A joyful and playfulness abounds in Kelly Shea’s work, a forward thinking modernism beyond any rigid coolness. Having been both a professor and a career freelancer, her honesty about her experiences and goals is refreshing. A truly stand-up person, a true rock in the industry, her practical wisdom might seem familiar. Still, it’s good to be reminded that in our competitive arena of creative professionals bright points on the map like Kelly are welcome stars.

Wise Elephant (WE): Why did you choose Design as a career?

Kelly Shea (KS): It just seemed like the right/logical thing. I really enjoy organizing ideas, solving problems and making things visually appealing. I loved to draw when I was young(er) and actually chose a high school based on its art department. They had an Advertising class and I just thought that was the coolest thing ever. I’m sure I still have that portfolio around somewhere. But when it came to college, I thought lawyer or accountant was the way to go. After all, that is how you make a living (plus, I really did enjoy my business law and accounting classes). After one semester, I had a complete change of heart and it was design all the way (with a minor in psychology). My friend and I used to sit in our drawing class and wonder why anyone would ever chose a different major.

WE: How much control have you had over your professional career as a designer vs. it taking you with it?

KS: I would say 65% control and 35% going with flow. I’m just guessing at the percentages, but they way I see it is you have control in that you make specific decisions about what jobs you take, who you will and won’t work for, what type of design you do etc… but once you make those decisions other opportunities arise based on those previous decisions and all of a sudden you can find yourself working somewhere that you weren’t expecting or had planned. One job leads to another. You meet someone who knows someone and you end up working in a company that was never on your radar. That leads to something else. It goes on and on. I started teaching at Pratt because a friend knew someone who taught there and recommended me. From that I became the Assistant Chair and met a whole slew of great people and learned a lot of interesting things. Those people recommended me for a promotion… etc… etc…

WE: If “feel/gut” is on the left and “intellect/reason” on the right, where in the scope of things (generally) could you put yourself when defining what you like?

KS: I never thought I’d say these words: I’m on the right. I usually have a logical reason for why I like something and why I don’t. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, but right now I can’t even think of one. It could be as simple as; I like that shirt because of the color combinations and the pattern’s symmetry. I don’t like that SUV because it’s too big and is a plague on the environment. Simple reasons, but always explainable.

WE: Was there a gig/job you turned down you wish you didn’t?

KS: No, but there are a few that I’ve taken that I wish I didn’t.

WE: What made a gig a “bad’ gig.

KS: I had one client send me a check for a fraction of my bill because it’s what they thought they should pay. Long story short, I was young and didn’t have a written contract. They kept making changes and when I told them that they were approaching the estimate I gave them, they said ok and continued to make changes. I sent them a bill. They sent me a check for approximately my original estimate. It was a long drawn out ordeal and not fun for anyone involved. I eventually received more of a payment, but not all.

WE: Has much has your career been influenced by internet (if not entirely)?

KS: Influenced more than words can say. When I first graduated college, things were a lot different. The internet was there, but it was poorly designed and had major usability issues. It wasn’t something that you immediately ran to when a question arose. We had libraries back then.

I was working in print and if I needed to talk to someone, I picked up the phone or knocked on a door. I had email, but it wasn’t as pervasive as it is today. I used it mostly to talk to friends. Then the dot.com era exploded and I knew I needed to know more. I went back to school and got my MFA in Computer Art (Telecommunications and Multi-Media). Then there was the crash and I was grateful for my print knowledge.

Today, Everything I do on a daily basis involves the internet. Communication, design, research, printing, ordering supplies, buying stock photos, finding new work, etc… all done online. I’m writing this using Google Documents and I will send it via email.

WE: Would you give the advice that meeting new people leads to more work vs. hard work equals more work?

KS: Meeting new people does get you work, but if you don’t work hard for those people they won’t give you more work. My advice would be to go out and meet people. You never know who is sitting next to you at the bar. Be friendly and always have a business card on you… and always work really hard.

Graphic design is an interesting field that people don’t seem to understand or feel that they should actually pay for. Going on the computer, setting some copy and grabbing an image off the internet should take all of 5 minutes. Changes take time and time is valuable. I can’t image going to my mechanic and only paying him for how long I thought it should take him to repair my car and yet people do that to designers all the time.

WE: Do you find you get more sustainable work from meeting with people face to face than over email and phone?

KS: Face to face. People are less likely to forget you if they’ve met you. If it’s not possible to meet the person, I’d definitely give them a call.

WE: What else (if anything) do you want to be doing?

KS: Riding my bike.

WE: How do you think the bicycle should be integrated into daily life (should it be the main mode for all transportation?) What is it you enjoy about biking and what is it that implores you to ride?

KS: The bicycle is the ideal mode of transportation. Cycling is the best commute you could ever ask for. It’s quicker than a car through the city streets. It’s often quicker than public transportation; it’s certainly less frustrating than being herded like cattle on the NYC subway system. A commute by bicycle is less expensive than a tank gas or a monthly metrocard. It’s fun and it’s good for the environment. If more people rode to work, the streets would be safer for cyclists, our air would be cleaner, and we’d be healthier and happier.

I ride because I enjoy it. I aways get off my bike feeling better than I did when I got on. As a kid, you don’t ride because of the environmental benefits or the calories burned, you ride because it fun and gives you a sense of freedom.

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Learn more about Kelly Shea at her website http://kellyshea.com