide and coordinate a creative team and manage projects. You see how communication influences and gives back to the community. You’re great with gathering content from a myriad of board members who are planning events and programs. You work closely with the President and fellow VPs and inspire your team to execute on your plan to ensure members know what’s happening and why they should be a part of it.

APPLY HERE

Communications Tower

Communications Director, Content

You lead our external communications engagement plans and content development for the organization. You work closely with our Engagement Tower and VP of Communications to create content that aligns with our goal and mission. You work to culminate AIGA’s mission, stories, experiences, and messages through the clutter of online media, and own the responsibility for content production across channels and formats.

APPLY HERE

Communications Tower

Communications Director, Promotion

You are an effective, creative, and organized communicator responsible for creating marketing plans including advertising, promotions, publicity and social media for events, in addition to leading internal communications and keeping events on track. You are strong at working with multiple teams, flexible, and understand good time management. You develop high-level ideas to support and promote our events and follow them to the finish line. You work closely with branding and social media chairs, programming directors, VP’s and the Engagement tower to align programming, communication and organization mission.

APPLY HERE

Mentorship and Education Tower

Vice President of Mentorship and Education

You live for that Ah-ha! moment. You love to connect students and professionals and see creativity spark right in front of your eyes. You run the Mentorship & Education programs and direct your team to help them come to life. Your goals are to inspire students, engage mentors, and nurture student chapters.. APPLY HERE

Engagement Tower

Vice President of Engagement

You connect with people throughout our community to leverage new and better ways to make everyone feel that they belong and have a home with AIGA. You find ways to help our organization create dynamic and meaningful connections. You measure community and membership engagement and activity. You work closely with the executive team to oversee, plan, develop, and implement activities that clearly communicate the value of our community to our organization. You communicate with individuals through several platforms (virtually, informally/formally, and in-person).

APPLY HERE

Engagement Tower

Director of Engagement

You work directly with the VP of Engagement on developing and implementing engagement strategies for our member and non-member community. You help devise plans and activities to improve our engagement approaches and implement feedback metrics to measure engagement. You have a strong sense of community organization and strive to bring people together.

APPLY HERE

Engagement Tower

Director of Strategic Initiatives

You deliver trainings and facilitate workshops that develop individual growth, strengthen collective action for change, and educate our board and community on the importance of thoughtful design leadership. You work with our board, as well as our community, to ensure best practices are being implemented on everything from communications to programming.

APPLY HERE

Programming Tower

Programming Event Chair

You’ve got ideas for events that you think Denver designers have been waiting to attend. You work closely with the programming team to determine the best events for our community, including professional development, community building, and education.

APPLY HERE

Programming Tower

Fundraising Event Chair

You love marrying ideas together to showcase creativity and promote a great cause, along with celebrating the creative community. You’ll assemble and lead a small committee to plan and execute a fundraiser from start to finish. You direct the team to finalize the idea, execute the event, and take care of all the details. You work with the Presidents and VPs to establish budget, promotion, and content.

APPLY HERE

Communications Tower

Branding Chair

Design is what you really love. You help shape the look of the AIGA Colorado brand. You’ll design promotional graphics for our events and initiatives we host every year. Your designs will populate the website, social media, and our email newsletter. This is your oppor­tu­nity to do the design you really want to do—with input from your team of designers.

APPLY HERE

Communications Tower

Slack Administrator Chair

You work within our Communications Tower to create and implement an effective strategy of engagement and collaboration on our AIGA CO Slack channel. You’ll contribute and engage daily with our members online.

APPLY HERE

Communications Tower

Digital Experience Chair

You are responsible for driving AIGA CO’s digital agenda and communication engagement plans. You monitor and respond to our community engagements through all social media platforms and Slack. You work with the VP of Communications and Engagement Teams. This role is instrumental in creating a more diverse and inclusive digital ecosystem that will build our brand experience, drive engagement, and contribute to Colorado’s creative communities as a whole.

APPLY HERE

Mentorship and Education Tower

Awards Chair

You have the pleasure of awarding our Robert Taylor Scholarship and Professional Grant. The Scholarship is given yearly with $1,500 to first place and $500 to second place. The Professional Grant is a $1,500 fund available to support professional projects or training. You work with the Mentorship and Education team to schedule, plan, and launch the awards. You work with the Communications team to promote the grant, ask for submissions, manage the applications and board review, and award the checks to the happy recipients.

APPLY HERE

Mentorship and Education Tower

Student Group Engagement

You are the liaison between student chapter leaders and the board. You check in with groups regularly, promote board-initiated student events and opportunities (like the Scholarship), and offer advice assistance with planning and budgets. You coach leaders to create proposals to ask for board funding for special projects.

