Meet Leah Chutz | Art Director / Designer

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

Hi Leah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’ve never really considered myself a “risk-taker”, but I think a lot of people in my life would say I am. I think taking risks comes fairly natural to me because I love to try new things. Whether I’m traveling, eating something different, trying a new creative process or medium that I’m not used to – I like stepping out of my comfort zone. Moving from Colorado to Taiwan six years ago to challenge myself and the status quo of what the timeline of my life should look like, was probably one of the riskiest, but best decisions I’ve ever made. I ended up living there for 5 years and grew more than I ever could’ve imagined personally, and professionally as a creator.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My visual aesthetic is bold, eclectic, and unique, mirroring the lifestyle decisions I’ve made, the places I’ve traveled, and the way in which I view the world. I intuitively live my life as an artist and designer who processes information in a visual way, and I have a strong desire to communicate in a way that inspires. Forming meaningful relationships with people from different backgrounds and cultures has always been important to me. My work is heavily influenced by my environment and the experiences I’ve had traveling and navigating my way through work in Asia and Europe. I think that’s what sets me apart, is just those solo travel and work experiences all over the world. My journey has not been linear and it’s been a crazy ride to get to where I am today. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but I’ve never really allowed any doors to shut. I always keep my options open and I go where my energy takes me. I moved back to the US to go to grad school for graphic design at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, which is something I’m really excited about finishing. Who knows what’s next!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is so tough and I feel like it’s my biggest stressor when people come to visit because I want to take them EVERYWHERE! I live near Tennyson and love this neighborhood, so I usually start here. I’ll take them to Berkeley Untapped for a cocktail or Vital Root for lunch on the patio! We’ll do a brewery tour through Rino one day. Then a day or two in the mountains because I love to get out of the city and take advantage of all the outdoor activities we have on our doorstep living in Denver. If we’re lucky we can catch a Red Rocks show one night, then the next day hang out in Golden for hiking, tubing, or patio beers. It’s all about being outside, good food and drinks for me!

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’m not even going to worry about the cliché of dedicating my shoutout to my mom! She is hands down my biggest supporter and the most important person in my life. She’s always available to look at a design I’m working on, proofread or edit something I’m writing, and basically tell me I’m a badass when I’m feeling defeated. Love ya mom!

Website: www.leahchutz.com

Instagram: @lgc__

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahchutz/