Meet Wendy Smith | Graphic Designer

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

Hi Wendy, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I feel I have always had a creative nature. As a kid, I typed a menu on my typewriter, stapled it and then did a drawing on the cover to “play restaurant”. I was always drawing house plans on graph paper. In high school, my favorite classes were drafting and interior design. I loved carrying around my drawings in a tube and my T-Square. And putting mood boards together of fabric swatches and color palettes. My dreams then were to be either an architect or an interior designer.

Unfortunately, I felt discouraged to pursue the art field and do something more “sensible” I guess?Therefore I got a business degree, but still took some art classes in college. My second job out of college I got a job at a publishing company working on trade magazines, while I did some courses in Photoshop and Illustrator on the side. I grew to love the publishing field and the creativity of putting publications together. I loved Photoshop and Illustrator and was hungry to do more.

I continued on this path working in publishing with magazines, then newspapers, then nonprofit work for a church, while doing freelance design work on the side. I love everything about design – choosing fonts, colors, layout principles and just absolutely love being imaginative and creative. It fills my up soul, and I know it was what I was wired to do.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I got where I am today professionally through continued learning, hard work, curiosity and not giving up on what I love to do. I read a lot of books on creativity, follow many artists on Instagram, and always continue to work on my skills.

As a graphic artist, I currently work on designing publications. These are neighborhood magazines that tell the stories of the community and local businesses. I love to learn about people and hear their stories. I take the content and photos and put it all together in a visually appealing composition. It is satisfying; like putting a puzzle together.

I also design advertisements for the magazine. I use their branding and design monthly ads for them. It is great to get to know these different businesses and has given me insight into people’s livelihoods and passions. I love storytelling as much as I love design. It gives me great satisfaction helping people become successful in their marketing efforts and reach people with quality and engaging designs.

It is very satisfying work. I love working with the images, the fonts, the colors, and coming with ideas to graphically represent an idea and story. It has its challenges like getting the right files and photo resolution sizes; trying to get some people to understand how important branding is. I overcome these challenges by communicating what is needed and helping people who don’t understand this field necessarily.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We always take visitors on a hike and to a local brewery. We would probably take them on a hike to Marshall Mesa, or on Mt. Sanitas in Boulder. Then to either Wonderland Brewery in Westminster, or Acreage in Lafayette. Just places to hang out that have great outdoor areas.

We love Estes Park and then going to Rocky Mountain Park to see the elk and then walk around Sprague and Bear Lake, hoping to catch a moose sighting.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would just say many previous co-workers who believed in me, encouraged and supported me, and who I learned from. I have worked alongside many super creative people who I respected and admired.

Meredith Lyon, Becky Campbell
Jeannie Amman, Renae Loring, Nancy Movick

As a voracious reader, there are many books on creativity I have enjoyed and learned from.
Some of my favorites are:
1. We Need Your Art, Amie McNee
2. Daily Creative, Todd Henry
3. You Do You, Danny Gregory

Also, strong reliance on my faith and god-given skills and passions.

Website: https://www.wendysmithdesign.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendylynnsmith1/

Other: wendysmithdesign@gmail.com

Image Credits
Katie Elder, Katie Ann Photography