Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Wheeler.
Hi Natasha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I always knew I wanted to pursue a creative career. I had a huge interest in art and design which led me to attending The Columbus College of Art and Design as an Advertising and Graphic Design major. After graduating, I wasn’t sure how to put my education to use. I hopped around from digital agencies and eventually to the corporate world. Still, I hadn’t found what felt right. I took on a role with a local non-profit, creating all the marketing and design materials across several of their brands. It was a role where I had to take a lot of initiative. I got to dabble with all things design. This experience spurred an entrepreneurial motivation to set out and begin designing for my own clients. Through the years, I’ve helped start-ups and small businesses with branding, design, and illustration.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and all the kind folks I’ve met and worked with along the way. It’s a weird experience to work as a creative and make art for a living. I’ve found it often to be a sort of “feast or famine” cycle. So, it’s understanding some weeks have a workload that’s almost all-consuming, while other weeks things are quiet. Over time I’ve learned to take advantage of the quiet time between projects to work on some of my own art and other personal projects.
As you know, we’re big fans of NW Creative. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
NW Creative is a design and illustration studio crafting brand connections to inspire and delight. Over the last decade, I’ve championed small businesses as a designer and artist. Creating a variety of projects to help brands stand out and gain recognition. From logo design to graphic tees, I’ve fined tuned my approach to create thoughtful and sometimes quirky work that helps businesses grow, excite followers, and build credibility for start-ups.
I’ve worked with a variety of industries, such as craft beer, restaurants, coffee shops, artists, non-profits, retail, and food. I’m happy to chat with anyone about the ideas they might have for a logo for their new business, branded merchandise, or other artwork needs.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Putting your livelihood in the hands of art or a creative path is about the riskiest thing I can think of. Leaving any situation that involves steady pay and benefits is very scary. But in some ways that independence can make a dependable alternative to a more traditional career path. It’s a different kind of pressure and it’s always changing. But I love the day-to-day freedom that this risk creates.
Contact Info:
- Website: nwcreative.co
- Instagram: @natasha_dubya