APPLY HERE

Engagement Tower

Community Outreach Chair

You work hand in hand with the VP and Directors of our Engagement tower. You are responsible for connecting people in the broader community through potential sponsorship agreements and cultivating relationships with businesses, individuals, and other relevant organizations.APPLY HERE

Engagement Tower

Membership Experience Chair

Your motto is the “more the merrier.” You connect with students, emerging designers, and like-minded members to support a broader range of future practitioners and leaders, creating a welcome and safe environment for all.APPLY HERE

Engagement Tower

Alliance Chair

You help represent the face of AIGA Colorado, serving as a dedicated ambassador for the chapter. You represent our organization at other creative community events to increase support, visibility, and connectivity throughout our community.

APPLY HERE

Engagement Tower

Initiatives Chair

You work closely with the Director of Strategic Initiatives by supporting our mission to educate, coach, and implement thoughtful design leadership practices and expectations throughout our community and board.

APPLY HERE

Each year, AIGA Colorado invites student designers from across the state to submit portfolios to the Robert W. Taylor Scholarship, an annual statewide portfolio review. With the winning prospects in sight, community and award recognition, $1500 and $500 for the first and second prize winners is a nice way to sweeten the deal. Applicants that advance to the second round of review are greeted by professional judges via a design review of their comprehensive portfolio to determine the winning awards. As with every year, the level of passion and creative ambition did not go unnoticed.

AIGA Colorado chose to support two very talented individuals who are the cream of the crop. They have the ability to cause change and will make a great impact on our design community.

Student work was judged by the AIGA Advisory Board’s jury panel.

Michael Signorella, Creative Director of Studio Signorella
Marty Gregg, Owner of ArtHouse Design 
and Dave Shelton, Creative Director of David Shelton Design

Take a closer look at this year’s winning pieces:

1st place winner: Maddi Waneka


Metropolitan State University of Denver

2^nd place winner: James Love
Pikes Peak Community College

Congratulations Maddi and James! We look forward to great things from you!

We invite you to be a part of our Coffee Talks series. In this Coffee Talk we’ll be focusing on the diverse world of creative professions. In this edition, we’ll delve into the exciting realms of graphic design, advertising, public relations, and other related fields. Come join the conversation, as we explore the various career opportunities, trends, and intricacies these industries have to offer. Don’t miss this chance to engage, learn, and be inspired!

2023 Student & Young Professional Portfolio Review

Join us for the 2023 Student & Young Professional Portfolio Review presented by AIGA Colorado Springs & AAF Colorado.

Calling on Creatives: Shape AIGA Colorado for the next two years

Nominations are now open to join the board of directors and chairs

Be part of building the Colorado chapter of AIGA for 2022–23. We’re seeking to fill key roles to move us—out of COVID, out of our shells, and into a new mindset. Nominate yourself or someone you admire for a board position and help shape the design industry in our community. AIGA offers professional development, hands-on learning, leadership training, career advocacy, networking and social connections. This is your opportunity to do something bigger than yourself, meet people with shared values, make lifelong friendships, and meet designers across the country.

Read through the open board positions: do you see yourself or your bestie in one of these descriptions? Apply by April 30, 2022 — it takes only 5–10 minutes to complete, but your board experience will last a lifetime. Most Director roles require 5 hours a week and chair roles are by the project. We welcome creatives, designers and people from outside the industry too.

Open Board Positions

President

Executive
June 2022–May 2024

You have opinions. Lots of them. You’ve got the experience to back them up and are comfortable sharing your point of view to start a group conversation. You have a vision for how the design community can be served and supported through the local AIGA chapter. You’re a natural collaborator and can lead the board to embrace a clear vision for the chapter. You’re an awesome delegator and have realistic expectations about how much can actually get done. You’re happy to roll up your sleeves and get into the weeds, then climb back out to steer the ship. Most of all, you’re passionate about design and its role in the world.

This is a special opportunity that will change the way you think about your career and connect you to designers across the nation. You lead the monthly Board meeting and attend one AIGA National presidents’ call per month. Expect to spend 5–10 hours a week, participate in the annual National leadership conference, and attend as many local events as possible to get the most out of your leadership experience.APPLY HERE

Vice President

Executive
June 2022–May 2024

You work in tandem with the President to guide the chapter and step in for them when needed. You’re a great communicator and can help brainstorm problem solving with the President, Directors and Chairs. Your ideas are backed up with strategy and a plan of action. You’re calm and composed, passionate and optimistic, and thrive working with a team. You’re a no-drama llama, focusing everyone on the purpose and tasks in front of them. You work with the Treasurer and create the Annual Report showing the chapter’s yearly accomplishments and financial health. You also direct Nominations, coordinate with the Community Relations Team and assist with the Awards process. You lead and jump in to help out wherever you can.

