Daily Inspiration: Meet Kelsey Willaby

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Willaby.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I went to school at the University of Wisconsin – Stout where I earned a BFA in Graphic Design & Interactive Media, focusing on communication design. Throughout college, I was lucky to have a few internship experiences from on campus jobs and Twin Cities businesses. During my time at Stout, I took an advertising design class with Nagesh Shinde, who really pushed me in my work and further develop my love for branding and digital designing. He encouraged myself and my peers to submit our work to Ad Fed, where I earned three awards. This helped me to land a post-grad internship opportunity at an advertising agency in Minneapolis. From there I moved on to a full time position at a creative studio, which really allowed me to grow as a designer and create for a variety of new businesses/brands. About a year ago, I decided to pursue my dream of being an entrepreneur. I now create for a variety of local twin cities businesses and also complete brand and social strategy projects for small businesses all over the country, and a few outside of the US. Most of my clients have come from my social media. I am so grateful for what I do everyday and am thankful for every step that has led me here. I really love what I do!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a designer is not a smooth road. I feel like it’s a career you have to develop thick skin with early on. I remember my very first critique in college, I had stayed up all night working on a painting to come to the class and receive a mix of feedback – positive and negative. I was shocked. What I didn’t realize then was this is part of the process! Stout does an amazing job to help you become comfortable with critiques and feedback. I now welcome it from all of my clients and constantly remind them this is what I am here for. In the end, you also have to remember that what you design/create is not for everyone. Your main priority is to focus on your target audience, not everyone is always going to like your work or resonate with it – which is ok. I struggled in college wondering if I was cut out with being a graphic designer and often would compare myself to others. It’s hard being a young adult and making these big decisions for your career so early on. I think a lot of college students and adults struggle with this. I switched my major once and almost switched schools to pursue another degree. Ultimately, I am SO glad that I stayed the course of Graphic Design at Stout. I am so happy I learned to believe in myself and had the support from my professors/peers/family that this was something I could do.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a graphic designer and brand designer. I have a few businesses that I consistently help with their marketing and social media efforts, and some that are just one-off projects. My main focus with my business, Willaby Designs, is working with small business to develop their branding. This often will lead into assisting with their social media efforts or other marketing needs. I love working with small businesses and entrepreneurs. I am most proud of helping these businesses situate themselves in their target audience and begin to gain exposure to customers.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I am really lucky to be very close with my family. I spent my first half of my childhood in South Carolina, where we took many beach trips, spent time outside and would come back to the midwest often to visit family. We eventually moved to the midwest full time when I was around 12 years old.

One of my favorite memories is a Sunday tradition we had of visiting open houses. My dad is a project manager at a construction firm. He has a background in commercial property and home development. My mom has a great deal of interest with home property as well. They built my childhood home and have remodeled their current home. They influenced my love for design by putting me in front of many interior and exterior design elements. They really showed me I could make or do anything I want to. They really provided a model of hard work.

My mom stayed at home with us as kids and she knew how to make us feel special. She always invited anyone and everyone into our home. Some of my favorite memories are her making pancakes into the letters of our name or taking us for Friday icee trips. She also showed me my love for ice cream, my all-time favorite food to today.

My dad has always been up for any & every project. I remember in middle school I was determined to make a mini waterfall for a project. He was up for the task. He’s helped me create coffee mug racks, headboards, reupholstered chairs and so much more. I love creating projects with him and he’s taught me so much along the way.

Contact Info:

• Email: kelsey@willabydesigns.com
• Website: willabydesigns.com
• Instagram: @willabydesign

Image Credits
Ava Faye Photos (https://www.instagram.com/avafayephotos/)