Meet Makenzie Brown | Art Director & Brand Designer

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

Hi Makenzie, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I try to compartmentalize my time. It can seem very rigid some days, but when I can focus on one thing at a time, it makes my brain more available when I need to do the creative work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Something unique about me is I’m just as confident in a social setting as I am behind the computer or sketchbook, by myself. Because I grew up painting and drawing all the time, my design thinking is often dictated by my sketches. Lately this has lead to a lot of logo and brand identity work. I’ve also had phases of being really into illustration. I’m super proud of the diverse skill set (in the category of art direction and design) that I’ve developed over the years. I love being on photo sets, directing a group of people as much as I love building out a deck in indesign by myself.

A recent challenge has been taking the plunge into the freelance lifestyle. I’ve always had side gigs combined with a steady corporate job. Committing to my business was a challenge at first, but after about a year I feel like I’ve built a lot of momentum. It’s always been about the network and people that have supported me throughout my career. It’s really the only way to get the next job, is to know someone who can help you get a conversation started. I’m really grateful for all the people who have supported me on this newest chapter.

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’m very outdoor focused (like so many Coloradans) so I would recommend a lot of trips just outside of Denver. We’d go mountain biking at North Table in Golden, then get beers at New Terrain Brewing after. We would bop up to Boulder and go hiking in Chatauqua, at least to the base of the second flatiron. In the city, we’d probably hit the bike path through downtown and stop to watch people kayak at REI. One evening, a run around Sloan’s Lake to see the sunset. For food, Uchi (in RiNo) is a must – the best sushi I’ve had in the U.S. Domo is also a great Japanese option, but more low key traditional family style food. Tavernetta right downtown is also a fave if you’re in the mood for high quality Italian and wine. Brunch I would hit Somebody People. It’s a random location but amazing vegetarian food. Bars: Hudson Hill in Capitol Hill and esp if you’re into vinyl.

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?
My mentor, Peter Valles. He is the reason I have a career and all the connections I have today. He showed me what brand design is all aabout, back when we worked together at The North Face.

Website: https://cerealfordin.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Image Credits
Images from Unsplash.com