You attend the monthly Board meeting and coordinate with the Directors. Expect to spend 5+ hours a week, participate in the annual National leadership conference, and attend as many local events as possible to get the most out of your leadership experience.

APPLY HERE

Treasurer

Executive
June 2022–May 2024

Your left and right brain are BFFs. You often find yourself thinking “that could really use a spreadsheet” in meetings. You might even be a QuickBooks fan. You relish growing the chapter by tracking the membership dues payments from National, pay the chapter’s bills, monitor insurance, investments, and nonprofit status, and work with the accountant to file taxes. You assist the President and VP with planning budgets for large events and funding partnerships. You assist Directors and Chairs to formulate budgets for events and initiatives, making sure every aspect is covered. Best of all, you issue the checks to the Scholarship and ProGrant recipients, money that impacts their studies and careers.

Expect to spend a few hours a week on chapter management, and create monthly statements to present at the Board meeting.

APPLY HERE

Relationships Director

Community Relations

You enjoy the challenge to identify and engage potential sponsors and partners for local chapter events and initiatives. You see design fitting into the community in numerous ways and thus have a knack for networking and keep mental notes about companies that would fit with an event or activity the board conjures up. You also see community events that AIGA CO would be a great partner for, to gain relationships and exposure for the chapter. You’re supported by the Community Relations Director, work closely with the Membership Chair, Programming Director, and satellite cities (CoSprgs) to aid in getting events funded whenever possible. You create a sponsorship package that’s easy to implement and promote. Most of all you revel in the process of relaying the benefits of supporting design and our organization.

APPLY HERE

Membership Chair

Community Relations

Your motto is “the more the merrier.” You love meeting new people and preaching the design gospel. You use a strategic, well-planned campaign or a personal one-on-one to convert friends to members, either way, numbers are up. AIGA is a membership-based organization and this position is dedicated to being an ambassador for the chapter. You would help to run an annual membership drive with the Relationship Director, host one fall and one spring membership event, and communicate the benefits of being a member at our events while working with your local team. You attend one Team meeting per month with updated membership data to share.

APPLY HERE

Communications Director

Communications

You’re a smooth operator. You create a strategy for the voice of AIGA CO, working closely with your team to execute on your perfectly planned promotions. Your number one job is to get the word out about programs and events. But your real job is to make sure it’s all going smoothly, monitoring the event calendar, checking in with your Comms team, plus Programming and Education Directors frequently to make certain all their efforts are being seen on the web, in social media and consistent emails. You identify bottlenecks and assist Chairs with scheduling challenges. You attend one monthly Board meeting and lead one Team meeting per month.

APPLY HERE

Content Chair

Communications

Designers love to talk, but often need help finding just the right words. This is where you come in. You write just right — refining ideas into something that makes a connection (and is grammatically correct). You review submitted content for accuracy, provide editing and strategic direction, and craft communications to connect with members through event web posts, email promotions and social media (in tandem with our social media chairs). You are integral in producing content that moves through our multi-channel messaging. Everyone on the Board is grateful for your mad skills. You attend one Team meeting per month.

APPLY HERE

Web & Email Chair

Communications

You’re a pro at the back end of any website and make sure AIGA CO events are posted and set up the Eventbrite registrations. Using copy and imagery developed by your Team members, you create emails in MailChimp approximately bi-weekly (frequency depends on event promotions). You coordinate with AIGA National on updates to their platform that impact the local chapter website and report any concerns or functionality issues to them. You add functionality to help grow and manage the emailing list, and update or remove outdated information to keep the site current. You attend one Team meeting per month.

APPLY HERE

Programming Director

Programming

You have ideas. Too many of them! But the beauty of more is more is lots of choices. You guide and oversee a team of dynamic and focused Chairs to develop the seasons’ programming for professional development, inspirational speakers, and how-to topics. You evaluate event topics with your Chairs with big-picture chapter goals in mind that appeal to members in all stages of their careers. You check in with Chairs on budgets and schedules, facilitate promotional support with the Communications Team to promote the event. You coordinate with the Relationship Director for sponsorships and the Membership Chair for volunteers for events. You attend one monthly Board meeting and lead one Team meeting per month.

