Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Spiegel.
Hi Blake, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I’d love to. My path in design seemed to begin as soon as I was able to work a computer. Some people might have used Microsoft Paint to draw, color, or edit photos, but I would find myself watching tutorials and creating digital art at a young age.
Fast forwarding through school, my passion for art was amplified but wasn’t sure where to apply it. So, I attended UW-Stout where studied design for 5 years. During that time I fell in love with typography, brand identity design, and all of the fun little nuances within. I received a BFA in graphic design in 2018, and have since been pursuing my vocation.
Out of college, I took the first job offer I received and soon found out that corporate packaging agencies tend to care more about saving money, than the planet. So, I took a leap and decided to start over. I applied at a sports branding agency called Sussner, where I’ve been working as a Designer since 2019, all while running a freelance design business on the side.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
During my first couple of years out of college, and in an attempt to prove myself to both my job and clients, I worked far too many 60+ hour weeks… After things slowed down, I had a chance to look back and reflect on not only the work that’s been done but the relationships that have been affected. Many of which have been good, but the bad have had long-term affects.
A really big struggle you face working a full-time job and running a business is that you may have to make daily sacrifices for one of three things: your clients, your relationships, or yourself. Unfortunately, there’s not enough time in the day to satisfy all three, and often times we default on ourselves. I’ve come out of a few years of constant work with tarnished relationships, bad habits, and horrible burnout.
Being able to reflect on these things and see them coming before they happen makes it all worth it in the end, though!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My family has always been a huge inspiration for my upbringing. My mother owns her own hair salon, and my stepdad was a professional snowboarder, sponsored skateboarder, and tattoo artist. Growing up in a family where creativity and entrepreneurship were celebrated, taught me that I shouldn’t settle for something unless I truly love it.
So, I found myself spending a lot of time in tattoo shops and learning the ins and outs of their art. This inspiration led me to infatuated with the art and history of Art Nouveau from the 1900s.
Because of this the work that I truly enjoy is illustrative design, and anything that involves custom typography. I’ve found myself designing logos, branding, and creating intricate signage for a handful of tattoo shops over the years. I believe this has been some of the most creatively fulfilling design work I’ve had the pleasure of working on, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
With great risk, can come great reward. So, I believe that it’s imperative to know what you truly want before you take a big risk. If you believe in yourself without a doubt, you should double-check, and triple down on that.
After my first year out of college, I knew I had to take a big risk. I was working at a packaging firm and I quickly identified that a corporate office and production design was not something I could see myself doing for a long period of time. So, I decided it was time to make a change for the betterment of my career.
I quit my corporate job, sacrificed my benefits and job security for a chance at a job that had no guarantee of a full-time position. I applied at a branding agency in Minneapolis called Sussner, where I was hired on for 6-months until I was laid off due to COVID. But I knew I found an industry I loved, and a team that believed in me. I was then hired back on after the world finally opened up, and I still work at Sussner to this day. Our team helps the sports branding industry capture the hearts, minds, and markets of their audiences through meaningful branding, and I have the pleasure to work for a company that I can see myself in for the long run.
I can safely say that I wouldn’t be in this position if I wasn’t willing to take a calculated risk with the future in mind.
Contact Info:
- Website: spiegeldesign.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakespiegel/
