Meet Payton Gonzales | Graphics and Fashion Designer

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

Hi Payton, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risk taking is a prerequisite for remarkability. By imbodying that sentiment in my life it was no longer a question about how I can avoid risk, but rather how can I avoid the inaction that a fear of risk imposes.

Because of that I’ve always seen risk as on obstacle rather than a detractor and as such, something that must be understood, managed, and mitigated rather than avoided.

My understanding of risk is what gave me the courage to participate in entrepreneurialism as a means of finding my place in the economic world.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My current business, Brand New Branding, is a branding agency with a focus on producing adaptable design for both physical and digital reproduction. I create branding for my clients while preparing/producing promotional material that involves their branding. What sets it apart is that I don’t leave my customers with just graphic design and nothing to do with it. I help facilitate creating a coherently designed brand while also acting as a liaison for my client on the production side of things.

Funny enough, the easiest part was formulating my idea and setting up the business. Getting to the point of knowing how to start a business and what value it would add is completely different. I learned a lot of aspects of business and design, and with a little creativity, created an ambulatory idea based off the moving parts of entrepreneurialism I picked up along the way.

My hope is to continue to build off my expertise and grow my business as a means to create another business, but this time around digital clothing fabrication, which is currently what I am studying as a master’s student at CSU.

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.
First off, I’d tell them this: If you want the best wings you’ve ever had, we must go to Mo Jeaux’s. Swear on my life. You get the Cajun dry rub wings, and ironically not eat them because your jaw drops every time they get close to your mouth.

I’d also get them a pair of Berkenstocks and some garish Colorado tourist knee socks for us to go hiking up the Poudre. They’ll ticket you on the trail if you don’t at least have the Berks’ on.

We’d get kayaks for Horsetooth and talk about how good the Dead was back in the day as we drive to Mishawaka.

Keep in mind you have to, at a minimum, keep the Berk’s on for all of this. Especially when its brewery visits to Odells or New Belgium.
On the car ride over to the alley cat I would play a little John Denver to really seal the deal before I tell them about the sweet chai.

Let’s not forget the casual game of frisbee at city park either. Or going down one of Fort Collins many paved trails.

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?
Dave Cantor. He is a family friend of mine and mentor that has helped me in so many ways. He’s distilled attitude in me that is priceless in the business world. He used to own the Dazbog coffee’s here in Fort Collins and Loveland and is now owner of ‘Horsetooth Stem and Root’ here in Fort Collins. I wouldn’t have anything close to the confidence that I have today if it weren’t for him. We also use to own a printing business together that was short lived but priceless in the lessons it taught me.

Instagram: @paypaydayloan

Linkedin: paytonagonzales