APPLY HERE

Programming Chair — Virtual Events

Programming

You are a pro Zoomer who can run a chat and livestream on Facebook all while drinking your Americano without missing a beat. You work with the programming team to create events for members and then execute the virtual offerings. You coordinate with the guest presenter on timing and visuals, do a run through to test everything, and record the event as it happens. You attend one team meeting per month.

APPLY HERE

Programming Chair — In Person Events

Programming

You’ve been more than ready to get back out into circulation and pull other designers out from under their rocks. You work with the programming team to create events for members and then execute the in-person offerings. You find venues for the events, negotiate contracts and set up dates. You coordinate with the Programming Director and Treasurer on budgets and the sponsorship director for funding. You attend one team meeting per month.

APPLY HERE

Mentorship Director

Education

You’re a builder and love a good collaboration. You run the mentorship programs in tandem with the Education Director in the Mentorship & Education Team. You pair pros with students on a variety of levels and interactions. You reach out to K-12 area schools to show kids opportunities in creative careers and get aspiring designers involved in AIGA. You also work with college students pairing them with professionals to create win-win mentorships. You attend the monthly Board meeting and co-run one team meeting per month.

APPLY HERE

Elevate Chair

Education

You enjoy working with people and creating connections. As the Elevate Chair, you’ll pair professional mentors with students to work on a project that builds both design skills and a portfolio piece. You work with the Directors to plan the schedule, recruit participants and keep the program running smoothly. Time commitment varies based on the program schedule. You attend one Team meeting per month.

APPLY HERE

Student Chapters Chair

Education

You are the liaison between student chapter leaders and the Board. You check in with groups regularly, promote board-initiated student events and opportunities (like the Scholarship), and offer advice assistance with planning and budgets. You coach leaders to create proposals to ask for board funding for special projects.

APPLY HERE

Awards Chair

Education

You have the pleasure of rewarding our students and professional members with a chance to fund their education or a special project / training. The annual awards are two Scholarships equaling $2000 ($1500 & $500) and a Professional Grant of $1500. You work with the Comm team to promote the awards and ask for submissions, manage the applications and board review, and award the check to the happy recipient.

APPLY HERE

Colorado Creatives Series

In support of #AIGAatHome, we have launched the Colorado Creatives Series, an opportunity to celebrate and showcase local creatives in our area. Our Colorado Creatives will share a little about their creative process, some of their most worthwhile investments, current reading lists and more. Enjoy!

Name

Joe Horton

Pronouns

He, Him, His

Where can we find you?

• Instagram: @bohldfeys
• www.bohldfeys.com
• www.linkedin.com/in/bohldfeys

How have you adapted your creative process during this time?

Adapting to the current COVID-19 pandemic has been a little tricky. Typically, my process is much more collaborative, assisting the creative team at Circuit Media and having open discussions and critiques. But since in-person interaction is limited, there are a lot more Zoom meetings and phone calls to talk through ideas and develop strategies. Not my ideal, but you gotta do what you got to do!

What are you reading, listening to, or watching right now?

Right now I’ve been listening to a lot of Black Pumas, Gary Clark Jr., Khruangbin, and some oldies like Earth Wind and Fire, Nina Simone, and The Chambers Brothers. Podcasts are also on constant rotation with Creative Pep Talk, 99% Invisible and Being Freelance on the top of that list. 

What is one piece of advice you can offer to other designers right now?

It’s a good time to take inventory of skills you want to build or update your portfolio. Try starting every day off with a creative routine. A lot of us are lacking structure right now, so setting aside time to do things that get your brain going or make you feel motivated might help you push through. If you find yourself in a rut, maybe read something that’s been on your list for a while or create some tactile art. Try to get creative and experiment!

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

For me, failure is just a part of being a creative. Failure means that you are pushing yourself, and if you aren’t failing, you aren’t growing. It’s all a part of the process. Here’s a good example: I had a few pro bono clients last summer I was hoping to help while also building my portfolio and refining my client communication and engagement process. It was kind of a disaster. So I tightened up those processes so that I can safeguard my time and effort and still serve the client well and deliver on quality. 

In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?

This is a great question. In the last five years I have learned to be more assertive in my personal and professional life. I feel like there are generally two types of creatives, overly confident ones and ones who tend to get overshadowed. Throughout my career, I have fallen into the latter category, and it has taken a lot of growth to build that confidence in myself. Now that I have a better grasp of that part of me, my ability to execute on an idea or concept has greatly improved.

What are you currently working on?

Currently, I’m working on a couple of internal marketing initiatives for Circuit Media and a branding project for a freelance client specializing in urban food gardens, homestead design and installation.