We recently connected with Shawn Barr and have shared our conversation below.

Shawn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

It all started with my 8th-grade science teacher. She knew I had an interest in art as a career and decided to introduce me to graphic design. She lent me her school-issued laptop, which had a program called Inkscape (essentially a free version of Adobe Illustrator). I spent my lunch breaks practicing, experimenting, and learning the fundamentals of design.

From there, I became largely self-taught, obsessively watching YouTube tutorials and refining my skills. My first real opportunity came when I started working as a graphic design intern for Vintage Church [www.vintagechurch.net]—a role I still hold today. At the same time, I took design-specific courses at Randolph Community College, where I honed my technical skills and developed a deeper understanding of the design process. After earning my Associate’s in Applied Science, I transferred to the Savannah College of Art & Design, where I am currently a student, set to graduate in May 2025.

My journey at SCAD has been transformative. I’ve learned more than I ever imagined and have been shaped by the incredible students, faculty, and friends I’ve met along the way. Beyond formal education, my greatest growth has come from real-world experience—working freelance, building client relationships, and tackling meaningful projects. Designing for real people, with real needs, on real projects has had the biggest impact on my journey, and it continues to fuel my passion for intentional, impactful design.

Shawn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Howdy! My name is Shawn Barr, and I’m a visual communications designer. While my roots are in graphic design, that title alone doesn’t fully capture the depth of the field I’ve fallen in love with. My passion lies in designing with purpose—crafting artful, thoughtful, and intentional visuals that connect with people on a deeper level.

I often say, “I create emotional connections through intentional design.” That word—intentional—is not just the foundation of my work; it’s a guiding principle in how I live my life. I am heavily driven by my faith, believing that as followers of Jesus, we are called to love people and act as a light in this world. I see my passion for visuals as a catalyst for doing just that—using design to communicate in a way that uplifts, inspires, and leaves a lasting impact.

Practically, I dabble in most forms of visual arts, but I’m most well-versed in graphic design [typography, branding, printing, signage, socials, user-interface] but lately I’ve been pursing physical mediums such as painting, and book-binding. These are not only my job, but my creative outlet.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My work is defined by a love for people and a passion for creating for them. To me, loving others is the most fulfilling use of one’s time and efforts. This belief is the driving force behind my creative journey—everything I do is filtered through the question of whether people feel understood, seen, and heard.

I firmly believe that creativity is essential to human existence; we were created by a Creator to create. This conviction shapes my work, guiding each project with purposeful thought and intentional design. My goal is always to serve others through creativity that is both meaningful and impactful.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Word-of-mouth referrals have proven to be the most effective way to grow my business. Early in my career, I took on too many projects, too many clients, and too many designs—spreading myself thin and making mistakes that let people down. Since then, I’ve learned the art of under-promising and over-delivering. To make this possible, I build extra time and budget padding into every project.

Sometimes this means delivering work well before the deadline. Other times, a client might request only a logo, but I provide a full brand identity. They may ask for a simple social media ad, and I suggest an entire campaign. This approach takes many forms, but it consistently exceeds expectations and keeps clients happy.

By creating great work and fostering strong relationships, I’ve made my agency easy to recommend. Many of my best clients come through word-of-mouth, a testament to the trust I’ve built. I also genuinely enjoy staying connected with past and present clients, ensuring that every relationship remains strong and mutually beneficial.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shawnbarr.design
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawndbarr/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-barr-ba920820a/

Image Credits

Jason Conforti, @alekzmac_photography, Nicole Telesz