As creatives, trends will change, digital spaces will evolve, and typography will come and go. But one characteristic can keep you rooted through it all – a mindset that embraces change. A creative since she could walk (and draw on walls), our graphic designer, Kit, is a natural-born optimist. And with that glass-is-half-full attitude has always come an innate desire to learn, lean in, and bring both others and her art skills along for the ride! How has Kit continued to welcome change and embrace the creative challenge in both her personal and professional life? We’ll leave it to her to spill that tea!
It took me a long time in life to answer this question. Growing up, I held immense pride in coming from a certain pedigree and having a certain intelligence level. The word I wanted to use to describe myself, for better or worse, was always “successful.” I had a very detailed plan of what I wanted my life to look like, but a funny thing happens when you hit all of those milestones. When you have been lucky enough to have the majority of your dreams come true, you begin to slow down, take a breath and take stock in your life. It’s in that moment that I think the question “Who am I?” holds the most weight. Who am I outside of my vocation and being a wife? Outside of my political leans? Who am I, really, outside of my achievements? Despite my seemingly perpetual identity crisis, I feel like I can claim a multitude of identities and remain authentic to myself.
I am a kind person, a caring person, and a thoughtful person. I am passionate about creativity in all forms and seeing others shine. I crave diving into the depths of things and searching for deeper meaning. I’m an optimist on the side of delusional. I am a lifelong learner and analyst. I’m a music lover, foodie, cat lady, gym rat (as of late), hopeless romantic, and someone on an endless search for authenticity, integrity, and kindness in others.
Life as a graphic designer changes every single day, but in the best way! The overwhelming narrative within the design industry (at least when I scroll through LinkedIn) is a pessimistic view of the advancements in AI and what that could mean for our industry. But, really, how incredible is it that we get to live in a time when technology for designers is advancing faster than it ever has before? How great is it that we get to learn a cool, new shortcut to make our life easier while still delivering the same quality of product? I can design things now that I never thought possible thanks to being here in the industry, today. The timing couldn’t be more perfect! I feel like I speak for a lot of us at The Wendt Agency when I say we’re looking forward to the future of our agency and the future of design as a whole.
For me, it always came naturally. My mom likes to tell the story of how much time and effort she spent cleaning up our first apartment because of all the drawings and stickers I put on the walls. Creativity has always been a huge driver in my life, and I still practice art in my free time (as I have gotten older, I have learned to adapt to drawing on a canvas rather than a wall). I am one of the lucky few that get to live their passion where they work, and I am grateful for that.
The most recent project I remember that challenged me in a big way was working on the Montana Lottery Holiday Scratch video production. There was a lot involved in getting that project pulled together! I had not realized that writing for TV was a strong suit of mine, and I enjoyed it. Then, having to wear a director’s hat and share my vision with a whole production crew to make my vision come to life? It was incredibly rewarding, but it challenged me to push myself past my comfort zone. I loved every bit of it; it helped build up my confidence!
What helps me stay on task when I am working from home is setting forth an intention before I start every day. I make myself coffee and a quick bite to eat. I still wear a nice shirt and put on perfume and makeup, because it makes me feel put together. I turn on some soothing music or a comfort show in the background, so it feels a little less quiet. I will light a candle and list out a few things I need to get done before the end of the day to feel successful. My key takeaway is to make your home space truly yours so that you can feel comfortable, focused, and productive at your own pace.
There is a huge benefit to working with experienced creatives and learning from their expertise. We are a team of like-minded and talented individuals that are driven toward success. Speaking from experience, when you work as the sole creative for an organization and no one challenges you, you get a lot done but you’re not pushed. I love that the leadership in my department is open to my ideas, but also gives me the opportunities and tools to become a better designer. My growth and future are being nurtured by people who care, and I feel loved for my talent and who I am as a person.
