Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Franz.
Hi Kayla, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I found my passion for the arts at a very young age. It was always a dream of mine to make money using my creativity. But when I went to college, societal pressure nudged me to put my passion for art on the back burner and shift my focus to a more “financially-stable” route. What I told myself I wanted at the time was to be an occupational therapist. I took classes on the Pre-OT track, I changed my major to psychology, and four years later, I graduated with a BS in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse in 2018. When I walked across that stage, I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I knew that I wasn’t on the path I truly wanted to be on.
I officially started chasing my creative career dreams in the fall of 2019. I worked different jobs while living back at home, mostly just to make it by, but none of them piqued my interest. I started seeing different types of design careers through social media accounts that I followed. I finally figured out what it was that combined my talents and passions, and it was graphic design. Specifically, I knew that I wanted to help small businesses brand themselves better. I figured that with my knack for creativity and technology, I could be successful in creating eye-catching branding materials.
This was not a new passion of mine, as I took beginner and intermediate level graphic design courses in college and was successful in those. But for me, the realization that I could do it for a living was new to me. I thought for a long time that I needed the degree, that I needed to redo the steps, that I needed a big following on social media to make a career for myself. I realized that all you need is people that believe in you, a few people to share your name, and if you’re good at what you do- it can snowball from there. I am nowhere near the end (or even the middle) of my graphic design journey, but I am passionate and determined to make it work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When you choose to be a freelancer, you are always choosing the bumpier road. The hardest part is the financial inconsistency. You have months where you make barely enough to pay your rent, and then you have months where you can’t keep up with your client’s work. I hope that someday I can be successful enough to only have to worry about the latter of those two options, but for now, I just have to be careful about how I spend my money. I think when you start a business on your own, you don’t realize the time and the hard work it is going to take behind the scenes to keep things running. You have to be a website builder, a book-keeper, an accountant, a scheduler, all while being organized enough to keep everything on track and all your clients happy. In other words, you have to wear many hats.
Another thing I have struggled with is imposter syndrome. We are so inundated with other people’s images of success with social media nowadays, that I often times look at my work and feel that I am not good enough. I have had to internalize the old adage that “comparison is the thief of joy,” and remember to look at where I started. I am constantly growing and learning, and younger me would be proud of the me that I have become.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My graphic design company is called Kayla Jo Design. I am a freelance graphic designer and I specialize in branding small businesses. I love to help my clients reach their full potential when it comes to logo design, signage, packaging, etc. by giving them a cohesive, fun, and eye-catching look to get more business and to retain their customer base. Having a recognizable and unique brand is so important as it builds recognition and ultimately loyalty. My specialty is creative branding; unique logos, vibrant color palettes, fun brand patterns, etc. My philosophy is that even in the most simple industries, there is a way to make the branding exciting. I am an experienced artist/illustrator as well. I often pair graphics with my illustrations to create really unique design elements for companies. I love that I am able to use my creativity this way- as it has served me well for book cover designs, brand patterns, etc.
My passion for branding extends way beyond the business side of things. I love helping small businesses because I am one. I can relate to the struggles of wanting to be seen and craving success. I think that a company’s brand is so deeply personal, and it is important to treat its development of it with profound respect because it is inherently connected to people’s livelihoods.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Campfires make me happy, TikTok makes me happy, flowers make me happy, TV shows make me happy, art makes me happy… but my family and friends definitely make me the happiest, deeply and truly happy. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of my family and friends. No matter where life takes me or how much my business grows, nothing will ever be more important than making space and time for my people.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kaylajodesign.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kaylajodesign
