Designer Spotlight: Chris Kelly
Location: Omaha
Education: Bachelors in Graphic Communications with a Marketing Minor at UNO and Metropolitan Community College
Employment: Hayneedle
Website(s): www.hayneedle.com
Chris Kelly is one of Nebraska’s most talented creatives. He is hard working, disciplined, and studious in his process. I had the opportunity to work with Chris on several occasions and the guy is insanely creative. Enjoy the Designer Spotlight of Chris Kelly!
How did you realize you wanted to be a designer?
I was always an art nerd in high school, I just never realized you could actually make a living doing it. In my senior year at Millard North, a Communication Arts class was offered and I took it up and ended up loving it. I had a great teacher who was very supportive of my interest in the industry and helped me find the program at Metro for design. My older brother who I always looked up to is also a designer, and I have to admit that definitely had an influence on my interest in the field.
How would you describe your style or approach to design?
I like to boil things down to what is most important. I’m not someone who likes to add a lot of fluff just because It looks pretty. I try to show a message in the simplest and most concise way possible.
What is your best way to break out of a creative rut?
I am definitely a social designer, I work best in a group. When I get stuck my best way to deal with it is to talk it out with another designer. Usually one small suggestion or observation can spark a totally new direction.
What or who would be a your dream client, and why?
That’s tough because I prefer working with small nonprofits vs. big companies. I think big companies are really good at dumbing down effective design.
What advice would you give emerging designers about your career?
Get involved in the local design community. Any job I have ever held is due to connections I have made. The design community here is really small, and once you start making a few friends in it, you can get to know a lot of great people that are great at keeping their ears open for job opportunities.
