Meet Lynn Mandziuk

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lynn Mandziuk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lynn, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I see opportunity in challenges. And often times I start projects with a certain optimistic naivety only to be pummeled by the realism and pragmatism as to what is actually needed to make dreams come to life. Through my experience, I’ve known that in that rocky bottom, that storm of hopelessness, is where my inner strength comes into play and I’m able to work my way through creative strategy to an outcome. It doesn’t mean it will turn out the way I envisioned in the beginning; often times it doesn’t. But finding opportunity in something impossible is what gives me passion to move forward, and also a chance to learn and grow. Making something seemingly impossible, possible is the greatest feeling. For me the risk is the reward.

As a professor at the University of Colorado in digital design, my core curriculum is built off the premise that you need to know the rules in order to break them. Without mitigated risk, there would be no innovation, no new discovery, and no progress. It’s up to the rule breakers and risk takers to pave the way for the future, but it also has to be done ethically and viably so. As a serious rock climber of 20 years, the same story is true. I know where my limit is, when to back off and when to force it. A delicate dance of push and pull.

I’ve always been a “yes” person, sometimes to my detriment. A few parts insatiable curiosity and a few parts my neurodivergent brain, my mind moves quickly and often wants to grasp at the things I do find engaging. In my middle age, I’ve come to harness this impulsivity and ability to strike while the iron is hot as a strength. I’ve jumped on opportunities that have helped shaped me into the multi dimensional creative intellectual I am today, and have also taught me my strengths. Expression, creative strategy, and learning.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve had a long and convoluted path that is impossible to explain simply. I graduated in illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2006 and fell in love with rock climbing. After a brief foray into web and graphic design, I moved back to Michigan to work on my illustration portfolio. I was also working at the local climbing gym, Planet Rock, when I received a call from an illustration agent asking me to create more images for my portfolio, with the possibility of representation. At the same time, I received a job offer from Yosemite National Park to work at a grocery store for minimum wage. Following my gut, which craved adventure, I moved to Yosemite, much to my parents’ dismay. I wanted to learn how to climb big walls, and I did. Eventually, I circled back to illustration and design in the outdoor industry, so all was not lost.

For me, it’s imperative to keep my personal work separate from my day job, so I maintain clear boundaries. My dad passed away at a pivotal moment for my career path. He had pursued fine art but ultimately based his career off of a commercial art job, saving his creativity for retirement. By the time he retired, however, he was faced with ailments and suddenly passed away when he was 69 years old (I was 27). This completely changed my outlook on life and living, and I decided I wanted to live as freely and purely as I could, dedicating time to my physical pursuits. I lived out of my car for many years to save money, rock climb as much as possible, and work on my personal style and freelance projects. I took on various jobs, from creating merchandise for the NFL, MLB, and NCAA, trimming weed, demo-ing houses, drawing caricatures at the zoo, coaching and guiding rock climbing, to random commissioned paintings. Eventually, I built enough clientele to primarily do freelance work in the outdoor industry, creating illustrations for magazines and nonprofit organizations such as the now-defunct Rock and Ice, Climbing, and Ascent magazines, as well as Access Fund and the American Alpine Club. As my client base grew, I decided to get a part-time gig so I could be pickier about the clients I chose, which led me to an academic position at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.

I diligently (albeit at times begrudgingly) finished my MFA in illustration and was hired by the University of Colorado – Denver as a full-time IRC faculty member before graduating. My thesis, selected as one of the top 10 out of 500 to be republished by SCADask, touched on topics such as print publication, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the potential expiration date for traditional print illustration. (Spoiler alert, there isn’t one.)

I don’t want my background as a polymath to seem elitist. I want everyone to know, especially my students, that there were countless moments when I doubted I would achieve any results. I failed, miscalculated, botched the finish, had to start over, and had moments of disbelief and discouragement. My neurodivergence often got in the way, and I vocalized my struggles to those close to me (I talked about quitting… a lot.) But I persisted. I finished the things I started, even if they didn’t turn out as I had imagined. Most of the time, they turned out better. I have had my beliefs, history, looks, disposition and identity persecuted and compromised, but the one thing that got me through it all was my aptitude for personal growth and ability to shift gears. I’m no saint, but I taught myself to turn my pain into something of value. I’m passionate about education, learning and progress, and channeled everything into the pursuit of that. I think we are all capable of rewriting our narratives, despite what cancel culture may tell us, and my novel has had many new chapters, some completely devoid of what came in the past. I believe in learning, I believe in change, and where there is a will there is a way. And regardless of backgrounds, being a creative in our society takes a whole lot of grit. Always find a way to take that pain and transmute it into something that can make this world a little bit brighter.

Currently, I am starting my second Masters in Social Science, studying freedom of expression, censorship, and social justice at the University of Colorado. I also act, do improv, play music in a couple of bands, and have been experimenting with circuitry and light sensors in dimensional design.

Because my background as a polymath might make me seem pompous, I want everyone to know, especially my students, that there were countless moments when I doubted I would achieve any results. I failed, miscalculated, botched the finish, had to start over, and had moments of disbelief and discouragement. My neurodivergence often got in the way, and I vocalized my struggles to those close to me. But I persisted. I finished the things I started, even if they didn’t turn out as I had imagined. Most of the time, they turned out better.

Belief goes a long way. Fighting through fear goes a long way. But my number one tip for my students is this: stay hungry. Find that one thing that makes you wake up in the morning and keep going, and give 120% to that pursuit. What is yours? For me, it’s making the impossible possible. Another one is proving to people that I am capable of anything, especially when they doubt me. Regardless, it’s about knowing yourself really well. Find that quality that keeps the fire burning in your soul and unleash it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to Movement climbing gyms, and then to Denver Central Market for Crema Coffee and lunch at the Lunch Box. Then we would go down to South Broadway and go to the Good Will because you can always find a killer fit there and the Hi-Dive because it’s my favorite music venue. I’d make sure we’d check out Guanella Pass, for the leaf peepin’, climbing, and stellar views, and the Guanella Pass Brewery to high five the bartenders there. On the way back we’d hit up Indian Hot Springs in Idaho Springs, and then bop on over to Red Rocks because someone amazing has to be playing there. Last stop would be Meow Wolf before poaching Curtis Park pool after hours, tee hee!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank my creative, academic, and climbing communities in Denver, Colorado. Without them, and my ability to circle around to other facets of my life, I wouldn’t be able to use my compass.

Website: https://www.lynnzos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnzos

Image Credits
Portrait of me by Darius Dennis